First time Tim Tszyu ever fought in Las Vegas, he wheeled out a Bautista bomb.

Which back in the early 2000s, he says, was his WWE finishing move of choice.

“That and John Cena’s FU,” the champ grins, kicked back now in the lounge room of a sprawling, two story Las Vegas home which, with large pool out back and black Porsche in the driveway, sits hidden away some 20 minutes from the strip.

A place, Tszyu will also tell you, now feels like home.

And not only for his upcoming blockbuster against American superstar Keith Thurman, either.

No, Tszyu says the world’s fight capital is where he will now stay for everything coming after he beats Thurman inside what will be a heaving T-Mobile Arena come March 31.

Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jnr, these are who Australia’s undefeated boxing face wants next.

Then from there?

Everything.

Yep, Tszyusa.

UFC 298: VOLKANOVSKI VS TOPURIA | SUN 18 FEB | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the new exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View events!

Which is why in his first major interview since arriving Stateside, Tszyu will spend over an hour talking Fox Sports Australia through so many wonderful storylines which includes everything from Thurman, Crawford and his new US “pussies” hit list to where Hall of Fame father Kostya will sit in the crowd come March.

Elsewhere, the WBO super welterweight champ also opens up on Jermell Charlo’s “mental breakdown”, why the WBC strap should be his, even that first time he really threw down in the world’s fight capital.

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“I was about 13,” Tszyu starts this particular Monday morning, dressed down in black pants, grey jumper, and sipping coffee from a white mug.

“Dad had brought us here, our whole family, for the big fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.

“We were staying at the MGM Grand and sometime before going to the fight, my brother and I were in our hotel room wrestling.

“Back in the day, Rey Mysterio was my favourite but my move, it was the Bautista Bomb.

“Which is exactly what I’ve done to Nikita.

“But then of course everything turns sour and we’re going at it.”

So you were both throwing punches in the hotel room?

“No, no, Nikita’s throwing punches and I’m stood there trying to block them,” Tszyu cackles.

“Our parents went nuts.

“Or mum did.

“If dad had known, mate, it would’ve been reeeeal trouble”.

These days, of course, trouble is exactly what Tszyu has arrived in Las Vegas to make. A truth proved from the moment he first picked up a microphone at what quickly became a hyped fight launch here in Las Vegas …

Mate, it’s now been two weeks since you branded some of America’s biggest fight stars ‘pussies’ at the launch of your Thurman fight – what’s the blowback been like here in town?

“Man, no one’s said anything to me because no one can argue it. It isn’t like this is something I’m making up. Or something I’m just saying to build a fight. It’s fact. Obviously, I know the closer you get to fighting elite guys, the fewer fights you can make. I get that. But we’ve also got guys now who disappear on honeymoons. They have no drive. Don’t stay active. There are a lot of fighters that comment was directed at.”

Want to share some names?

“Well, Charlo is one of them. Errol Spence Jnr a bit too. Although at least he is trying to make big fights. Then you’ve got Keith Thurman, he’s another one …”

Thoughts on Thurman calling you a slow, flat footed, Mexican at the same fight launch?

“I’m not sure what he’s implying there. Maybe he thinks I’m easy to hit? What I do know is when I said something back to him, when I defended the Mexican style that has been around for centuries, he started backing out of the comment like he knew he f…ed up.”

Still did a lot of talking that day …

“The guy doesn’t think before he speaks. His build to fighting Manny Pacquiao in 2019, exactly the same. He’s just a little yapper. And I’ve always found the bigger the dog, the less they bark. But Chihuahuas, they’re gunna yap. It’s all for show”.

Thurman has spent the past two years sidelined? Why?

“Comfort, I think. I mean, where is his drive? These guys make a few bucks, get some attention and everything changes. They aren’t as hungry anymore. But me, I’m never content. Never satisfied. Which isn’t exactly the best thing in life, either …”

Why?

“(Laughs) Because you never switch off. I can’t go on holiday and relax. I just can’t. Same as I cannot commit to things like weddings or engagement parties. When you have a drive like mine, you can’t do any of these things because you’re always chasing that next goal. And that definitely has its own challenges.”

Does Jermell Charlo ever fight again?

“I don’t think so. I actually think Charlo’s had a breakdown. A mental breakdown. Doing drugs and alcohol, that doesn’t help. Or letting things out on your partner. That’s why I won’t jump on the bloke too much right now, he’s going through a hell of a time.”

What, if anything, would bring him back?

“His money runs out. If that happens, maybe he’s back because clearly it’s all about money for him. Not legacy. But there is unfinished business between us so he does need to sort his s… out.”

What happened with fighting Erickson Lubin, who insists he never walked away from discussions despite all sorts of whispers, including that he overpriced himself?

“When you don’t want to fight you overprice yourself, right? But look, I’m not sure what happened. I just know I was training for Lubin. I was told he was the opponent and we were just chasing a date and venue. Then next call I get, we’ve got a date and venue but no opponent. So he didn’t take the fight. That’s it.”

