Tim Tszyu’s new coach has responded to criticism from Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech by claiming to have no idea who he is — while also suggesting those bagging his Cuban style should stump up their own coaching records.
Only eight weeks after first holding pads for Tszyu in Miami, Florida, Pedro Diaz has arrived into Sydney fresh off a world title win and ready to corner the Australian superstar’s hyped comeback against Anthony Velazquez.
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Despite boasting a stellar coaching resume – which also includes training 22 Olympic champions – Diaz has come under fire this week from several quarters, including both Hall of Famer Fenech and Velazquez’s coach Hector Bermudez.
As revealed by Fox Sports Australia, Fenech will not be attending Wednesday night’s TikTok Entertainment Centre headliner, having declared footage out of Tszyu’s camp as “f***ing worse than anything I’ve seen”.
Less than three months after being announced as a key part of Tszyu’s new team, Fenech suggested Diaz was training Tszyu no differently to his previous coach Igor Goloubev and branded some of the padwork sessions being uploaded to YouTube as laughable.
Apart from being one of Australian boxing’s most respected voices, Fenech has also had his opinion backed by Velazquez’s coach Hector Bermudez, who branded Diaz a coach famed for being “hired and fired”.
The New York native – who has himself trained five world champions — also spoke of being able to name 10 coaches better suited for Tszyu, who is looking to rebound from three world title losses against Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Asked initially about Fenech and his fight week criticism, Diaz replied via the aid of an interpreter: “Who? What did he say?”
Told the main criticism centred around him not training Tszyu any differently to his former coach, he continued: “Before Tim was with someone else, now he is with Pedro Diaz.
“So I don’t have to go to his backstory.
“I have to look at the story from here on.”
And as for question marks regarding your padwork with the Australian?
“I’m going to tell you something,” Diaz said. “I’ve had God’s blessing to work with 22 Olympic champions, and 22 professional world champions.
“If my mitts are not good, those are the results.
“So where are his results? Whoever that is.”
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While Tszyu has been in Australia for the best part of two weeks, Diaz only arrived on Tuesday morning after cornering another charge – Armenia’s Noel Mikaeljan –to win the WBC cruiserweight title in Los Angeles on Saturday.
As a result, the Cuban cornerman also replied frankly when quizzed on Bermudez’s long list of criticisms, which included not being alongside Tszyu until a day before the fight.
Bermudez also suggested joining the Mundo Boxing boss would actually be detrimental to Tszyu’s career, and branded it “a huge mistake”.
“I have something clear in my life,” Diaz said in response. “I try to do everything correct, or I don’t do it.
“I don’t care what anybody says.
“What is important to me, is what I do in growing the person.
“Everybody is going to apply the criticism.
“But nobody is going to say, ‘how do you solve the problem?’.”
“When Tim came to me, I was in camp with Noel.
“That’s why I haven’t been in camp with him now.
“Tim also came out here early due to the time change. On Saturday I was in Los Angeles for a world title fight which we won, and now I’m here.
“I cannot be in two places at the same time.
“So all the people talking good, bad, whatever, it doesn’t affect me.
“Nothing negative comes into my mind.
Tszyu vs Velazquez | Wednesday 17 Dec from 7pm AEDT | Tim Tszyu looks for redemption as “The Phoenix” takes on undefeated American Velazquez in an attempt to reignite his career. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
“I don’t even know who the f*** he is!” | 04:08
“Work hard, with discipline and always focus on victory.
“So whoever talks, demonstrate your results.”
Asked specifically about Bermudez, he said: “The only thing I know is that Velazquez is a good boxer and Hector is a great coach.
“But I’m coming from Los Angeles after winning my 22nd world championship with Noel.
“Last week, and this week I haven’t had a phone.
“So I don’t worry about what anyone is saying.
“I don’t care what people think, because I’m focused on victory.
“I won on Saturday and tomorrow I’m going for the victory as well.
“So whatever they say, it’s not a problem that will affect me.”
Elsewhere, there have been suggestions Diaz – and Team Tszyu – could also be drawn into a huge unification blockbuster against Australia’s Jai Opetaia, who is now keen to unify against Mikaeljan.
Yet despite claims suggesting they are already signed to fight the big punching Central Coast product, the coach seemed to suggest there was nothing guaranteed.
“There is interest between them,” he said.
“But remember something. Professional boxing is a business.
“Everything is on the table and the people who have to do the business will do it or not do it.
“I’m ready to train.”
And as for Tszyu now being his next world champion.
“Step by step,” Diaz replied. “Tomorrow he will show some things and then we keep moving forward.”
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Elsewhere, the coach was also asked about comparisons between him taking on Tszyu and Miguel, who has also revived and took to several blockbuster fights – including against Floyd Mayweather.
“When Cotto came to me, a lot of people didn’t trust his decision,” he said. “But if you review Cotto’s career, two of his biggest fights were with me – [Antonio] Magarito and Mayweather.
“So with Tim, we’re working with on being what he is, a great champion.”
So as for taking Tszyu to his own Mayweather moment?
“Everything is possible when you work with discipline and focus,” he said.
And as for Wednesday night?
“We know that Tim is a great warrior and a great boxer,” he said. “Anthony is also a great undefeated boxer with a great team.
“In the ring the punches will talk.”
And as for what he has been working on Stateside with the former WBO champ?
“Everything,” he replied. “Physical, tactical, competitive.
“Everyone knows Tim is a great boxer with great discipline. We also work on the mental side of things.”
Quizzed on the questions of Tszyu’s defence, he continued: “Whatever we’ve changed you are going to see it [Wednesday].
“Whatever Tim has to demonstrate he will do tomorrow.”
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