Tim Tszyu is weighing up a permanent move to middleweight following his victory against Errol Spence Jr. Securing an immediate fight against unbeaten Cuban Yoenli Hernandez would offer the Australian a decisive test to establish his 160-pound credentials.
Tszyu successfully rebuilt his momentum with the win over Spence, though that result came against a former champion making his first appearance in nearly two years. Prior to that victory, the 31-year-old endured a difficult spell at junior middleweight. Defeats against Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev exposed clear limitations, forcing Tszyu to re-evaluate his career path and consider moving up to 160 pounds.
At 31, Tszyu does not have the luxury of spending an extended period fighting lower-ranked middleweight opposition. Taking three or four cautious tune-up contests against fringe contenders would do very little to demonstrate whether he can contend with the division’s elite. If his ultimate ambition is to win another world championship, he must inevitably face opponents of proven quality.
Hernandez presents the ideal benchmark for the division.
The unbeaten Cuban fighter blends an exceptional amateur pedigree with substantial knockout capability, having finished nine of his initial ten professional bouts. Hernandez has looked like a future world champion since entering the professional ranks. His style, power, and movement would immediately reveal how well Tszyu handles the step up in size and strength.
The top of the middleweight division features formidable champions like Carlos Adames, making early progress essential for any newcomer. A victory over Hernandez would instantly establish Tszyu as a legitimate contender at 160 pounds and erase much of the uncertainty lingering from his junior middleweight losses. Conversely, a defeat would provide an equally definitive answer, demonstrating that the division’s larger fighters present a hurdle he cannot overcome. Taking the direct route remains his best option.
