Tim Tszyu has spoken for the first time about where it all went wrong in his shock world title loss against Russia’s Bakhram Murtazaliev – describing it as like having “bombs exploding in my head” – while also revealing he will marry longtime partner Alexandra in Sydney next week.
BOXING: INOUE VS GOODMAN | TUE 24 DEC 7PM AEDT | Australia’s Sam Goodman is set for a blockbuster Christmas Eve fight against undefeated Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue in Tokyo | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Now two months on from being brutally kayoed by undefeated IBF king Murtazaliev, Tszyu has confessed to having never experienced anything like he did that night in Orlando, Florida – when dropped four times in three rounds before brother Nikita threw the towel.
However the fighter just as quickly stresses he will be back “challenging for world titles” soon, and remains convinced that he has the skills, and style, necessary to dominate the super welterweight division.
In an incredibly open interview with Fox Sports Australia, Tszyu said still has not rewatched the Murtazaliev loss – and likely won’t – while also revealing he and Hall of Fame father Kostya, who was ringside on fight night, also haven’t discussed the fight at all.
Tszyu also couldn’t comment on commentary from various fight commentators and analysts about how he started the championship bout, saying he couldn’t recall the early rounds and had not really spoken at length with anyone about how it ended.
Tszyu did admit, however, to feeling “a different vibe” with his father back ringside for the first time since his debut, but rejected suggestions the old man’s presence may have impacted the way he fought early.
The 30-year-old also laughed off suggestions he is set to fight Australian boxing bad boy Michael Zerafa next – “nah, don’t mention his name” – while opening up on his marriage to fiancée Alexandra Constantine, which takes place within days.
A noted car enthusiast, Tszyu has hired 50 vehicles as part of next week’s Sydney nuptials, which will include some 110 guests – with best mate from school, Shoyo, taking on the role of best man.
While Kostya will not be jetting in from Russia for the event – “he’s busy, as always,” Tim cackled – the legendary fight great will be back Down Under early in the New Year as part of a speaking tour.
While Tszyu’s loss may have rocked the Australian sports landscape, and been discussed, debated and replayed several times by commentators, journalists and fans, the man himself is yet to watch it – just as he hasn’t watched his previous title loss to towering American Sebastian Fundora.
“I’ve also never watched dad’s fight against Ricky Hatton back,” the fighter continued, referencing the bout that finished his father’s career.
“Never watched the Fundora fight back
“So I’m not expecting to watch this one back either.”
And why?
“Dunno,” he shrugged. “It’s not a feeling I want to relive again … I’d rather look to the future”.
Tszyu also rejected suggestions his next fight would be an all-Australian showdown against longtime rival, Zerafa.
“Nah, don’t mention that name,” he said.
“I’ve always been an international fighter.
“So while I do want to come back and fight in Australia, that man doesn’t deserve to be on this type of stage.
“Let him dwell.”
Goodman takes on Binga in the nets | 00:47
Quizzed on the questions surrounding how he started the fight, and his thoughts on the start against Murtazaliev, Tszyu shrugged: “I can’t recall.
“But from what I can remember, I got caught early in round two. And that’s all I really remember.
“I wish I got to show my boxing skills.
“Coming into the fight, I felt unbelievable.
“I felt super human …”
But the fight itself?
“The only thing that went wrong was getting hit with one shot,” Tszyu shrugged.
“And I couldn’t recover.
“I remember the back of my head, it was throbbing.
“I don’t know what shot it was from.
“But my head was throbbing, I couldn’t feel my legs … every time I was getting hit it felt in my head like bombs were exploding.
“It wasn’t punches, but bombs.
“I’ve never felt that before.
“Usually, you can take shots.
“It’s part of the game.
“But this was explosion, after explosion, after explosion.
“It was weird.
“You know, you’re down and thinking ‘what the f… is going on?’.
“You’re in shock
“But you get up, because in you’re head you’re still thinking ‘you’re gunna have to f…ing kill me to get me out of here’.”
Indeed, much to his credit, Tszyu continued to rise after being dropped by the Russian – with the fight only stopped when younger brother Nikita threw the towel.
“I wasn’t going to get counted out,” Tszyu said before then adding with a laugh, “even when proposing to me missus, I was only down for a quick knee.
“Then up I go.
“You’re gunna have to kill me to get me out of there.”
Asked if having dad ringside for the first time in so long made a difference, Tszyu took a long pause before replying: “I felt a different vibe”.
Think it made you fight differently?
“No, I don’t think I fought differently,” he said,
“And I didn’t hear dad when I was in the ring.
“But it did feel a little different, maybe just not be used to him there …”
What about his impact in fight week?
“I didn’t really see him,” Tszyu conceded, speaking after attending the weigh-ins for Friday night’s No Limit on Fox showcase, which is set to be headlined be the return of popular Australian Brock Jarvis, and also include the professional debut of Olympian Callum Peters.
“I only really saw dad at the press conference and weigh-in.
“That was it.
“Otherwise I stayed isolated.
“That’s why everything was smooth, the team worked so well.
“So I don’t think he played a part.
“But it was a different vibe”.
Fastest knock out ever? | 00:26
What did he say afterwards?
“I haven’t spoken to him,” he said simply.
“Or not about the fight.”
So afterwards, he just spoke as a dad?
“Honestly, I don’t remember,” Tszyu conceded. “The whole thing was just a blur.”
“But I’d have him there at my next fight.
“Again, fight week was sweet.”
Tszyu also rejected suggestions he was looking beyond the champ, despite American Erickson Lubin revealing at ringside after the fight that he had been signed to face Tszyu in December.
“I was switched on, man,” Tszyu insisted.
“Honestly.
“Everything in fight week was so good.
“It wasn’t my performance,
“I just got caught early.
“I wasn’t out performed.
“And maybe if we fight 10 times, I win nine.
“But on that night he landed the first shot.
“That’s boxing.
“Like the night I fought Carlos Ocampo.
“Maybe we were going to have a hard fought slugfest.
“But what did I do?
“I landed that first shot, first minute and it was lights out.
“At this level, that’s boxing.
“That’s what makes the sport so brutal.”
Discussion about this post