Nikita Tszyu has spoken about the shock possibility of winning a world title in what would effectively be the same time it took his Hall of Fame father Kostya – and why he may still knock the opportunity back.
It comes as ‘The Butcher’ has also opened up on last Sunday’s reunion with older brother Tim, and why he won’t be returning to the family’s famed Rockdale gym for the biggest preparation of his life.
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Only days after celebrating Tim’s emphatic upset win over Errol Spence Jnr, Nikita has spoken with Fox Sports Australia about now stepping up for his own toughest of trials — an all-Australian showdown against Ben Mahoney on August 26.
As first revealed by this masthead last week, the undefeated Australian prospects — and world ranked super welterweights — will be throwing down in what doubles as an eliminator for IBF super welterweight champ Josh Kelly.
Despite having already challenged three international rivals, plus world title contender Michael Zerafa, Tszyu says this next fight is “a flip of the coin contest” and easily the biggest test of his career.
Elsewhere, the fighter who has often been described, lovingly, as having a few screws loose went and proved it on Wednesday afternoon when sat opposite Mahoney at a Sydney press conference.
Tszyu also gave his thoughts on last Sunday’s “sad” performance by American great Spence, while also heaping praise on the way the former welterweight king embraced Australia’s indigenous culture all the way up to his “moving” walkout.
With their August headliner now confirmed, both Tszyu and Mahoney attended a press conference inside Fox Sports Sydney studios on Wednesday afternoon – with both fighters sitting opposite each other at a large, studio desk.
Wonderfully, it was about midway through the televised presser when Main Event’s Ben Damon noted how Tszyu had, for reasons known only to himself, gone and removed a screw from the table with his finger.
“You’re taking the screws out of the table,” Damon laughed.
“Well,” Nikita replied, grinning with said bolt in his hand, “it’s not much of a screw, is it?”.
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Speaking afterwards with Fox Sports Australia, Tszyu also opened up on the idea of potentially taking on IBF champ Kelly in victory, which would double as only his 15th appearance as a professional.
One of those, however, was a January ‘No Contest’ against Michael Zerafa, which does not count against his win-loss record.
Ironically, Kostya also beat Puerto Rico’s Jake Rodriguez for the IBF super lightweight title in fight No.14.
Tim, meanwhile, won the interim WBO crown against Tony Harrison after 22 fights.
Following his most recent win over Diaz in May, Nikita took aim at reporters for asking about world title opportunities afterwards, saying there was still a lot more work to be done.
Asked if given he was now in an eliminator, that had changed, Tszyu said this next week would provide answers.
“This fight is about opening the door,” he explained. “Putting myself into the conversation.
“It doesn’t mean I have to take a world title fight next. But [I could], and it means the progression is there.”
Elsewhere, Nikita also described his brother’s win over Spence as “a big victory for Tim”.
Subtle moment spotlights Tszyu feud? | 01:02
“I did think the fight was closer than what the scorecards suggested,” he said. “But Tim did a good job getting the win, and winning the rounds the way he did.
“Although it was sad to see the condition Spence was in.
“He had dropped off so far. He was off balance during the fight. Made a lot of mistakes, and basic mistakes.
“His body was a mere shadow of what it had been but that’s what they say about Father Time [being undefeated]. It’s a good reminder too that boxing is temporary. And that while your mind may be willing, the body has to be there as well.”
Tszyu also praised both the American’s ability to go the distance, along with his surprise walkout choice — Archie Roach’s ‘Took the Children Away’.
“I definitely wouldn’t say Spence went out of boxing as a loser,” the fighter continued. “Even his walkout choice, that was really moving. And respecting the indigenous culture the way he did, talking about it, nobody really does that … so it was great to hear someone from another country speak about things like that.”
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Meanwhile, it was during Wednesday’s presser that Mahoney was also asked about the power in his hands, with Damon reminding, in particular, about his famed punch that broke the jaw of Benjamin Hussain.
Asked if he had liked how that punch felt, Mahoney replied of a moment that subsequently went viral: “Of course.
“It felt good. He [Hussain] was talking a lot of smack before that fight, so he had it coming.
“Probably still does to a lot of people.
“But it was a good fight, went viral. I’m happy with it. And it shows that I do have power.”
Should Nikita be worried about his jaw?
“We should both be worried about each other,” he added. “We’re both coming in hot.”
At which point, Nikita again jumped in .
“I’ve been chewing a lot of gum,” he grinned, suggesting a novel approach to jaw strengthening.
But as for thoughts on the punch itself?
“I don’t actually remember the moment because I wasn’t in boxing at that time,” Nikita said. “So I was completely distanced from it.
“But I do remember hearing about it. That was one gnarly moment.
“And this is a flip of the coin fight.”
‘This could be it’ Tszyu’s honest reveal | 08:26
Meanwhile, Tszyu also spoke with Fox Sports Australia about celebrating Sunday’s win with his brother.
Given the 28-year-old was called into the ring afterwards by Tim, it was widely thought that following months of tension, Australia’s fighting brothers were now back on good terms.
Unsurprisingly, many were expecting Nikita to now return to training at the family’s Sydney gym after shifting venues for his Diaz preparation, while there has also been talk of Tim heading to the Gold Coast for Nikita’s next fight.
Yet on Wednesday Nikita confirmed things were still being sorted out behind the scenes and said he would not be back at the family gym for this next camp.
“But I don’t really want to get into anything other than to say nothing has been resolved as yet,” he said. “I don’t want to make a big deal of it”.
During Wednesday’s press conference, No Limit boss George Rose revealed the Gold Coast undercard will also include two more of Australia’s undefeated rising stars — Kirra Ruston and Callum Peters.
While Peters only fought, and won, last Sunday, the hyped youngster will now be turned around in only weeks to face Melbourne middleweight Blake Wells.
On the main event, Rose enthused it was a fight genuine Aussie fight fans were torn over.
“Look, I’ve seen Ben Mahoney snap a bloke’s jaw in half,” Rose said. “And I’ve seen Nikita Tszyu drop guys in the first 30 seconds of a fight.
“These guys are both top 10 in the world for a reason. They’ve got power in their hands, they can do damage and they can also box beautifully.
“So whether Ben snaps a jaw or Nikita comes out and puts on a butcher masterpiece, this could be anything. And Australia really is torn over who walks away the winner in this fight. That’s what I love about this one.”
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Rose also praised Mahoney’s lengthy combat record, which includes an impressive Muay Thai stint, continuing: “Before he came into boxing, Ben Mahoney already had a hell of a lot of fights.
“So his record is actually 20, 30 fights deeper.
“He’s an experienced fighter. But he’s never walked out into a Nikita Tszyu show and experienced what it’s like to headline against him. It’s a huge step up to deal with those brought lights. And Nikita’s had to do it since his debut …”
To which Mahoney says what?
“I’ve done some s*** that a lot of guys in this sport haven’t,” he stressed. “I’ve been around the block.
“Done it all.
“During my time in Thai boxing, I’ve flown out for fights on a week’s notice. Flown to China the night before weigh-ins, fought, then flown home again.
“So when I get in there with Nikita, I’m not looking at the crowd. Not looking at how big the arena is. I’m looking at Nikita, that’s where my focus is.
“And this is a massive fight. We’re both world ranked, both in our primes and both looking to go on to bigger things. We both deserve to be here.”