Anthony Velazquez vs Tim Tzsyu Preview Dec. 17th, 2025
Former WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Tim Tzsyu of Sydney, Australia returns to the ring in his hometown this Wednesday, December 17th to take on unbeaten Anthony Velazquez of Springfield, Massachusetts. The 10-rounder is listed at a catchweight of 157 lbs and can be seen live Down Under on pay-per-view on Main Event and Kayo Sports. Tzsyu last fought in July when he was stopped after seven rounds by WBC Junior Middleweight Champion Sebastian Fundora in a rematch. The two first met in March, 2024 with Fundora taking Tzsyu’s WBO Title via split decision in in a bloody battle. However, the WBO stripped Fundora of their belt for taking the rematch with Tzsyu instead of facing his mandatory challenger. After losing his title to Fundora, Tzsyu was stopped in his next fight in the seventh round by Bakhram Murtazaliev in a shot at the IBF Title seven months later. He then rebounded by halting Joseph Spencer in the fourth round this March to win the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Belt before falling to Fundora once again. Velazquez last saw action in July when he stopped Jerry Chatwood in the fifth round.
Velazquez vs Tzsyu Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Anthony Velazquez +713
- Tim Tzsyu -1500
My Pick
The 29-year-old Velazquez climbs through the ropes with a near-perfect mark of 18-0-1 with 15 Ko’s and has fought 70 rounds since turning pro in 2018 following his amateur career. He possesses very good power as his current knockout ratio clocks in at an impressive 83.3 per cent. He’s gone the distance just four times in his 19-fight career but has gone the distance in two of his past four outings. Velazquez measures 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 70-inch reach.
The lone blemish on Velazquez’s pro record is an eight-round draw with Rashid Stevens in 2023. He won the vacant NABF Junior Welterweight Belt in 2024 with a 10-round unanimous decision over Florent Davis. Velazquez’s biggest victory is a third-round TKO over Brian Damian Chaves in 2022. While Velazquez may be making the ring walk with an impressive record it should be noted that just seven of his 19 opponents entered the ring with a winning record.
The Tszyu name is well known in boxing as Tim is the son of former world champion Kostya Tszyu and the brother of Nikita Tzsyu. The 31-year-old climbs into the ring with a mark of 25-3 with 18 Ko’s. He stands just under 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 70.5-inch so gives up 1.5-inches in height to Velazquez but has a minimal half-inch edge in reach. He also possesses better-than-average power as 72 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage. He’s has gone the distance in four of his last eight fights and has lost three of his past four.
Tszyu has boxed 155 rounds since making his pro debut in 2016 following a good amateur career and has also captured the interim WBA Oceania, WBO Asia Pacific, WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental, IBF Australasian, Commonwealth, WBO Global, and Australian Super Welterweight Titles since turning pro. Tszyu’s first step up in class came in August, 2020 when he stopped former world champion Jeff Horn in the seventh round.
He then halted former world champion Tony Harrison in the ninth round in March, 2023 to claim the Interim WBO Title and was elevated to full champion when Jermell Charlo was stripped of the belt when he fought Canelo Alvarez. Tszyu has also faced and beat legitimate contenders in Carlos Ocampo, Brian Mendoza, Terrell Gausha and Takeshi Inoue as they fought for world titles in the past and also has wins over the likes of Dennis Hogan, Wade Ryan, Steve Spark, Jack Brubaker, Ruben Webster, Larry Siwu, Denton Vassell, Joel Camilleri and the late Dwight Ritchie.
Prediction…
Tzsyu has obviously been having a tough time lately with three defeats in his past four fights and two of them coming by stoppage while also losing his world title. This is a crucial fight for him as he hopes to revive his career in his hometown. He appeared to be winning the first fight with Fundora until a clash of heads opened a huge gash on Tzsyu’s forehead and he lost a lost of blood while it streamed down his face and impaired his vision. Tzsyu is facing a power puncher in the unbeaten Velazquez and needs to be relentless in his attack. He’s a great finisher but definitely needs to be aware of Velazquez’s power. I’m expecting Tzsyu to leave the ring with a win as he doesn’t have any other option really. I’m also banking on a stoppage.
Tzsyu’s experience should be too much for Velazquez.
Play Tzsyu -1500 @ BetOnline.ag
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Anthony Velazquez betting • Tim Tszyu betting