He’s now calling for you to be stripped of the WBO strap given it is not going on the line against Thurman, who is moving up …

“How can he say that? I’ve fought three times this past year. Already defended the belt. So to suggest I be stripped, that’s him being sour. I was happy to put the belt up. And why wouldn’t I be? It’s my belt. I’d also spent six weeks getting ready for him when I was told everything had changed. I’d been sparring southpaws in preparation, sparring my brother …”

Wait, the sparring ban between you and Nikita is over?

“It was. For a week. Then grandpa banned us again.”

What happened?

“It was during one of my first spars for this latest preparation. I went six rounds with somebody and then in comes Nikita for the last four. I’m tired, sore and my brother comes in all fresh, ready to go and belts the f… out of me. Body, head, body, head … (laughs) I left the ring with a red face, contemplating my life.”

So that brought the ban?

“No the ban came the following Thursday when we sparred again.”

What happened that time?

“(Laughs) I made them put Nikita in first …”

And?

“And I gave it to him. A little bit. Afterwards my grandpa comes up and says ‘this is no good, no more’.”

Will pop be in your corner for this fight?

“Not sure. It’s a long trip for him.”

What about dad?

“He’s definitely pumped to come. We just need to see, logistically, how it will all work.”

Given dad was a tad, err, erratic ringside the only time he’s watched you live, will he be in your corner, sat ringside, or maybe 15 rows back …

“(Laughs) Really good question. Preparing for dad, that’s a training camp all on its own. So we’re trying to work it all out now. It’s not an easy job.”

How much advice do you still take from him?

“It’s not so much advice as dad telling me what I’ve done wrong. It’s just different. One time it was even the food I ate. I just say ‘OK, no worries’. He’s my dad so I’ll always listen and I do value his opinions. But I’m also at a point now where I understand what I’m doing. And I’m going to do what I want.”

You beat Thurman and there are suggestions Terence Crawford could be next, right?

“There have been talks between us. And I give Crawford all respect. He’ll fight anyone. And that’s why I see him as such a great challenge. But I also see him as being beatable. But there’s a lot going on. It could be Crawford, Errol Spence, whichever one is easiest to make. That’s why this upcoming fight means so much … I win and the possibilities are endless.”

Thoughts on sharing your Las Vegas debut with great arch rival Michael Zerafa?

“Man, I actually feel bad for him.”

Why?

“He’s about to have the greatest moment of his career, a world title fight, and it’s somewhere on my undercard. I just think ‘f…, the poor bloke’. Although I do think he’s still grateful to have the fight. All last year the guy just sat on the couch, didn’t do s…. Still, I wish him all the best.”

Tell us how that fight goes?

“Not sure … but I’ll probably go to sleep.”

Why?

“It will be whoever throws the least jabs loses. Honestly. I never watched Zerafa’s last fight but I heard about it. And now that he’s fighting another guy who is similar, we certainly shouldn’t be expecting fireworks.”

If Zerafa wins, surely you’d like to try for gold in a second weight class?

“That fight doesn’t intrigue me anymore. Yes, it would do numbers in Australia. But I’m here in America now. I want the big names. I love Australia and everything I’ve done there, but it doesn’t give me the same rush anymore. When I went to that Las Vegas press conference a few weeks ago, it was a completely different vibe to what I’m used to. Back home, I know all you journalists by name. Over here you walk out to 50 cameras in your face, everyone is asking questions — boom, boom, boom.”

What are your thoughts on the WBC stripping Charlo and making a title fight, on your undercard, between Sebastian Fundora and Serhii Bohachuk?

“Charlo should’ve been stripped last year, before I fought Brian Mendoza (then interim champ). It should be my belt. And that’s why when it comes to belts these days, who f…ing cares? Yes, I should’ve fought Mendoza for that title but I didn’t. OK. I’m now headlining T-Mobile Arena on the first Amazon Prime card. This is historic. And for athletes, moments mean so much more than belts.”

How have you been spending your downtime in Las Vegas?

“I like to play basketball, pickleball, even went to a racetrack they have here and drove a Ferrari 488. I’ve also been to the ice hockey, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the NRL boys also get here in a few weeks. I’ll definitely be going to that too.”

You’re a Souths supporter who, by our count, has worn about seven different NRL jerseys for promo shoots. Reckon all the clubs will have one ready for you?

“(Laughs) Probably. And if they do I’ll wear them … except for Roosters.”

Is this next fight where you prove yourself to America?

“I think as Australians, we’re always having to prove ourselves here because they don’t think much of us. We’re a small island so far away from everything.”

Thurman said exactly that during your press conference …

“And it’s true. We are a small island, small population … but it just so happens that there’s a handful of us who are also absolute beasts.”

How are you different now to the kid who not only Bautista bombed his brother, but arrived here for the first time as a fighter six camps ago?

“I’m comfortable here now. Back in the day, entering the gyms here for the first time, I was shy. Not anymore. This is where I’m supposed to be. I love Australia, but I’ve outgrown it. This is home. I feel like I’m the man here now.”

UFC 298: VOLKANOVSKI VS TOPURIA | SUN 18 FEB | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the new exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View events!