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Full Noise by SN
Tim Tszyu ready to annihilate undefeated Denis Nurja
Annabelle Banfield, AAP • March 31st, 2026 5:44 pm
Tim Tszyu (left) and Albania's Denis Nurja face off ahead of their fight in Wollongong | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The only thing on Tim Tszyu's mind is annihilation in his must-win fight against undefeated Albanian Denis Nurja on Sunday for the vacant WBO International middleweight title.
"My motivation throughout training camp and life now is for victory by any means necessary," Tzsyu said.
Unbeaten Albanian Denis Nurja stands in the way of Tim Tsyzu's career resurrection | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"The word annihilation is in my head, and it's been repeated in my head for the last seven weeks and that's all I want to do, it's my whole purpose right now, it's just annihilation."
There is one factor that evens out this match-up compared to Tszyu's recent fights.
"Finally someone my height," Tzsyu joked.
"Usually I'm looking up so it's nice to have someone your own eye."
Tszyu won't have to give up a height advantage when he meets the Albanian | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
It'll be a tough challenge for the 31-year-old to truly annihilate his undefeated Albanian opponent, who is currently ranked 12th in the world.
"He looks ready," Tszyu said. "He's got a big amateur background and he looks like he's on point.
"Good technical boxer but I really don't care to be honest with you. I'm focused on myself."
Those are tough words from a man with three world-title defeats in his past five fights, but Tszyu is ready to risk it all in this must-win fight for a chance to get back to the mega-money bouts.
Rumours are rampant about a potential blockbuster match-up with American Errol Spence Jr, although that hinges on Tzsyu getting the win over Nurja.
"I think any opportunity to fight a guy like Errol Spence is one of the hugest opportunities that someone could have in their career," said Tszyu's manager George Rose.
"He's one of the greatest fighters that we've had of this generation."
"But right now, Tim's got one fight locked in, and that's against Denis Nurja, and if he doesn't get through this then it completely changes the conversations that we're having on Monday morning."
Whilst the Aussie is eager to carve out the biggest career he can, all the talk of the future while he's in fight week is frustrating.
"I've always said chase the stars," Tszyu said. "I've always chased the stars no matter what and that's where I'm still going to aim to go.
Tszyu continues to dream big as he tries to puthis career on an upward trajectory again | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"It is a little bit of a distraction but the best thing is that I'm just solely trying to focus on this (fight)."
Tszyu now turns his attention to the Easter Sunday bout in Wollongong, a location surprisingly unfamiliar to the Tszyu family.
Tim, brother Nikita or father Kostya have never fought there despite boxing pretty much everywhere else up the east coast.
