Nikita Tszyu is being maneuvered into the same world title timeline as his famous father Kostya, and despite ‘The Butcher’ this week outing a major difference between himself and the man considered Australia’s greatest fighter.
Only a fortnight out from Tszyu’s latest Main Event headliner, Fox Sports Australia can reveal the 28-year-old’s team privately believe he will be ready to challenge for gold around the same time as it took Kostya to beat IBF super lightweight champ Jake Rodriguez over 30 years ago.
That timeline — 14 fights — would also be quicker than older brother Tim, who was in appearance No.21 when he brutally beat Tony Harrison for the WBO interim super welterweight crown.
Tszyu vs Diaz | Wednesday 6 May from 7pm AEST | Nikita Tszyu continues his rise in boxing as he takes on Spain’s undefeated Oscar Diaz. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
The declaration comes as the unbeaten Sydneysider — who is now readying to face exciting, young Spaniard Oscar Diaz on April 6 in Newcastle — also stresses that he isn’t being distracted by the ongoing legal proceedings between his longtime manager Glen Jennings and older brother, who split from the agent last year.
In fact, Tszyu has made several changes to this latest camp to ensure he stays separated from the drama, which he confirmed this week while also asking that they remain private.
Despite staying away from his brother’s most recent win against Denis Nurja, those close to Australia’s popular fighting duo remain hopeful Tim will be ringside at Newcastle Entertainment Centre for Nikita’s showdown.
In a sit-down interview with Main Event’s Ben Damon this week, the younger Tszyu stressed he was ready for Diaz, stressing his only concerns right now are the undefeated Spaniard, his daughter’s first steps … and “making sure my dogs aren’t choking on anything”.
There is also no doubting the growing hype that continues to build around a fighter who, apart from being on an undefeated tear of 11 straight wins, is also now set to take on, in Diaz, what will be his seventh undefeated challenger.
Diaz sends Nikita training message | 00:10
Already, American Hall of Famer Timothy Bradley has made headlines by branding Nikita a better fighter than his former world champion brother.
Fellow US great Paulie Malignaggi has also suggested the younger Tszyu can become one of the sport’s most exciting champions.
Yet when asked this week by Damon if his upcoming fight is also about breaking free from the large shadow created by both his father and brother, Nikita said: “I’ve never really thought about that.
“I’ve always thought of myself as an individual.
“Obviously everything I’ve got came from my dad and my brother, but I’ve always felt like an individual. I don’t have to live up to anything.”
While Tszyu is only 11 fights into his professional career, it’s understood his team are convinced this most entertaining, and unique, of Australian athletes could be fighting for gold within as little as three more wins.
Nikita Tszyu.Source: Supplied
And while that would bring comparisons to his famous father, Nikita this week opened up on the significant differences between himself and the ‘Thunder From Down Under’ – and how, specifically, that is even influencing this latest camp.
Rather than completing part of his daily workouts, like road runs, alone, Tszyu instead drives to a nearby park so that his wife, also Nikita, young daughter Curiosity, even his dogs can be with him as he works out.
Asked about the routine, Tszyu suggested it is about spending as much time with family as possible and changing up the experiences he had growing up as the son of a global boxing megastar.
“I just want to spend as much time with my family, my daughter, as I can,” Tszyu explained.
“[Growing up], it’s something I didn’t fully have with my father. We were more separated.
“My dad was focused on his career and I don’t want my relationship with my daughter to be the same.
“I know my dad had to do that because that’s the position he was in.
“And from his experiences as well, he felt that he missed out on life with his kids.
“He’s now remarried, has two kids with his new wife and he’s doing the mundane things with them. And he enjoys that.
“He tells me how much he loves it, how he’s sorry that he missed out with us — it’s just something he had to do.
“But I’m not willing to make that sacrifice.
“I’d rather not achieve as much in boxing but still be close to my family.”
Tszyu vs Diaz | Wednesday 6 May from 7pm AEST | Nikita Tszyu continues his rise in boxing as he takes on Spain’s undefeated Oscar Diaz. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Tim, Kostya and Nikita Tszyu in 2024.Source: Supplied
Tszyu said he understands there are many reasons why other fighters may choose to do things differently.
“It could also be your own selfishness, to want to do things a particular way,” he continued. “But I always try to fit my family in as much as possible.
“Like I could definitely go for a run around the streets, put my headphones in and run in solitude.
“But I go out of my way to run in a park where I can have the dogs off leash (and family present).
“I used to drive over 40 minutes to go to a national park, or a reserve, just so I could have the dogs run with me. To me that’s important. It helps me feel better and connect more with my family.
“That’s the most motivating factor for me.”
Tszyu also said having daughter Curiosity nearby when he trained was perfect for him.
“I have the opportunity to bring her along with me, and I want her to be part of my life,” he said.
“She means everything to me … and it’s the life I would prefer.”
Tszyu announced the birth of his daughter in June last year.
“Curiosity Tszyu,” the boxer wrote on Instagram. “Named after the NASA Mars Rover, Curiosity.
“Curiosity is the passion that drives us through our everyday lives.
“It is this powerful force of curiosity which has led humans to become explorers, scientists, historians & artists.
“Curiosity is the everlasting flame burning in all of us that compels us to ask questions, to wonder, to learn, to grow and to know.
“As parents, we hope our daughter’s name will give her the courage and strength to explore life without fear.
“May her own curious mind be the guiding compass leading the way as she grows to understand herself and the world around her.
“As Curiosity’s parents, we vow to nurture her spirit of adventure and use the principles of the Japanese Bushidō ‘The Way of The Warrior’ as a guide to raising her.”