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Australia’s “throwback fighter” Tim Tszyu is all set to launch his assault on world boxing after making weight ahead of his unified super welterweight world title bout with Sebastian Fundora.
The pair both weighed in at 152.8 pounds for their WBO and WBC championship bout at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night (Sunday in Australia), with Tszyu again calling out the “p*ssies” currently in the sport
“This is throwback era,” Tszyu said on the mic.
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“None of these p*ssies should be in this era anymore.
“This is throwback and me and Fundora are going to put on a classico.
Tszyu, competing in the fight capital of the world for the first time, is giving away nine inches in height to the southpaw, who stepped in at late notice following an injury to Keith Thurman.
After eyeing up “The Towering Inferno” at the weigh-in, Tszyu was asked what he saw.
“His legs are quite thin, his body’s quite thin,” the 28-year-old said, before adding he expects to weigh 80 kilograms (176.3 lbs) come fight time.
“We’re two completely different animals, he’s a giraffe and I’m a tiger.
“It’s not the size of the man in the battle, it’s the size of the heart in the battle.
“No matter the size, every man bleeds the same blood.”
Tszyu’s activity and willingess to take on all challengers, including someone as unique as Fundora on 12-days’ notice, has many, including himself, labelling him an old-school fighter.
The Sydneysider says it’s a badge he wears with pride.
“I just grew up in the boxing era where fighters were fighters, I stand by that,” he said.
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“That’s just how I am, that’s my beginnings.”
Those beginnings alongside his legendary father and former undisputed super lightweight champion Kostya Tszyu have given him the perfect platform for success at the highest level.
Tim has long wanted to grow out of his old man’s shadow and his run to the world championship has set him well on his way to doing that.
“That’s the aim, to be the greatest fighting family that ever lived,” Tszyu said on Friday.
“They’re talking about Kostya now is Tim’s dad. That’s a great feeling to hear.”
“I’ve just got to keep going and try to reach even greater heights than my father, but anything’s possible.”
With a win on Saturday, Tszyu could launch himself into those legacy-defining fights, with names like Errol Spence and Terence Crawford being linked to the heavy-handed Australian.
Former welterweight champion Shawn Porter has doubts over whether Tszyu should step into the ring with “Bud”.
“That’s the fight you don’t take if you’re Tim Tszyu,” Porter told Sporting News.
“You get this fight with Sebastian Fundora, you put all your focus on him, you don’t look past him because he’s a hard hitter and still is very awkward in a lot of ways.
“A very tricky puzzle but nonetheless every fight’s a puzzle, but that Terence Crawford fight, that’s a 10,000-piece puzzle right there.
“That one is the hardest one to figure out, that’s one that I would stay away from.”