Tim Tszyu has overcome a terrible cut to beat Denis Nurja on points in their fight in Wollongong on Sunday – but Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech was so unimpressed he walked out before the final bell.
The Aussie was left bleeding badly when he was cut underneath his left eye by a head clash in round three, but stormed back to drop Nurja soon afterwards.
After being cleared to continue by the ringside doctor, the Aussie remained dominant, forcing his Albanian opponent to hold so often he was eventually docked a point for it after ignoring repeated warnings from the referee.
Former world champion Paulie Malignaggi, who was commentating on the bout, said Tszyu didn’t ‘get out of second gear’ as he cruised to victory over 10 rounds, winning 100-88 on all three judges’ cards.
That wasn’t good enough for Fenech, who left the building before the start of the eighth round.
While he said Tszyu ‘got the job done’, Australia’s greatest ever boxer wasn’t impressed with the showing.
Tim Tszyu (right) overcame a deep cut below his left eye to take an easy unanimous points victory over Denis Nurja (left) on Sunday
The win didn’t impress boxing icon Jeff Fenech (pictured left with John Singleton, centre, and boxer Sam Goodman) who left the bout early after boycotting Tszyu’s previous fight
Tszyu won all 10 rounds, with all three judges scoring the bout 100-88 in his favour
Asked if he believes Tszyu can now be rated a chance of beating America’s Errol Spence Jr, the former unified welterweight champion, Fenech refused to comment and said that is up to Tszyu’s corner.
Fenech has been outspoken about Tszyu’s career trajectory after he lost to Fundora twice and was brutally stopped by Bakhram Murtazaliev.
He boycotted Tszyu’s first fight under his new coach Pedro Diaz, and has been critical of the decision to agree to terms on a fight with Spence before taking care of the Albanian.
The deep cut against Nurja would have brought back bad memories for Tszyu, who suffered one of the bloodiest lacerations the sport has seen in years when he lost the first of his two fights with Sebastian Fundora in March 2024.
The Aussie paid tribute to Nurja’s toughness after the victory.
‘I expected that, I had him a couple of times but he didn’t drop,’ Tszyu said.
‘Respect to the Albanians, man, they are tough guys.
‘This time I won with a cut, so I can’t complain.
The deep cut would have brought back bad memories for Tszyu after his first loss to Sebastian Fundora
A bout against former world champion Errol Spence Jr now beckons for the Aussie
‘This guy was tough, no excuses, but me and Errol Spence will be one hell of a fight, a banger.
‘You know how I am, I don’t take a backward step. He wants to meet me out the front, bring it on.’
‘You know what they say, catch the big fish. Let’s go fishing.’
Tszyu will likely be the underdog if the Spence fight goes ahead, despite the fact the American hasn’t fought since he was stopped by Terence Crawford in July 2023, and is 36 years old.
The victory over Nurja takes Tszyu’s professional record to 27 wins and three losses.
On the undercard, former NRL star Nelson Asofa-Solomona knocked out another ex-footballer, Jarrod Wallace, in the third round of their bout.
‘Big Nas’ then called out another retired NRL forward, George Burgess, as the two engaged in verbal sparring in the middle of the ring.
