Australian boxing star Tim Tszyu has faced unexpected criticism from a fellow fighter following his decisive victory in Sydney, with Michael Zerafa claiming the former champion has regressed and will struggle against the elite in his division.
Zerafa's Scathing Assessment
Despite Tszyu comfortably defeating the previously undefeated Anthony Velazquez in his first bout under new coach Pedro Diaz, Zerafa was unimpressed. The 33-year-old veteran, who is scheduled to fight Tszyu's brother Nikita on January 16, pointedly criticised Tszyu's performance.
"Tim should've got him outta there in three rounds," Zerafa stated. "I feel like it's a worse Tim - he still looked like he didn't know what he was doing. He couldn't finish him, he was prancing around a little bit." Zerafa insisted his comments were not born of spite or an attempt to build tension ahead of his own family feud, but rather a blunt appraisal of Tszyu's current form.
Tszyu's Tactical Defence
In response, the 31-year-old Tszyu has robustly defended his strategic approach to the fight. He revealed a conscious decision to prioritise ring time and comfort over seeking a swift, reckless knockout.
"I really just wanted to feel comfortable in there," Tszyu explained. "I wanted to get in the ring, not try go for the KO and get reckless. In the past, that's what actually came wrong by me. I wanted to take my time, use my jab. I have all the skills in the world, I just need to apply them."
Bouncing Back From a Slump
The Sydney fight marked a crucial return to winning ways for Tszyu. Prior to facing Velazquez, the Australian had suffered a difficult patch, losing three out of his last four fights, including a defeat to Sebastian Fundora.
This latest victory hands Velazquez his first professional loss and improves Tszyu's professional record to 26 wins and 3 losses. The bout served as a platform for Tszyu to implement a more measured style under the guidance of Diaz, though it has clearly failed to convince his peer Zerafa of his readiness for the division's top contenders.
