Tim Tszyu outlines the three rivals he’s targeting in 2025

Tim Tszyu is planning to have a banner campaign next year if he beats IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev on Saturday at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida on Prime Video. 

“Right now a perfect 2025 would be fighting Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr, and Jermell Charlo,” Tszyu told BoxingScene. “But people’s stocks go up and down every month and the dynamic changes with new winners and losers.”

Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) knows far too well about how quickly a fighter’s fate can change based on their last performance. In March, the 29-year-old Austrailian suffered his first career loss in a bloodbath to Sebastian Fundora via split decision. Tszyu lost his title, but because he showed a solid account of himself, he’s been thrust back into the spotlight for yet another significant matchup. 

Tszyu was supposed to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. in August on Riyadh Season’s debut show in the United States, but the gash he suffered near his hairline in the Fundora fight was not properly healing. The timing of the circumstances forced the fight to get canceled. 

“Me and Vergil are both young, so there is no rush to make the fight happen right now. We’ve still got heaps of time left,” said Tszyu. “I am happy with the position that I’m at. What do I need to do? Everything is good at this stage. If there are big fights to be made, we’ll start talking and consider it.” 

If Tszyu beats Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) and reclaims a 154-pound belt, he’ll once again be in a position of authority in a loaded division to better pick and choose his desired dance partners. 

After beating Tszyu, Fundora has since turned his attention to facing Spence and Crawford as well. 

“I’m leaning more toward Fundora beating Spence due to activity, and height. I don’t know what Spence is still there,” said Tszyu. 

“A Crawford fight against me would be cracking. Styles make fights, and that one would be one hell of a show. I think Crawford did well against Israil Madrimov. Critics are going to always be like that. Madrimov is not a bum. People don’t understand that.

“But right now I have all of the fights in front of me. We’ll see how it goes. As soon as I get a fight offered, I say yes. I want to fight in the United States, 100 percent. This is where it’s at. I’ve basically moved here in America to live my dream.” 

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter whose work has appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, The Guardian, Newsweek, Men’s Health, NFL.com, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Ring Magazine and more. He has been writing for BoxingScene since 2018. Manouk is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.