Tszyu conquers himself, and American opponent, in stunning comeback

After salvaging his career with a win, the family’s 51st in succession in Newcastle, Tim Tszyu was spotted sporting a shirt with the words “They doubted me” emblazoned on it.

Yet when Tszyu woke up on Sunday morning, it appeared he also doubted himself.

Tim Tszyu is back in the winner’s circle.Credit: Getty Images

“In all honesty, a couple of times I was in my head, which are normal thoughts, ‘If I lose, what the hell am I gonna do after this? Three in a row,’” Tszyu said.

“But that’s just normal thoughts, that’s what we have to go through

“It’s just pushing and pushing through it.”

Tszyu pushed through for a career-salvaging win, against American Joey Spencer. The 30 year old’s reward is a likely clash with former two-time world champion Keith Thurman.

Tim Tszyu.Credit: Getty Images

It was achieved courtesy of a cautious opening, learning from the painful mistakes dispensed by Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev that resulted in Tszyu being knocked down on four separate occasions.

That demolition, coupled with the loss that preceded it against Sebastian Fundora, raised questions about whether Tszyu truly belongs on the world stage. Tszyu boldly proclaimed “I’m back, baby” after producing a clinical performance against Spencer. However, a more definitive answer will present itself should the Thurman fight proceed.

“I couldn’t do a third consecutive loss,” Tszyu said.

“I hope I can teach people that if they drop and go on the floor, if shit hits the fan, you can always rise back up and get back to the top.”

Tszyu took the opening three rounds to size up Spencer, before imposing himself on the man dubbed the “Small Town Soldier”. After connecting with a barrage of blows in the fourth, Spencer’s corner threw in the towel.

The challenge of making weight ultimately proved more difficult than mastering his opponent.

“I learnt from my mistakes,” Tszyu said.

“You don’t go in like a hothead in the first round and just abandon everything.”

Tszyu and Thurman were scheduled to fight on March 30 of last year, but the latter had to withdraw due to a biceps injury. Now they appear on a collision course after Tszyu’s dominant display against Spencer.

“Sign the contract, big boy. Sign the contract,” Tszyu said.

“If the fans want it, we can bring a mega-show to Australia.”

Just a few weeks ago, Thurman disposed of local hope Brock Jarvis. It was only the second fight for Thurman, a future hall-of-famer, in five years.

Given both he and Tszyu have made successful comebacks, they will belatedly meet. July has already been set aside as a potential fight date.

“That’ll be one hell of a fight,” Tszyu said.

“I know that [Spencer] fight and Keith Thurman are two completely different styles, so it’s a whole different approach I have to take.

“What I did tonight, I can’t do the same with Keith. It changes up and I gotta do something different.”

Asked what Thurman does well, Tszyu said: “His surprising shots, his movements … his shots from all different angles. That’s gonna be an interesting one.”

This was a pleasing return, but Tim Tszyu said he will have to improve against Thurman.

“That’ll be one hell of a fight,” Tszyu said.

Joey Spencer goes down.Credit: Getty Images

“I know that [Spencer] fight and Keith Thurman are two completely different styles, so it’s a whole different approach I have to take.

“What I did tonight, I can’t do the same with Keith. It changes up and I gotta do something different.”

Another punch hits its target.Credit: Getty Images

Asked what Thurman does well, Tszyu said: “His surprising shots, his movements … his shots from all different angles. That’s gonna be an interesting one.”

Tim Tszyu said that he got rewarded for a more patient approach.

“I had this laser jab from mid-distance that started working,” he said.

The Tszyu crew.Credit: Getty Images

“When you have that jab working through the middle, it gives you control with upstairs-downstairs uppercuts.

“I mixed it up.”

Asked about his critics, Tszyu said: “It’s always a good feeling proving people wrong, when people think you’re on the back foot.

Working the body: Tim Tszyu.Credit: Getty Images

“You rise from that, that’s an example to a lot of people watching.”

Just a few weeks ago, Keith Thurman totally dominated local hope Brock Jarvis.

It was only the second fight for Thurman, a future hall-of-famer, in five years.

Tim Tszyu is back in the winner’s circle.Credit: Getty Images

Now that Tszyu has made a successful comeback of his own, this is shaping as a salivating match-up for fight fans.

The pair were scheduled to fight on March 30 of last year, but had to withdraw due to a biceps injury. Now they appear on a collision course after a dominant display against Spencer.

After disposing of Joey Spencer in the fourth round, Tim Tszyu has called out Keith Thurman.

“Sign the contract, big boy. Sign the contract,” Tszyu said.

“If the fans want it, we can bring a mega-show to Australia.”

This was a much more composed performance from Tszyu. After rushing in against Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev - and paying the price - he took time to size up the American.

Tim Tszyu was too classy.Credit: Getty Images

Once he started landing his combinations, the fight was over.

“I learnt from my mistakes,” Tszyu said.

“You don’t go in like a hothead in the first round and just abandon everything. I had one hell of an opponent in Joey Spencer, I’m blessed to share the ring with you.”

Tim Tszyu is back!

The Australian started slowly, took his time and measured up his opponent in the first three rounds.

Tim Tszyu wins.Credit: Getty Images

In the fourth, it was all Tszyu. He displayed his power and hand speed with a series of blows to Spencer, who just couldn’t go with him.

It was a good stoppage from the referee, who realised Spencer couldn’t continue.

There’s plenty of swelling around the face of Joey Spencer.

The right eye in particular looks

That round definitely goes to Tszyu.

Spencer has a tendency to sit back, often on the ropes, and it will be interesting to see if he can go with Tszyu as the pace picks up.

We are under way.Credit: Getty Images

Interesting to see Spencer throw a few late left hooks, the blow that did the damage to Tszyu in his last fight.

However, Tszyu controlled the round with plenty of scoring shots.

I reckon Tszyu has stolen this round.

Spencer ended up on the canvas un the final moments, but it was the result of slip rather than a knockdown.

The American will need to pick up his workrate - including doubling-up on the jab - if he is to make inroads here.

I like that this is a more controlled version of Tszyu. He can’t afford to make another mistake.

Give what happened in Tszyu’s last fight against Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev, you would expect to start more cautiously.

And that’s exactly what has happened. Tszyu took plenty of time to size up his opponent, with none of the recklessness that we witnessed last start.

Spencer was also tentative early on and the pro-Tszyu crowd is already restless.

Very difficult round to score as neither fighter really engaged, let alone landed anything of substance.

The Tszyu family’s record in Newcastle stands at 50-0.

That is about to go on the line. It was an extravagant walk-out from the “Soul Taker”; he made his way into the ring to “Down Under”, just like his father used to do.

Here we go.Credit: Getty Images

Kostya isn’t here this afternoon. Instead, grandfather Boris is in his corner.

Here. We. Go.