Australia’s Tim Tszyu admits to being “pissed off” with Keith Thurman for withdrawing from his hyped Las Vegas blockbuster, but stresses the showdown is even bigger now with two belts on the line – and almost certainly a guaranteed superfight with American megastar Terence Crawford.
After a chaotic 24 hours, Tszyu also stressed no other fighter in the division would be willing to take the risks he is, promised to buy a new green sports car in victory and laughed off suggestions Thurman’s withdrawal is part of an elaborate ploy to keep his belt Stateside.
“F…ing conspiracy theories,” the Soul Taker cackled, shaking his head.
Only hours after Thurman withdrew from their hyped T Mobile headliner with injury, Tszyu jumped on a zoom call with the world’s boxing media to discuss his new showdown with “tricky” challenger Sebestian ‘Towering Inferno’ Fundora on Sunday March 31.
BOXING: Tszyu v Fundora + Zerafa v Lara live from Las Vegas | WED 31 MAR 11AM AEDT | Exclusive to Main Event, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription needed.
Fundora looming as Thurman replacement | 02:51
Despite now facing an incredible different opponent in Fundora – an awkward southpaw who stands 197cm tall — Tszyu insists it took “10 seconds” to accept, while also revealing he is already working with the man who knocked Inferno cold last April – American Brian Mendoza.
Tszyu added that while Fundora was also a bigger challenge than Thurman in every sense, there was also a larger prize now on the line given he will defend his WBO strap and also challenge for the vacant WBC crown.
Australia’s undefeated poster boy also confirmed that, after Thurman withdrew, he was initially offered two replacements – Fundora and WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara.
The latter of those is set to defend his own strap on the same night against fellow Aussie and famed Tszyu rival Michael Zerafa.
“So I didn’t want to break Zerafa’s heart,” Tszyu grinned on his eventual choice between the two.
Fox Sports Australia can also reveal the champ’s manager Glen Jennings has already handpicked two towering southpaws to fly into the world’s fight capital today to finish preparations for Fundora.
One is a 193cm Baltimore slugger, the other a 191cm Detroit native.
The undefeated Sydneysider will not be sparring any rounds with his younger brother Nikita however, despite the 26-year-old Australian champ currently being in Las Vegas himself.
Asked about also suddenly having the opportunity to unify titles like his old man and Hall of Fame father Kostya Tszyu once did, the 29-year-old continued: “I haven’t really thought about it.
“But it is cool.
“Unifications don’t happen often in boxing.
“So that’s the next job for me.
“We’re talking about the greatest boxing family to ever step foot on this earth happening right now.”
Asked when he found out Thurman was out, Tszyu replied: “Last night”.
The champ then accepted the Fundora offer “without hesitation”.
“It took 10 seconds,” he said.
“Yes, it (the withdrawal) made me pissed off.
“But the focus shifts and the show goes on, simple.
“I’m not Thurman.
“I don’t need two, three days to analyse an opponent.
“They told me Fundora and I said ‘yes, done’.”
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‘THE TOWERING INFERNO’: Why Tszyu has long been warned to avoid new 197cm title rival
Asked by Fox Sports Australia how many others in his division would accept Fundora on 12 days notice, Tszyu replied: “Zero”.
Butas for him saying yes?
“Because there was no reason for me to back out,” he continued.
“I fear no man.
“I know I’m the best at 154 and I know what I possess.
“So I’m not the one who should be fearing.
“He should be fearing me.
“Have you watched Troy …”
Um, it’s been a while but yes.
“Remember what Achilies did?” he said, still grinning. “It’s not the size of the man in the battle.”
When talk of his Las Vegas venture was first announced, all word on likely opponents centred around Tszyu squaring off with popular American southpaw Erickson Lubin.
While negotiations for that bout surprisingly fell over in late January, Tszyu stressed the work he had already done for Lubin made it easier to accept the Fundora challenge.
“We did over 100 rounds with southpaws before I came into camp (in Las Vegas),” he said.
“So I’m comfortable with them.
“But again, whoever they put in front of me I don’t care less.”
Tszyu also welcomed news that Crawford, the undisputed welterweight king, has submitted to move up and become mandatory for his WBO strap.
“Beautiful,” he said.
“It’s every fighter’s dream to be on the biggest stage of them all.
“But now the dream is to unify.
“And happy we’re fighting for both the WBO and WBC belts.”
Asked about winning the famed WBC strap, he said: “I just gotta choose I nice green car to match the belt”.
And as for sparring?
BOXING: Tszyu v Fundora + Zerafa v Lara live from Las Vegas | WED 31 MAR 11AM AEDT | Exclusive to Main Event, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription needed.
Thurman pulls out of Tszyu clash | 00:46
“We’ve got some sparring partners already,” he insisted
“My manager and one of our assistants here sorted it straight away.
“They arrived this morning.
“I’d been preparing for Keith Thurman so it’s a big shift, I understand that.
“But I’ve got the boys ready to go.
“This is what it takes to be great.
“We’ll go for the week.
“I’ll get a couple of spars in just to freshen up my mind.”
Asked by Fox Sports Australia if Nikita would also join them, Tszyu laughed at his brother, who was sitting across the table out of view: “Nah, he’s too short.
“You’re too small Nikita.”
Tszyu also revealed that, as part of his preparations for Thurman, he had sparred rounds with Mendoza, who he beat himself late last year.
Ironically, it was a staggering knockout of Fundora last April which earned Mendoza the shot at Tszyu.
While the Towering Inferno was winning every round, he was brutally stopped in the seventh for the first loss of his career, and now almost a year on faces a rival in Tszyu who has already picked the brain of his victor.
“You know what, it’s funny, the last time we sparred we had a random conversation about Fundora,” Tszyu explained.
“He said Fundora is like a height bully, that’s all he is.
“Got average boxing skills, average IQ.
“But he has this physique that allows him to bully people.
“But you can really work him out.
“And Mendoza got him good, let’s say that.”
On taking the fight on 12 days notice, he continued: “In my mind, I’m in a different era.
“We’re in this era now where it’s Twitter battles rather than fights.
“So I hope I can inspire more boxers out there.
“Because I’ve saved the show.
“Saved it.
“Staying at T Mobile, every fighter on the undercard (still fighting), it’s all because of my decision.”
Elsewhere, Tszyu said Fundora’s size was “the biggest challenge”, agreed it was a “more awkward fight” but also stressed he was now in line for a “bigger prize”.
When it was suggested he doesn’t care who stands in his way, Tszyu replied: “Clearly not”.
And as for suggestions this whole thing was a conspiracy by US promoters PBC to grab his belts and keep them in the US?
“The belts are coming home with me,” Tszyu shrugged.
“What are you talking about?
“F…ing conspiracy theories”.
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