Tim Tszyu returned to the win column, comprehensively outpointing the previously-unbeaten Anthony Velazquez over 10 rounds last Wednesday.

It wasn't a spectacular return to form for Tszyu (26-3, 18 KOs) but it was a win and a solid building block from where to begin.

The 31-year-old is spending some downtime with his wife on their European vacation over Christmas and New Year.

His new handler Mike Altamura believes much like the proverbial Phoenix rising from the ashes, so can Tszyu.

Altamura's arrival in Team Tszyu came as part of a substnatial overhaul, which also includes feted trainer Pedro Diaz, with whom the former WBO junior middleweight champion has now banked 10 rounds together.

"Once he's back from that [holiday] we'll sit down as a team and look over the options," Altamura told a post-fight media scrum. "Ideally I'd like him back around late March for him to really settle back into training camp in Miami with Pedro Diaz."

However, the Australian is resolute in his belief that it's one step at a time and there is no rush.

"I'm ready to take a patient approach with every movement going forward from here on in," Altamura told The Ring. "I want to give him every chance to keep adapting to Pedro's systems and keep building that bond.

"One thing I know when you adjust a fighter's trainer, the more time they have working with a new camp, the more they gel, adjust, they attack, so I'll look at that.

"I'd like one or two more hit-outs, and we figure out our timeframe and if we see the right signs, then we'll make our step. The calls and opportunities are going to be there, he's the son of a legend, the biggest draw card in Australian boxing and a former world champion.

"It's up to us to be patient, when we leave the house the next time, we're secure, ready, not looking to step up to make up the numbers. We want Tim to get back to a position where he can grab it with both hands and ensure he excels or give him every opportunity to."

Having cleared out the decks and retooled his team after losing three of his previous four outings before facing Velazquez, this is the first box ticked.

"When a fighter has gone through the adversity Tim has and made the courageous adjustments to their team at this stage of their career, there's a lot of pressure on their shoulders," explained Altamura. "More for Tim's sake, I'm just really proud how he's handled all the adjustments."

In terms of the first step, Altamura carefully selected Velasquez as Tszyu's opponent.

"That was 10 really valuable rounds," he said. "I was comfortable matching the fight, I wouldn't have picked Velazquez if I thought he was going to tear up our script, but knew he'd keep us on our toes.

"I knew he had a dangerous hook and had an outstanding trainer, who I worked with for nine years with TJ Doheny, in Hector Bermudez, so knew they'd be ready to cause the upset but Tim boxed really well, really smart, found his range really early with the jab, kept stabbing the body, feinting and giving him different looks."

Altamura remained resolute and wouldn't be drawn on potential opponents.

"A step-up profile and more known, maybe someone ranked," he continued. "We'll see how it aligns. I'm never one to throw names out there just to do that. As soon as I start mentioning them, they'll try to charge No Limit five times the price. I'll allow them to work their magic; they're an excellent promoter."

However, it's no secret that Tszyu has been linked with the winner of the WBA/ WBO unification between Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou come January 31.

"That's something that is potentially in the mix," he admitted but stuck to his guns. "It's going to be tempting to fight a unified champion, we know the calls are going to come. If I look at Tim's career the last 18 months, I think the one thing lacking was a little bit of calmness, that's what I tried to pride myself on.

"They think they're catching him at the right time. That's why this step in Tim's career has to be predicated on our time not theirs. Top Rank are smart, they know Xander is struggling with the weight and if he wins the unification, may only have one more fight at 154."

"So, they're thinking why not fight the son of a legend, a guy with one of the biggest profiles once Tim gets his resurgence back. One or two wins and Tim's brand is as strong as anyone, brings cache and value.

"The tricky part is keeping Tim calm to not look at the bright lights and say, 'I want all of that opportunity.' It has to work on our timing, he's 31 years of age, all the steps from this part of his career need to be intelligent and significant."