Tszyu, Volk Vegas double act looms as plans revealed ahead of UFC star’s resurrection bid

Tim Tszyu and Alexander Volkanovski could both be headlining blockbusters Las Vegas title shots during the US summer as part of a huge resurrection double that includes, together, fighting six times in 2025.

In what shapes as one of Australia’s greatest sporting redemption stories, the two great mates and fighting superstars are now both looking to go back to the top of their respective sports after a horror 2024 saw the duo lose their world titles and suffer vicious KOs.

On Sunday, Tszyu was the first to bounce back with a brutal stoppage win against US prospect Joey Spencer — opening up talks with both Keith Thurman and Sebastian Fundora.

And now speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Volkanovski has unveiled his blueprint to secure both GOAT status and “one of the biggest matches in UFC history” when he fights Diego Lopes for the vacant UFC featherweight title this Sunday.

UFC 314: Volkanovski vs Lopes | SUN 13 APRIL | Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski looks to become a two-time World Champion as he takes on Brazil’s Diego Lopes for the vacant Undisputed Featherweight title, in Miami | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.

Only a day after Tszyu demolished dangerous US prospect Joey Spencer – and declared “I’m back, baby” – his promoters No Limit have ramped up negotiations with the teams of both Thurman and Fundora.

While a July Gold Coast showdown against Thurman remains the most likely outcome, there is now a chance ‘The Soul Taker’ goes straight into a rematch with WBC and WBO champion, Fundora – with No Limit revealing Las Vegas, Sydney and Gold Coast as the three possible venues.

Tszyu’s promoters now have talks booked in with Team Fundora over the next 48 hours to determine exactly when the towering US southpaw wants to defend next, having beaten Chordale Booker only three weeks ago.

While a Thurman fight in New York has also entered the mix, No Limit have already announced a Gold Coast event for July 6 — with the glitter strip’s mayor Tommy Tate also ringside for Tszyu’s brutal finish of Spencer in Newcastle.

Yet if a fight with Fundora can be secured, it would be hard to imagine the champ wanting to travel to Australia for a headliner against Tszyu, whose famous family is now undefeated on home soil in 51 straight fights and counting.

“Although both the Gold Coast and Sydney are beautiful,” No Limit CEO George Rose said with a laugh on Sunday night, and after conceding he almost cried four times ringside following Tszyu’s win.

“So who knows.”

The other option being discussed with Fundora’s agent Sampson Lewkowicz is a return to Las Vegas, where The Towering Inferno famously earned his bloody split decision win over Tszyu early last year, and after the Australian suffered a nasty head cut.

Rose confirmed that it was through Fundora’s straps that Tszyu could then earn his way back into the US blockbusters he has always craved — including against Jermell Charlo.

Volkanovski, meanwhile, could also be headlining the world’s fight capital this summer should he complete his own incredible resurrection in this Sunday’s UFC 314 title showdown against breakout Brazilian contender Lopes.

Speaking from inside fight camp, the popular Wollongong native explained how after defeating the dangerous but “reckless” Lopes, he then plans to turn around within three months – which makes the UFC’s annual International Fight Week card in late June a possibility.

The UFC is yet to announce its schedule for July and August.

Like Tszyu, Volkanovski is also looking to rebound from consecutive title defeats before embarking on a second reign that, with a win, he insists will see him defend at least two more times this year.

‘The Great’ says that once on a run of three straight wins, there would be no option for UFC boss Dana White but to then pitch him straight into a hyped rematch against Ilia Topuria, and potentially for the lightweight title.

It has now been over a year since Topuria shocked the world by knocking out Volkanovski, and taking his crown, at UFC 298 in California.

Yet after defending only once since, albeit via a spectacular KO win against Max Holloway, the Spaniard has now vacated the title himself to go after UFC lightweight megastar Islam Makhachev.

To which Volkanovski says what?

“The fact that Ilia has vacated to chase a lightweight title, yeah, that’s fair,” he tells Fox Sports Australia.

“He isn’t in the position to hold two belts at the same time, nor do I think the UFC would give him the chance, so he’s vacated and I have to respect that.

“He’s done the right thing, not holding up a division trying to chase a lightweight title.

“I also think it means that when we eventually do that rematch, it will be one of the biggest in UFC history.”

UFC 314: Volkanovski vs Lopes | SUN 13 APRIL | Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski looks to become a two-time World Champion as he takes on Brazil’s Diego Lopes for the vacant Undisputed Featherweight title, in Miami | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.

Asked about his plans for this year, Volkanovski said he was also ready to cement his legacy as the greatest UFC featherweight ever.

“Given what I plan to do for the rest of this year, I do that and you’re going to leave no questions,” he said.

“That’s what I’m planning.

“People love a comeback and I know my story isn’t done.

“And I can’t wait to show the rest of the world.”

And as for the key to beating Lopes?

“Fighting my fight,” he said.

“And while I’ve obviously got a game plan, it’s also about fighting what is in front of me, and capitalising.

“Diego Lopes is dangerous, but he will be reckless and I have to capitalize on that.

“Because when they fight reckless, it leaves openings.

“So if he makes bad decisions, I have to make him pay.”

Soon after, Volkanovski continued: “I am getting the belt back this weekend.

“Then I’ll turn around quickly and defend — then defend a second time before the year is out.

“And if Topuria goes and wins the lightweight title, I think there is then the opportunity to do that rematch at lightweight.

“I’ve got work to do to get there obviously, but I plan on doing that.

“And if I win the belt back, then defend two more times this year … who isn’t going to want that rematch?

“It will be massive.”

Volk also said he was happy to wait out the chance to rematch Topuria, despite initially thinking he would be fighting him for redemption this weekend.

“Initially, I wanted Topuria straight away, it’s all I cared about,” he says.

“But then when I started training again, started ramping things up I started getting that same energy I always had previously as an active champion, which is to just get me in there.

“So it quickly became a case of ‘when are we fighting, get me a fight’.

“And so then when the talks slowed down with Topuria, they were saying how he might move up, that’s when my mindset changed to ‘just get me a fight’.

“I didn’t care if it was for an interim title.

“I wanted to fight because I’m back into that mindset ‘I’m getting that belt back, let’s go’.”

Elsewhere, Rose also spoke about Tszyu’s revelation that he would likely move up to middleweight within the year, suggesting it was still too early to put a timeframe on a division change.

“I think we’ll know a lot more after his next weight cut,” he said.

“Because leading into Sunday’s fight, Tim had been out of the ring for a while.

“It was probably the longest break of his career.

“So this cut was always going to be a tough one.

“But I think the next one will decide it.

“He will know for how long he keeps doing it at super welterweight.”