Tim Tszyu is ready to show the world why he deserves a shot at Errol Spence Jnr, saying after his first face off with Easter Sunday rival Denis Nurja: “I need to knock this guy out … f***ing annihilate him”.
The declaration comes as The Phoenix has also spoken about Spence betting against him this Sunday — with the US superstar having previously wagered up to $10,000 on Tszyu rivals like Tony Harrison and Terrell Gausha.
Tszyu vs Nurja | Sunday 5 April from 11am AEST | Tim Tszyu looks to continue his boxing resurgence as he takes on Albanian Denis Nurja. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Tszyu also stressed he wasn’t underestimating Nurja, adding: “The biggest thing I’ve learned amid all the bulls*** and people trying to f*** with you? It’s put your head down and do the work”.
While Tszyu already has a Spence blockbuster agreed for the US summer, Australia’s longtime pay-per-view king has decided to first roll the dice on a ‘warm up’ bout against undefeated Albanian Nurja.
On Tuesday morning, the pair squared off for the first time inside Sydney’s Bondi Boxing gym, with the Aussie then hanging around to watch on as his rival did an open workout for media.
Immediately after the showdown, Tszyu suggested his rival not only looked ready but was, thankfully, “my height”.
“That hasn’t happened for a while,” the fighter grinned.
Tszyu also declared Sunday’s Wollongong headliner the perfect chance to prove himself ready for Spence Jnr.
With plenty of talk already surrounding the blockbuster scheduled for July or August, Tszyu was asked if he wanted to use the Nurja fight to show what’s coming when he throws down with ‘The Truth’?
“Of course, it’s only natural, right?” he replied.
“And being totally honest with you, I want to kill this guy.
“I want to f***ing annihilate him.
“But while I want that dog to come out in me, it has to be at the right time.
“That’s the key.
“It’s about me learning to control that dog in me.
“Ensuring it comes out at the right time.”
And while ‘The Phoenix’ may have been happy to go the distance in his December outing against Anthony Velazquez, the Aussie famed for his heavy hands has promised a different outcome at Wollongong Entertainment Centre.
“I need to knock this f***ing guy out,” he said.
Yet despite his bold declaration, Tszyu stressed he wasn’t underestimating everything coming this Sunday.
The fighter then added he will prove himself the right opponent for Spence, who is readying for a hyped comeback to the sport after sitting out for almost three years since losing to Terence Crawford.
“Because you know the biggest thing I’ve learned amid all the bulls*** and people trying to f*** with you? It’s put your head down and do the work,” he declared.
“People are talking about Errol Spence, about this, and this, and this.
“Thing is though, this Sunday I’ve already got an opponent standing there. That’s my focus.”
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Tszyu and Spence have been linked to a showdown for years, and ever since Tszyu first headlined what would end up being a bloody Las Vegas title loss against towering American Sebastian Fundora.
As part of their rivalry, Spence has announced several times in Tszyu fight weeks that he was betting on the opposite corner, including when ‘The Phoenix’ fought Americans Gausha and Harrison.
Way back in 2023, and on the eve of fighting American Tony Harrison for WBO gold, Australia’s pay-per-view king branded Spence “a punk” and hinted that they could be set for a future showdown.
The declaration followed Spence, at the time still ranked No. 4 on the world’s pound-for-pound list, taking to social media to declare he was wagering $10,000 on a Harrison upset, and after also having unsuccessfully backed Tszyu to get beat by Terrell Gausha.
Then prior to Tszyu’s Las Vegas headliner against Sebastian Fundora early the next year, Spence again took to social media in fight week, writing on ‘X’: “Headed to Vegas. I want the winner”.
And just to ensure everyone understood exactly what he meant by that, the 34-year-old Texan added video imagery of a shark.
So as for Spence now dropping some cash on almost $7 underdog Nurja?
“Nah, nah, he won’t do that,” Tszyu laughed. “Or I hope he doesn’t try that. Surely not …”
Nurja, meanwhile, had no issue with Tszyu’s threats to annihilate him.
“This is no problem,” the Albanian said simply. “I will be ready, Tim will be ready and the ring will decide it, not the talking.”
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And as for Tszyu maybe overlooking him?
“I understand these thoughts but he still has to pass through me before thinking about Errol Spence,” he warned. “It’s no easy task.
“It’s better not to talk about what’s next or the plans before a fight. We have a lot of plans we want to carry out and don’t want to give away anything.”
Elsewhere, Tszyu also praised the continuing changes being made under new Cuban coach Pedro Diaz, the man famously responsible for guiding 20 world champions and as many Olympic medallists.
Tszyu said the changes to his training regime, which included less sparring, had him coming into Sunday’s headliner feeling fresh, confident and with what he promised to be an improved fighting style.
Watching Tszyu training since his return to Sydney for fight week has also shown a fighter with improvements in both his head movement and foot work.
“Everything is so scientific now,” Tszyu said of his preparation.
“Which is great. Has me so much fresher.
“Because I’m somebody who needs to have the brakes put on them at times.
“Before previous fights, I’ve got all excited and said how I’m going to run a marathon and all this sort of s***
“But I’m a boxer.
“And again, that’s why I need someone to but the breaks on me. Someone to stop me from going crazy.
“And because Pedro has done that, I feel fresh.
“In training, we mimic every scenario rather than just hit the pads
“You see me using the reaction balls.
“Why are we doing that? We’re working the brain.
“It’s not just about the physical, getting tired.
“No, it’s about using your energy systems the correct way.”