Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech has taken aim at fellow former fighters who questioned his appointment as Tim Tszyu’s coach before the latter’s stunning victory on Sunday.
Tszyu clinically wore down American great Errol Spence Jr to win via unanimous decision in front of a raucous Sydney crowd, in what some are now calling the defining moment of the 31-year-old’s career.
Tim Tszyu of Australia wins by unanimous decision over Errol Spence Jr. Getty Images
It was his first assignment under new coach Fenech, who agreed to take control of his camp just 10 weeks before the middleweight bout.
Tszyu almost quit the sport following three devastating losses in the States, and parted ways with his team twice in the space of a few months before asking Fenech to come on board.
Fenech had previously been highly critical of Tszyu’s camp, particularly after his first loss to Sebastian Fundora during which his corner failed to stop the fight despite blood streaming into Tszyu’s eyes from a nasty gash on his head.
Fenech labelled Tszyu’s team “clowns” in an interview with nine.com.au last year.
But after helping him beat Spence Jr on Sunday, Fenech took aim at fellow Aussie greats Anthony Mundine and Billy Dib for criticism before the fight.
“Everybody was criticising us and bagging us,” Fenech told Raw Sports Media.
“We had boxers out there, Australian boxers, saying even if Errol Spence is 50 per cent we don’t have a chance of winning. That’s pretty disgraceful to me.
“Anybody who is Australian should be supporting us and trying to help us, not bag us and talk shit about us.
“So to all you baggers and people who talked shit about us, you know what you can do with yourselves.”
Fenech went on another podcast, The Punch Podcast, and doubled down.
“Jealousy is a real curse, yesterday I hope you learned a lesson by opening your mouth too many times,” he said.
Jeff Fenech gives instructions to Tim Tszyu. Kayo Sports
“To all the people out there who doubt us… I don’t want to swear, but you know what I’m thinking about you all.
“If tomorrow Tim came to me and said I want to train with Anthony Mundine, I’d say good luck to you, go and do that. I admire what Anthony Mundine has done for the sport.
“And then we’ve got Billy Dib… hopefully he’ll get on and apologise.”
After their successful debut fight together, Fenech plans to stay with Tszyu and hopes to elevate his fighter back to world title bouts and big cards overseas.
Tszyu’s victory – his first fight at middleweight – has opened the door to potential fights with the likes of Erislandy Lara and Jermell Charlo.
“What he did yesterday is 25 per cent of what I know he can do,” Fenech said.
“There’s still another 75 per cent improvement that I know is going to come with Tim in the next few months. He’s going to be ready for anybody that we fight.”