Tim Tszyu dominates Denis Nurja to claim title in Wollongong

Tim Tszyu has won the WBO international middleweight title with a lopsided unanimous points win over Albanian Denis Nurja.

The Sydneysider’s victory in Wollongong on Sunday kept him on course for a mega fight with American superstar Errol Spence Jr and another world title shot.

Tszyu dominated Sunday’s 10-round bout, winning on all three judges’ cards by 100-88.

As well as the WBO international middleweight belt, victory meant Tszyu notched successive wins for the first time since 2023.

It also secured him the WBO No.1 ranking in the same organisation’s junior middleweight rankings.

The WBO champion is Puerto Rican Xander Zayas, who is booked for a title defence against American Jaron Ennis in New York next month.

Tszyu (27-3, 18 KOs) landed many more blows, skilfully switching between the head and the body.

He dropped Nurja (20-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round and delivered a comprehensive beat down, but couldn’t finish the tough Albanian.

“He’s a tough man,” Tszyu said.

“I had him a couple of times, but he just didn’t drop.”

A big cut opened up under Tszyu’s left eye after a head clash a minute into the fourth round and he was set to get it stitched after the fight.

Just over a minute later Tszyu dropped Nurja with a left to the head and finished the round with several more punches.

Tszyu landed lots of punishing body shots in the fifth, as he continued to pile on the pressure.

He alternated his attack well between body and head, and whenever Nurja landed he invariably responded with multiple blows.

Referee Les Fear deducted a point form the Albanian in the seventh round.

Asked about the mooted match-up with Spence, Tszyu said: “I feel like I’m up for it.”

“It will be one hell of a fight, a banger.

“You know how I am; I don’t take a backward step

“You know what they say, ‘Catch the big fish’ — let’s go fishing.”

AAP