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Tim Tszyu has credited his dad Kostya for correctly pinpointing the problems that led to him being brutally kayoed by Bakhram Murtazaliev – while also promising to unveil a new look in his upcoming Australian showdown against US prospect Joey Spencer.
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Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, the 30-year-old Sydneysider has also revealed he will be going against the advice of heavyweight promoters No Limit when he once again headlines ‘Tszyucastle’ against Spencer – the hyped American puncher who has twice been crowned PBC prospect of the year.
Only four months after suffering a shock world title loss against IBF super welterweight champ Murtazaliev, Tszyu is now back in camp and readying to face Spencer (19-1) at Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Sunday, April 6.
The Main Event pay-per-view will be confirmed on Tuesday at 12 noon, with a press event slated for Dixons Park, Newcastle.
Still only 24, Spencer is a nine-time American champion and was only recently discussed as a potential title challenger for division king Sebastian Fundora – who won both the WBC and WBO straps from Tszyu last year.
Given all of this, and the fact Tszyu is now himself coming off consecutive title losses, the Australian superstar conceded his promotional team had urged against facing the Michigan product, and instead suggested he recommence his push to the top against a domestic opponent – with Michael Zerafa among a shortlist of names.
“But I just said ‘f*** it man, let’s get straight back in the deep end’,” Tszyu shrugged.
“Keep reaching for the stars.”
Soon after, the Sydneysider continued of his decision to face Spencer: “I actually don’t think this is a fight too many people want for me.
“Coming off (two) losses, they wanted me to come back with an easier opponent and, of course, domestic names were mentioned.
“But for me, I’ve always aimed for the stars.
“And OK, no, sometimes things don’t always go to plan.
“But nothing changes.
“That’s just who I am.
“I want to fight the toughest guys, the baddest guys out there and show them who the real bad man is.
“It’s that simple.”
Asked why he agreed to Spencer specifically, Tszyu continued: “Because he ain’t no bum.
“Joey Spencer is a young guy, somebody who is considered a great challenge and that’s what I’m all about.”
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Despite his standing among the most recognised athletes in Australia, Tszyu has endured a tough 12 months that saw him, first, lose his world title in a bloody war against Fundora, before then being stopped by Murtazaliev within three rounds last October.
While Tszyu was seriously compromised by a head cut against in the first outing, and still only lost via split decision, the Murtazaliev bout saw him dropped four times in three rounds before younger brother Nikita threw in the towel.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia in December, Tszyu’s Hall of Fame father Kostya said that the loss – which he watched on from ringside – bore similarities to his own 1997 defeat against Vince Phillips, when the champ was on an undefeated tear of 19 straight and being talked up for a potential superfight against Oscar De La Hoya.
Eventually, Kostya would not only recover from the loss but earn some of his biggest wins – think Zab Judah, Sharmba Mitchell and Julio Cesar Chavez — while also becoming the division’s undisputed king.
However, when it came to Phillips, the Australian fight great admitted to having been looking ahead to bigger things and suggested his eldest son had been doing exactly the same late last year.
“It’s very similar to when I lost against Vince Phillips,” Kostya explained of the Murtazaliev KO.
“I think Tim had the same attitude I did.
“Before the fight, he was thinking about other fights in the future.
“But you cannot do that.
“It’s only a small mistake.
“A psychological one.
“But you cannot look ahead …”
With Kostya having jetted into Sydney for Tim’s wedding before Christmas, and then stayed on several weeks, father and son were not only able to spend some quality time working in the gym through summer, but discuss his two title losses.
Asked this week about Kostya’s Phillips comparison, Tim Tszyu said: “Yeah, dad is right, I agree with him on that one.
“Coming into the Murtazaliev fight, I felt like I was … f***, how do I say this … I felt like I was Iron Man.
“Which is a great feeling to have.
“But boxing has a habit of revealing the truth.
“And sometimes when you come in with confidence like that, the sport can tell you to slow down a little bit.”
As a result, Tszyu is now completely dialled in on Spencer, while also promising to showcase some adjustments to his game when he makes his first step back towards becoming a two-time world champion.
“This fight is about changing it up, coming in with something new,” he said.
“And I have to bring something new, have to show something I haven’t before.
“I can’t just keep bringing the same thing, because there are people figuring that out now.
“More recently I’ve shown, shown, shown, shown, shown … and there are people out there studying me, finding little gaps, finding punches to throw against me.
“In the early days, I was bringing something new to every fight.
“Against Jeff Horn, something new.
“Then against guys like Dennis Hogan, same thing.
“I was changing it up every time, with new punches, whatever.
“And now it has to be the same in this fight.
“Obviously I don’t want to give you too much, but I’ve been working hard in the gym on a few little things, some adjustments.
“Now I have to go out and execute.”
While there will be plenty on the line for both Tszyu and Spencer when they finally collide in April, don’t expect the pair to exchange too many unpleasantries during the build up.
A US fighting phenom from the tiny Michigan town of Linden, Spencer is already living and training on Australian time in camp — which means finishing up sessions around midnight in a converted barn gym, while outside temperatures sit as low as minus eighteen.
The fighter has also recently driven through snowstorms just to attend sparring sessions in nearby towns.
Asked about his thoughts on ‘The Soul Taker’, Spencer told Fox Sports Australia last week: “I’m actually a fan.
“Not only of Tim Tszyu’s style, but his spirit.
“The guy is a true warrior, embodies what boxing should be.
“We’ve seen opponents change from Jermell Charlo to Tony Harrison, then Keith Thurman to Sebastian Fundora – probably the biggest stylistic change you could have – and he’s still been willing to do that.
“And both times too, go fight the way he did.
“So I really admire his warrior spirit and am looking forward to sharing the ring with him.”
To which Tszyu says what?
“I hadn’t actually heard that he’d said that as I haven’t been looking at much media,” the Aussie replied.
“But I have been watching Joey for a long time.
“We both fought on the same card in Minnesota (in 2022) and I’ve been following his career.
“He’s a slick fighter.
“Really good fighter.
“He’s all about challenging himself as well.”
