Untimely drama as Tszyu’s new coach grounded amid ‘show us your resume’ call

Tim Tszyu’s new management team has vigorously defended the fighter’s decision to hire famed Olympic coach Pedro Diaz – despite it being branded a huge mistake – while also urging critics of the Cuban maestro to “show us your resume”.

The declaration comes as Fox Sports Australia can reveal a key member of Tszyu’s new corner, who had been planning to fly in from both the United States and Serbia at the start of next week, has been grounded due to unforeseen visa issues.

The untimely drama means Tszyu’s fight night entourage will likely now include close mate, and personal chef, Omar Iferd, who was surprisingly caught up in a fight week slanging match with the former world champ’s latest rival – undefeated American puncher Anthony Velazquez.

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Elsewhere, Tszyu has also said he has no interest in rematching American Tony Harrison — who he stopped to claim the interim WBO super welterweight gold two years ago — but conceded the outspoken former world champion could be a potential rival for younger brother Nikita.

After a tough run of three straight championship losses, Tszyu is now looking to begin his push back to the top of world boxing in next Wednesday’s headliner against Velazquez, who boasts a KO ratio above 80 per cent.

While the American and his team only arrived in Sydney on Friday after their own travel chaos, head coach Hector Bermudez wasted no time taking the big stick to both Tszyu and his new corner.

Apart from branding the 31-year-old Sydneysider a quitter, and shot, Bermudez also slammed Coach Diaz — branding him a mentor best suited for amateurs who has continually been “hired and fired”.

Elsewhere, the New Yorker responsible for training five world champions also warned Tszyu had erred by sacking his longtime head coach Igor Goloubev, and suggested there were no less than 10 US-based coaches who would’ve been a better fit than Diaz.

Yet when quizzed on the Diaz criticism, Tszyu’s new manager Darcy Ellis asked how anyone could question a coach responsible for not only training over 20 world champions, but also more than 20 Olympic medallists.

“I realise Hector Bermudez is a respected trainer and boasts several champions himself,” Ellis started. “And now he’s arrived here in Australia with Anthony Hernandez, who we know is an undefeated fighter and definitely a big puncher.

“So you have to give both these guys their props.

“But at the same time, how can anyone question the credentials of Pedro Diaz? He’s coached more than 20 world champions. And more than 20 Olympic medallists.

“How many trainers have a resume like that?

“So anyone talking negatively about Pedro, the only thing I’d say is ‘show us your resume’.

“That’s not being disrespectful.

“But unless you’ve trained over 20 world champions, and another 20 Olympic medallists, I’m not sure you’re qualified to question his worth to Tim Tszyu.

“Same as Hector can accuse Tim of being a quitter, being shot, whatever.

“But we know this is a fighter who keeps turning up. Who still wants the biggest challenges.

“And we know he’s going to prove who he is next Wednesday night.

“Because having seen the footage of Tim sparring in Miami – while we won’t talk too much about it – I can tell you it really is the best he’s ever looked.

“And obviously sparring is sparring. It’s not a fight.

“But going off everything that has been happening over there with Pedro, you’re about to see a very different Tim Tszyu.”

Yet while Tszyu may have enjoyed an incredibly positive fight build, the fighter’s new corner has suffered a fight week blow following news Serbian assistant coach Stefan Hubert will not be ringside on Wednesday night due to his visa taking longer than expected to be passed by officials.

As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia, two of Tszyu’s new corner – Diaz and cutman Osvaldo Nordelo – will be making a late dash into Sydney on Tuesday morning after first cornering WBC cruiserweight contender Noel Mikaelyan this weekend.

As a result, Diaz had hand-picked Hubert to travel from Belgrade, Serbia to assist Tszyu for the final 10 days of camp.

However, with visa issues initially delaying the assistant coach’s arrival, and now likely leaving him grounded in Serbia altogether, Tszyu is expected to call into the corner one of his early amateur coaches Khalil ‘Killa’ Saab – who has been assisting with preparations this week.

Tszyu will also be accompanied to the ring by his grandfather Boris – with whom he has never lost either professionally or as an amateur – while Iferd is also a strong chance of being the fourth man ringside on fight night.

At a media event inside Tszyu’s gym at Rockdale PCYC last Friday, the man who has shadowed Tszyu for his entire camp in the US found himself in an uncharacteristic war of words with not only Velasquez, but also his coach and younger brother.

Ellis, meanwhile, also responded to claims Team Tszyu has picked the wrong man for his first fight back after being retired on his stool by Sebastian Fundora.

As part of his rant on Friday, Bernudez warned: “When you’re trying to rebuild a fighter, you don’t pick a puncher … and this kid (Velazquez) got dynamite in both hands.

“Tim is a throwback fighter and always wants the biggest challenges,” Ellis said.

“Obviously right at the moment, Tim is looking for the type of fights that will put him back into world title contention and Velasquez brings the resume for that.

“Given where Tim is at, he’s actually the perfect test.”

Elsewhere, Tszyu also said he had no interest in rematching Harrison, despite the American telling Main Event this week he was looking for a second shot at the man who bested him for the interim WBO title.

But as for Harrison facing little brother if he beats Michael Zerafa in January?

“That would be interesting,” Tszyu told The Punch Podcast. “Would be an interesting fight.

“Nikita is a rangy fighter. And Harrison is a really good boxer. So really good fight.”