Nikita Tszyu has sparred the kid only twice.
And in gym sessions separated by four years.
But still, it’s enough for ‘The Butcher’ to know one thing.
“You’re not beating Callum Peters on points,” Tszyu told us this week, referencing the hyped 23-year-old who throws more punches per round than most other fighters on the planet.
Tszyu v Mahoney | Wednesday August 26 from 7pm AEST | The only thing standing between Nikita and an IBF world title shot is Ben Mahoney. The stage is set for an All-Australian blockbuster with the winner securing a direct shot at IBF champion, Josh Kelly. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
A No Limit stablemate who, still switching between pros and amateurs, may yet have his dreams of competing at the 2028 Olympics done in by one small detail … already being a world champion.
Just ask, for example, Matt Rose.
With the No Limit boss saying, right now, Peters could beat WBO middleweight champ Denzel Bentley.
Better, the kid agrees.
“Oh, 100 per cent,” he told Fox Sports Australia this week when Rose’s comment was put. “I know what’s coming … and I know what I can do.”
Despite being only eight fights into his professional career, Peters is now readying to go explode on Wednesday’s Gold Coast blockbuster – which is topped by Tszyu’s IBF eliminator against Ben Mahoney.
Only last week in preparation for everything coming, Peters and Tszyu sparred at Sydney’s Doyle Boxing Club.
“Which was so good,” owner Brian Doyle recounts, “I could’ve sold tickets”.
To which Rose, also present that day, agrees.
“And maybe,” he grins, “we should’ve sold ‘em.”
Callum Peters (pink trunks) stops Ivan Actis in round 7 on the Tim Tszyu undercard last month. Picture: Sam RuttynSource: News Corp Australia
Explaining the session afterwards to Fox Sports Australia, Tszyu revealed he first threw down with Peters back in 2022, when returning to the sport after a long break to earn an architecture degree.
And now again, ‘The Butcher’ has used the prospect as part of preparations for Mahoney.
“And through eight good rounds,” Nikita explained, “Callum proved a hard guy to work with. Very tricky.
“Because of his high workrate, he’s really difficult to deal.
“He’s just constantly in your face.
“And because of his style too, the way he comes at you, you’re not going to beat him on points …”
Anything else?
“Cal has some real good body shots,” Tszyu continued, grinning. “And he did get me a couple of times.”
Asked what advice he would give the Adelaide rookie, and Tszyu continued: “Right now, he needs to work on his defence.
“Because if you’ve got the right style, you might catch him in an exchange.
“But Cal Peters is also very tough.
“He can take shots, then keeps coming back at you.
“Again, it’s non stop.”
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A 2024 Paris Olympian, Peters is now continuing his push towards a title in Wednesday’s all-Australian showdown against Blake Wells (13-2), who is ranked No.15 with the IBF.
Apart from fighting as the co-main to Tszyu, the youngster will also be looking to earn himself the IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title.
Already a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Peters hasn’t ruled out a second Olympic tilt, especially given he is currently ranked second in the world at middleweight.
And given he is still alternating between the amateurs and pros, Tszyu says Peters still needs to work on generating more power while also “tightening some little things up here and there”.
“But we all need to do that, right?” he shrugged. “There is no perfect fighter. We’re all still improving.
“And Callum is so young, still has so much to learn and improve on.
“But the great thing about him is, he trains like a bloody machine. So the improvements will come in time.
“He can definitely go the whole way.”
Since turning pro 18 months ago, Peters has knocked out seven of eight opponents, with only gutsy American Joeshon James having gone to the judges’ scorecards against him.
Ask Rose, and he says the youngster will not only be fighting for a world title in 12 months, but “could already beat Denzel Bentley now”.
To which Peters says what?
“Oh, 100 per cent,” he grinned after Monday’s press conference. “I heard what Matty said and, yeah, I’ve seen the way [Bentley] moves and, while he might hit hard, he really isn’t anything special.
“The way he moves, I’ve seen it before, bro. And I know what I can do.”
So a world title fight within the year?
“That’s the mission,” Peters continued, smiling now. “And because boxing is my life, it’s three or four fights and I’m there. Honestly, I don’t ever take holidays. The only time I rest is when I’m fighting.”
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Better, the No Limit prodigy also sees himself rising with Tszyu.
“Because we’re both entertaining,” Peters stressed. “And we’re only going to become greater together.”
And as for how much Tszyu has changed since that first spar?
“He’s definitely hitting harder,” Peters revealed. “First time we sparred was ages ago, when he was coming back into boxing.
“And he’s carrying more power now. He’s also using his left hand more, the way he should be. I was just grateful to be in there getting some work.”
Of course, apart from being two of the nation’s most exciting fighters, the pair are also among the most entertaining athletes anywhere in Australia.
Yet while Tszyu has been marketed as something of a ‘Dark Prince’, Peters in the jovial, young star who shakes almost as many hands in a fight week as he throws punches in bunches per round.
“Nikita is a fun dude to chat with. Really entertaining,” he said this week. “I guess we both are.
“And I reckon we would be good mates.
“[Laughs] Well, except for the drinking snake blood. There is no way I could do that.
“But right now, we’re both winning. Selling tickets.
“And at the rate we’re both going, yeah, I reckon we’ll be going to the top together.”