That matters. Boxing can look tone-deaf when it pushes on regardless. Here, the decision feels measured. The weigh-in goes ahead. Fight night goes ahead. The noise around it is turned down.
Tszyu’s Homecoming Comes With No Comfort
For Tszyu, this was supposed to be straightforward. First fight back in Sydney in nearly three years. A controlled outing at a 157lb catchweight. Momentum after setbacks, without unnecessary risk.
Now it plays differently.
He’s the hometown fighter in a city that’s grieving. That strips away the usual theatrics. No big grins. No chest-thumping. Just business. In some ways, that suits Tszyu. He’s always been better when things are cold and serious.
Velazquez, though, isn’t here to fill space. Undefeated. First fight outside the U.S. Nothing to protect. That combination can get awkward if the favourite switches off for even a moment. Tszyu can’t afford that. Not now, not in front of his own crowd, and not with bigger plans waiting.
This isn’t about statements or spectacle. It’s about doing the job cleanly, showing control, and getting out without questions hanging over him.
Why the Fight Still Goes Ahead
The choice to continue isn’t about ignoring what happened. It’s about acknowledging it properly. Fight night will include a moment of respect. No Limit have been clear on that. No forced smiles. No pretending boxing exists in a vacuum.
Sydney doesn’t often deal with this kind of violence. When it does, everything feels heavier. That weight will be in the building. Fighters feel that stuff, whether they admit it or not.
Tszyu knows it. Velazquez will feel it too. One carries expectation. The other carries nothing but ambition.
That tension doesn’t sell tickets. It does shape fights.
Fight details:
Venue: TikTok Entertainment Centre, Sydney
Date: Wednesday
Start time: 7:00pm local | 8:00am ET | 1:00pm UK
/16x9%20single%20image%20-%202026-02-21T102613.146.webp?ssl=1 "5 key questions that need answering after the second 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain")
