After salvaging his career with a win, the family’s 51st in succession in Newcastle, Tim Tszyu was spotted sporting a shirt with the words “They doubted me” emblazoned on it.

Yet when Tszyu woke up on Sunday morning, it appeared he also doubted himself.

Tim Tszyu is back in the winner’s circle.Credit: Getty Images

“In all honesty, a couple of times I was in my head, which are normal thoughts, ‘If I lose, what the hell am I gonna do after this? Three in a row,’” Tszyu said.

“But that’s just normal thoughts, that’s what we have to go through

“It’s just pushing and pushing through it.”

Tszyu pushed through for a career-salvaging win, against American Joey Spencer. The 30 year old’s reward is a likely clash with former two-time world champion Keith Thurman.

Tim Tszyu.Credit: Getty Images

It was achieved courtesy of a cautious opening, learning from the painful mistakes dispensed by Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev that resulted in Tszyu being knocked down on four separate occasions.

That demolition, coupled with the loss that preceded it against Sebastian Fundora, raised questions about whether Tszyu truly belongs on the world stage. Tszyu boldly proclaimed “I’m back, baby” after producing a clinical performance against Spencer. However, a more definitive answer will present itself should the Thurman fight proceed.

“I couldn’t do a third consecutive loss,” Tszyu said.

“I hope I can teach people that if they drop and go on the floor, if shit hits the fan, you can always rise back up and get back to the top.”

Tszyu took the opening three rounds to size up Spencer, before imposing himself on the man dubbed the “Small Town Soldier”. After connecting with a barrage of blows in the fourth, Spencer’s corner threw in the towel.

The challenge of making weight ultimately proved more difficult than mastering his opponent.

“I learnt from my mistakes,” Tszyu said.

“You don’t go in like a hothead in the first round and just abandon everything.”

Tszyu and Thurman were scheduled to fight on March 30 of last year, but the latter had to withdraw due to a biceps injury. Now they appear on a collision course after Tszyu’s dominant display against Spencer.

“Sign the contract, big boy. Sign the contract,” Tszyu said.

“If the fans want it, we can bring a mega-show to Australia.”

Just a few weeks ago, Thurman disposed of local hope Brock Jarvis. It was only the second fight for Thurman, a future hall-of-famer, in five years.

Given both he and Tszyu have made successful comebacks, they will belatedly meet. July has already been set aside as a potential fight date.

“That’ll be one hell of a fight,” Tszyu said.

“I know that [Spencer] fight and Keith Thurman are two completely different styles, so it’s a whole different approach I have to take.

“What I did tonight, I can’t do the same with Keith. It changes up and I gotta do something different.”

Asked what Thurman does well, Tszyu said: “His surprising shots, his movements … his shots from all different angles. That’s gonna be an interesting one.”