There are plenty of fights Nikita Tszyu is willing to take – but one man he insists he’ll never face is his big brother Tim, regardless of any ongoing tension between them.
Less than a week out from his latest Main Event headliner, “The Butcher” went face-to-face for the first time with unbeaten Spanish opponent Oscar Diaz on Thursday in Sydney.
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 pair are set to throw down in Newcastle next week – a bout Tim is unlikely to attend, with the brothers reportedly still not on speaking terms.
Relations between the siblings soured after Tim’s split from the pair’s manager Glen Jennings, which led to legal action – a dispute that was seemingly resolved earlier this week.
Even so, things are still frosty between the brothers.
“I’ve been trying not to think about it too much during fight camp,” Nikita told Fox Sports Australia.
“I always try and think in a positive way about things.”
Nikita Tszyu (L) and Oscar Diaz (R) face off during an open workout at Bondi Boxing Club on April 30, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Aussie boxing great Anthony Mundine suggested this week to Code Sports that the brothers could settle their differences the old-fashioned way — by stepping into the ring together.
It would be one of the biggest fights in Australian boxing, but Nikita won’t entertain the idea.
“Not gonna happen,” he said.
“I don’t want to get into that sort of headspace. Fighting is a very personal thing to me.
“I get into the headspace where I need to think I’m taking someone’s life and be ready to do that.
“I can’t do that with a family member.
“I can’t put that stress on my family as well.”
As revealed last week, Tim Tszyu will throw down against Errol Spence Jr. on Sunday, July 26 in Australia – doing so under a new-look team led by his third coach in six months, Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech.
Nikita says that news really did surprise him.
Brothers Tim and Nikita Tszyu are hunting boxing glory. Photo by Gregg Porteous/No Limit BoxingSource: Getty Images
“That threw me off,” he said.
“I don’t really know how to think about that.”
As for finally sizing up Diaz in person, Tszyu was largely unmoved.
“We’re all human,” he shrugged.
“It’s good to see the size of a person, though and have a look into his eyes.”
The Spaniard raised eyebrows last week when he declared plans to finish Nikita – and then set his sights on big brother Tim next.
Nikita says he’s not taking it personally.
“He’s got aspirations,” he smiled.
“I like his confidence.”
Diaz posted a clip to social media last week of himself hitting a heavy bag before then turning to the camera and, calling Nikita out by name, dragging a thumb across his throat in an unmistakable gesture.
Diaz sends Nikita training message | 00:10
He was also training alongside world champ Josh Kelly. The Brit famously claimed the IBF super-welterweight title with a superb win over Russian bogeyman Bakhram Murtazaliev earlier this year.
“He’s just trying to become a better fighter. He’s trying to improve,” said Tszyu.
“He’s learning from a world champion.
“It proves that he’s taking this seriously.”
The undefeated Sydneysider also admitted life in the spotlight hasn’t come naturally.
“I’ve been uncomfortable since the start, but I’ve gotten used to it,’ he revealed.
“I knew when I started professional boxing that there was going to be a lot of attention and I’d need to be mentally prepared for that.
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.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 30: Oscar Diaz poses during an open workout at Bondi Boxing Club on April 30, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“It comes with the business and I’ve learned how to deal with it, how to use it as an advantage and balance it out.”
He also believes he owes fight fans a show.
“This isn’t just a sport,” he explained.
“This is more like entertainment and I feel a duty to entertain the public. People who spend their hard earned money on these fights. I want to give them a lot of value.”
Tszyu enters the bout on an unbeaten tear – 11 straight wins, including nine knockouts – with “El Toro” being his seventh undefeated opponent.
No Limit boss George Rose joked that Tszyu’s all-action style can be tough to watch.
“He does a very good job of that [entertaining],” said Rose.
“But he does that by putting himself at risk and making us all sit on the edge of our seats wondering, “is he okay?’ Is he coming back?
“He’s done it time and time again.
“He’s been on the canvas before, bounced back up and got some very convincing wins, but there’s moments where Nikita really does scare everyone who supports him on this journey.
As for Diaz, he admitted he walked away from Thursday’s face-off feeling even more confident.
“There is nothing to feel,” he explained through an interpreter.
“I was expecting something more intimidating, but I don’t feel [much] that at all.
“… I’m super confident and I feel even more confident [following the face off].”
Pressed on whether he still believes he can beat Tim after dealing with Nikita, the Spaniard doubled down.
“For sure.”
And his prediction for fight night?
“Before the limit [I’ll get a stoppage],” he replied.