After a rollercoaster few months, Tim Tszyu is ready to step back into the ring, as he prepares for his clash with Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Following his unfortunate loss to Sebastian Fundora, Tszyu's comeback fight against Vergil Ortiz was cancelled after the Australian was not cleared by medical staff to resume training.
But now he's back and better than ever, and is hoping to put not just Murtazaliev, but the entire boxing world on notice.
Tszyu ready for redemption in Murtazaliev fight
In his first time back in the ring since his first career loss, Tszyu is taking on a potentially deadly opponent in Murtazaliev.
While he could've fielded an easier opponent for his comeback, he is adamant about fighting only the best, telling media Wednesday that it's his rival's abilities that excites him the most for this fight.
"I know what he brings," Tszyu said.
"He brings the heat, and you hit him, and he keeps coming. Those type of styles, they're hard because they got the dog in them. Some fighters, they don't have the dog. They might be skillful, but this guy, he's got the dog in him, and that always presents a tremendous task ahead.
"But I believe in my abilities and everything's going according to plan. Nothing is supposed to be easy on the road to the top. There's no such thing as an easy camp or as an easy fight.
"You want to get to the top and you want to get the big bucks, you got to go through the fire. Right now, it's all about going through that fire."
Last time out, Tszyu's night ended in defeat for the first time ever, after he was unable to overcome a gruesome cut to the forehead.
There could understandably be some hesitation from Tszyu as he awaits his return, but according to the Aussie, he'll be coming in all guns blazing.
"I'm bringing the heat, I'm bringing the heat," he said.
"There's no fear. There's none of that at all. It doesn't exist in my bloodstream at all.
"I just want the biggest and best challenges out there, and whoever they call the bad guy, give him to me, feed him to me.
"Hopefully, [Murtazaliev] doesn't take a step back because everyone knows what I bring and what my style is.
"Hopefully, there's no blood, as much blood on my side at this time. But hopefully, there's going to be some relentless action, and we bring the fans a fight to remember."
State of super welterweight is 'red-hot'
Tszyu is one of many current stars at super welterweight, alongside names such as Terence Crawford and Jermell Charlo, and the Aussie thinks that it could potentially be modern boxing's glamour division.
"I think it's red-hot," Tszyu said.
"Back in the days, I think it used to be middleweight, then it was the welterweight with [Floyd] Mayweather dominating to a certain extent.
"But I think now it's super welterweight division, red-hot names, some big match ups to be made. When you think about it, let's say in the near future, there's going to be so many crazy match-ups to be made.
"It's so exciting and it's a pleasure of mine, to be mentioned with those types of names [like Crawford], that's what it's all about.
"That's where I want to be, is to be the shot caller and be calling out these type of big fights.
"You do that by having a strap on your belt. I'm looking forward to being mentioned with all those boys."
Before he can dominate the division, Tszyu will need to get past Murtazaliev, who he will face on Sunday, October 20 Australian time, fighting in Orlando, Florida.
