Tim Tszyu returned to the win column with a solid, if unspectacular 10-round points win over Anthony Velazquez last week.

The former WBO junior middleweight champion (26-3, 18 KOs) has endured a rough two-year stint, with a trio of high-profile defeats in world title fights - twice against WBC beltholder Sebastian Fundora and IBF ruler Bakhram Murtazaliev.

Sandwiched between those stateside defeats have been contrasting wins back home in his native Australia against carefully selected American opposition: first Joseph Spencer (20-2, 11 KOs) and now Velazquez (18-1-1, 15 KOs) during an eventful 2025 campaign.

After a damaging seventh-round stoppage loss by Fundora on July 19, Tszyu stripped and reconstructed his team from scratch, employing new co-managers, multi-weight world champion Jeff Fenech in an advisory role and Pedro Diaz as new head coach.

Having overseen Noel Mikaelian's WBC cruiserweight title win over Badou Jack in their rematch the previous Saturday night, Diaz arrived in Sydney on short-notice and the Cuban's presence - as well as a cautious display - was a topic of conversation post-fight.

Zerafa, previously slated to face Tim in July 2021, is now boxing his younger brother and IBF's No. 6-ranked contender Nikita as the headline attraction on a No Limit card come January 16.

Former 140-pound beltholder Liam Paro did commentary before his IBF welterweight title eliminator against Paddy Donovan on the same bill, while Zerafa was part of the broadcast analysis desk being quizzed for his opinion and didn't hold back in their post-fight segment.

"He should've got him [Velazquez] out of there in three [rounds], it's a worse Tim, he still looked like he didn't know what he was doing. He couldn't finish him, was prancing around and not punching, I know it's easier said than done but I just feel like the old Tim is better.

"I hope they're doing something different because fighting like that, you're not going back to the top. I'm not saying that as a hater, more a boxing lover and from the outside, there are killers out there and doing [performing like] that, you won't survive."

Former world title challenger Zerafa (34-5, 22 KOs) acknowledged his bias against Tszyu given their long-standing domestic rivalry but highlighted a two-month training camp under Diaz wasn't going to see immediate results and they need to step it up in 2026.

Newly-minted world champions Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou, who will unify their WBO/WBA junior middleweight titles on Jan. 31 in Puerto Rico, have both reportedly made contact with Tszyu's team about a potential voluntary championship defence in 2026.

While committing straight back to world level contention feels too early under Diaz's guidance especially after last week's showing, Tszyu wants to stay active and spoke of his interest fighting on a reported February 28 date back in Las Vegas.

Such a quick turnaround sounds unrealistic, though speaks to his eagerness for a return to the top table in a deep division packed with possibilities. For all the talk about adapting his style, being more risk-averse, another loss at this stage aged 31 could prove decisive.

"I've got nothing against him, wanted him to come out and make a statement because that builds a potential bigger fight between us or [the possibility of] another Aussie world champion but I just wasn't impressed. He was too patient, in first gear but didn't know how to get out of it," Zerafa continued.

"Two months isn't enough, it's like trying to write left-handed when you use your right, he needs way more time to implement the new camp and that was never going to happen. Velazquez, respectfully, is not on Tim's level and was landing all these big shots, he was less busy, less dominant and I expected more."