You’d be hard-pressed to find a fighter who couldn’t wait to flip the calendar to 2025 faster than former junior middleweight title holder Tim Tszyu.

In March, Tszyu suffered a devastating split-decision loss and dropped his title to Sebastian Fundora in a brutal bloodbath marred by a deep gash on Tszyu’s forehead. Tszyu was forced to fight Fundora on less than two weeks' notice after his original opponent, Keith Thurman, withdrew due to injury.

The loss did not appear to diminish Tszyu’s stock, however, as Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, rewarded the Australian with a date on Riyadh Season’s debut show in the United States in August against Vergil Ortiz Jr. But Tszyu was forced to pull out of the announced fight because the cut was not properly healing.

Instead, Tszyu settled on challenging WBO 154-pound titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev in October, but Murtazaliev dominated and demolished Tszyu in just three rounds while knocking him down three times during the stoppage win.

Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs), who currently holds the No. 7 spot in Ring Magazine's junior middleweight rankings, reflected on his down year but promised a revival.

“2024 was a year of adversity,” said Tszyu. “I considered myself a throwback fighter. I didn't care who I had in front of me. I was willing to take on anyone. Things don’t always go to script, but that’s the best thing about boxing. What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger. I appreciate everyone's support. Sorry that I let a lot of people down. I like to punch on with the very best, and that’s exactly what I’ll keep doing. And that’s punching on with whoever. 2025 is the year we all become great in whatever we do. Chase greatness and never stop believing. See you all very soon.”

During a December interview, Tszyu admitted he was “humiliated and embarrassed” in the Murtazaliev fight and added that he’d be moving back to Australia to rebuild his career in 2025.