Same as he also craves a warmer backyard pool, Vegas Knights victories and, in coming days, when that NRL roadshow hits town … well, is there a player out there willing to fight his chef?

But more on all that soon enough.

First, those Team Mayweather claims.

Understanding how only a few days earlier here in Las Vegas, Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe made headlines with Tszyu — dubbing bookies “crazy” to have Thurman such a big betting underdog.

“I was shocked,” Ellerbe said, referencing the odds.

“They have Tszyu an eight-to-one favourite? Are they crazy?

“Keith Thurman is a live dog in this fight. I’m picking him to win.

“Tszyu is a good fighter, but he ain’t nothing like that.

“The guy is not unbeatable. He’s not unhittable.

“I’ve seen him on the canvas. Gausha dropped him.”

Then an article or two later, Porter also doubled down; predicting Thurman to win out given “Tszyu has the perfect style” for the former unified welterweight champion.

A fighter too who has never lost to anyone not named Manny Pacquiao.

Which goes some way to explaining why, on the first fight posters released, Thurman’s name sits first.

Same deal that oversized advertisement already flashing huge outside T-Mobile, putting Tszyu on equal time with other upcoming acts like Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and some fella called Bad Bunny.

Yet undeniably for many boxing types here Stateside, there remains questions about the Tszyusa takeover.

With some even willing to howl it down completely.

To which the seventh most Googled Australian this past year says what?

“Beautiful,” Tszyu grins, sipping black coffee from a white mug as we talk.

“Just be sure to put your money where your mouth is.”

So you want to see their betting slips?

“Absolutely,” he agrees.

“But I also think it’s great to have all sorts of opinions on this fight.

“When people have questions, that’s how you build a fight.

“I remember even when Floyd was fighting Manny Pacquiao after however many straight wins, there were still questions.

“And it’s because no matter what you achieve, the critics will always be there.

“So Leonard Ellerbe, Shawn Porter, others backing Thurman … I like it.”

Sadly, Tszyu cannot say the same about the temperature of his backyard pool which, complete with large water fountain and neighbouring pitch ‘n’ putt golf green, the champ jumps into each morning.

A ritual, you should know, made more difficult by the fact temperatures are still dropping below 10 degrees here.

“So it’s f***ing freezing,” laughs the fighter whose past year has included highlight reel wins over Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza.

Like it?

“No, not at all.

“But every day in this camp I’m challenging myself.

“Taking on things I don’t want to do. And the pool is just one of them.

“Who wants to stand in a cold pool for five minutes? Nobody.

“But I am, and eventually I’ll double that time, too.”

Thankfully, Tszyu is also getting a mate to shiver alongside in coming days — with younger brother Nikita and manager Glen Jennings flying in to double what is likely the smallest entourage of any boxing champion.

While some title camps here in Las Vegas run dozens deep, Tszyu is shadowed only by his coach-slash-uncle Igor Goloubev and personal chef Omar Iferd

The latter of whom, just quietly, Tszyu is about to assume the role of fight manager for.

“Yeah, we’re trying to get Omar a fight,” he grins.

Really?

“I’m actually hoping one of the NRL boys will step up,” he insists. “Get it sorted at heavyweight for a No Limit card.

“I’ve agreed to be coach, and Nikita is cutman.”

So as for how Chef Omar throws them?

“No idea,” Tszyu says honestly. “I’ve never even seen him box.

“(Laughs) I can only tell you he’s very confident. But who knows how it will go?”

Same deal, he says, when little brother arrives in a few days.

“Every time Nikita hits the house — chaos,” he reveals.

“But it’s also fun and everything definitely becomes more competitive.

“Especially our games of basketball, pickleball … it also means I’m not freezing in that pool alone anymore.”

Situated about 20 minutes off the Las Vegas strip, the Tszyu camp sits in a quiet suburban street with rendered homes coloured like the late, great Richie Beneaud’s jacket collection.

Think cream, bone, white, off-white, ivory, beige.

In Tszyu’s front yard, a black Porsche is parked on the driveway with a basketball visible on the backseat.

Inside the house, towels and training gear are slung over the stairway handrail, drying from what are currently two-a-day sessions at nearby Split T — a boxing gym which is locked down whenever Tszyu trains.

Elsewhere around the house, the kitchen table is stacked with supplements and water bottles, while out back, that pitch ‘n’ putt turf goes untouched.

“Nah, not a golfer,” Tszyu admits.

Yet as for the city of Las Vegas itself?

Oh, Tszyu loves the joint.

Has done ever since way back in 2009, when dad Kostya jetted the entire family into town for a world title blockbuster between Pac Man and Miguel Cotto.

“I can still remember flying in and seeing the big, green MGM Grand,” Tszyu recalls.

“I’d seen that building so many times on TV when I was young and now to be there, staying in the casino, wearing the fight t-shirts, I honestly had no words.”

Decent seats too we’re guessing?

“Man, I was right near the walkway,” Tszyu continues, smile widening at the memory. “Really close to where Manny walked out.

“So as he was entering the arena, I put my head out and started screaming. It was ‘Manny … Manny … Maaaanny …’

“I remember he looked at me and made a fist. Absolutely made my trip.”

This time around however, Tszyu is spending the majority of his downtime recovering, shooting hoops or attending Vegas Knights ice hockey games – although always, anonymously, among punters in the crowd.

“And it’s surprised me because there have been a few times when people have recognised me,” he says. “I know as time goes on I know too it’s going to become completely different.”

Told celebrity doesn’t always sit well with athletes, he continues: “I grew up with people looking at us, stopping dad for a photo, that’s always been normal.

“Always been there.

“Which is why I don’t chase fame.

“That’s the big difference between me and others.

“People chase fame.

“I don’t give two f***s

“I know it doesn’t bring happiness, or not the way people think.”

Which is why, on many days, the champ also has no problem chilling right where he is now, on the left end of a large, grey L-shaped lounge.

“This is my spot, definitely,” the champ insists of his prime placement, right in front of a large flat screen TV.

Same as Tszyu gets first pick of the bedrooms, too.

“Master, every time,” he cackles. “Then from there Igor choses …”

At which point, the coach walks through the lounge room to explain how, before leaving, Jennings had requested the largest room be saved for him.

“And we have,” coach grins. “It’s the one with two lots of bunk beds in it.”

And with that, Igor disappears again.

His reputation as one of world boxing’s most unquoted title coaches is still intact.

So as for where Nikita goes?

“He gets a small room upstairs,” his brother says. “He’s basically in the s***house.”

Yet Tszyu, of course, is anywhere but.

Now only weeks out from his historic Pay-Per-View headliner Stateside – a feat not even his Hall of Fame father achieved – this newest Aussie champ is being written up, shouted out, even linked to a potential Terence Crawford blockbuster.

Only days before our arrival, Tszyu was also shadowed by a US video crew who, as part of their impending feature on the champ, had him driving a Ferrari 488 at a nearby race track.

“Which left me buzzing,” the boxer admits. “Afterwards, I actually walked out of there saying how it had been such an adrenaline rush, and that I was now going to become a Formula One driver.”

But that afternoon, it was back to Split T Boxing Gym.

Back to the grin.

“And as soon as I put those gloves,” Tszyu grins, “yeah, the thought was gone.

“It was ‘f*** racing, this is exactly where I want to be’.”