Every fight of Tim Tszyu's career: The innocuous moment 'PTSD' took over in brutal loss to Russian
Updated . First published
Every fight of Tim Tszyu's career
Wide World of Sports takes a look back at every fight of Australian boxing star Tim Tszyu's career.
Here's how he went from emerging professional to fighting for big paydays against some of the world's best.
Tszyu defeats Joey Spencer
Tim Tszyu executed a dominant fourth-round TKO win over American Joey Spencer in Newcastle on April 6 2025.
Looking sharp and determined, the former world champ returned to his winning ways after two consecutive defeats in 2024.
While the early rounds saw Tszyu patiently establish his rhythm, the Australian started to pile on the pressure in the third, visibly marking up Spencer around the eye.
In the fourth round, Spencer's corner decided they had seen enough and made the call to throw in the towel
The win takes Tszyu's professional record to 25-2 while serving as a timely reminder as he looks to rebuild momentum in the super-welterweight division.
Tszyu def by Bakhram Murtazaliev
Russian beast Bakhram Murtazaliev retained his IBF world title with a dominant victory over Tim Tszyu at Caribe Royale in Orlando.
While Tszyu looked the better fighter in the first round - and probably won it on the judges' cards - he was knocked down with a brutal left hand early in the second round and never recovered.
Murtazaliev knocked Tszyu to the canvas three more times before the Aussie's corner finally threw the towel in midway through the third round.
Did PTSD play a part?
While Tszyu was knocked down in the second and third rounds during his loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev, it was a moment during the first round that many said was the first sign of trouble.
The fighters came together and bumped heads before Tszyu reeled out of the contact and briefly stopped to check his head for blood.
One X user claimed, "PTSD is real", suggesting Tszyu was still traumatised from his split decision loss to Sebastian Fundora a few months earlier.
Tszyu suffered a nasty gash to the top of his head due to an accidental elbow from Fundora, which essentially robbed him of victory, given he could barely see for most of the fight.
While the Aussie talked a big game leading up to the Murtazaliev bout, he had some demons lingering from his first career loss.
Tszyu def by Sebastian Fundora in bloodbath
Tim Tszyu battles against Sebastian Fundora during their 12-round title fight at T-Mobile Arena.
Fundora defeated Tszyu via split decision to claim Tszyu's WBO title and a vacant WBC title (116-112, 116-112, 115-113).
Both fighters were left bloodied after an errant elbow badly split Tszyu's forehead, while Fundora emerged with a broken nose.
The result marks the first defeat of Tszyu's professional career.
Kostya Tszyu calls in via FaceTime
Tim Tszyu improved his career record to a perfect 24 wins from 24 fights after disposing of American Brian Mendoza to retain his WBO super welterweight world title.
Following the bout, Kostya Tszyu tuned into his son's TV interview from Russia via FaceTime.
"Pop, I love you," Tszyu said with a cheeky grin.
"Sorry for getting hit."
To Tszyu's surprise, a member of his team then informed him that Kostya did not tune in for the fight.
"Oh, good," Tszyu replied.
Tszyu was seen talking to Kostya in the immediate aftermath of the fight.
"He should have told me that [earlier]," Tszyu said.
"Not happy with you, man."
Tszyu defeated Mendoza by unanimous decision at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Tszyu's mum's incredible act
There were incredible scenes following Tim Tszyu's 23rd career win, with his mother pictured in his opponent's locker room.
In the wake of her son's destructive knockout win, Tszyu's mother Natasha offered her best wishes to Mexico's Carlos Ocampo.
"That's a momma being a momma right there," US boxing great Shawn Porter said.
"They care about everybody."
Tszyu confirmed afterwards that his mother often worried for his opponents and their wellbeing because of his destructive nature.
Tim Tszyu def Carlos Ocampo
Tim Tszyu took just over a minute to knock out Carlos Ocampo on the Gold Coast.
The Aussie star showed no ill effects from a recent dog bite to his right arm, with his Mexican opponent unable to lay a glove on him.
Tszyu wasted little time after the win, calling out American star Jermell Charlo.
Tszyu def Tony Harrison
Tim Tszyu celebrates victory in his WBO super-welterweight world title fight against Tony Harrison as the referee signals for the stoppage in the ninth round of their clash in Sydney on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
The undefeated Aussie star's dominant victory was the 22nd of his professional career, with 16 of them by knockout.
It set up a mandatory challenge with unified world champion Jermell Charlo, who was initially scheduled to fight Tszyu in January before an injury sidelined the superstar, and Harrison, the only fighter to inflict defeat on Charlo, stepped in.
Yet, even after beating Charlo's only conqueror convincingly, doubters remain.
Charlo, who was ringside as a guest commentator, claimed "he doesn't really show a lot of athleticism", adding, "I think he's perfect for my style".
Douglass Fischer, editor of respected boxing publication The Ring Magazine, said Tszyu needed a couple more fights against challengers of Harrison's calibre before he would be "truly ready for a beast like Charlo".
Former world champion Ishé Oluwa Kamau Ali Smith said a counterpuncher would "have a field day" against him, with Tszyu's aggressive style making him vulnerable to falling into "traps" set by wily customers like Charlo.
Tszyu def Terrell Gausha
In his first time fighting professionally outside of Australia, Tszyu accounted for hometown fighter Terrell Gausha in Minneapolis via a unanimous decision over 12 rounds.
The Aussie was knocked down in the first round but rallied to knock Gausha down a couple of rounds later, and then dominated the later rounds to earn the decision of all three judges.
One of the scorecards, though, left a little to be desired.
Robert Hecko awarded Tszyu the fight but by only one round, scoring it 114-113 in his favour.
This revelation had fans up in arms, given the Aussie largely dominated his opponent throughout the bout.
"The 114-113 was a bit close for me," Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech diplomatically told Main Event afterwards.
Earlier in the week leading up to the fight, Fenech had warned Tszyu couldn't rely on the American judges to conduct themselves fairly.
"Tim has to knock him out there because I don't trust the judges," Fenech said.
"I've been through it there, and I honestly believe Tim has to knock this guy out."
