Tim Tszyu tells ABC Sport he is focused “on the present” as he prepares to step back in the ring with Sebastian Fundora, who he lost his WBO super welterweight world title to last March.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old promised no more of the gung-ho antics that led to a brutal beat-down at the hands of Russian hitman Bakhram Murtazaliev in his last world-title fight in Florida in October.<\/p>\n
“Smart. Strategic,” Tsyzu said when asked what style he would take to the ring.<\/p>\n
“I feel like a patient Tim Tszyu always brings out the best.<\/p>\n
“When I’m rushing, trying to show my power and showing that physical dominance, sometimes I make a few mistakes.<\/p>\n
“But this time, I’m just going to be smart and patient.”<\/p>\n
The humble former WBO super-welterweight belt holder believes he learnt some harsh but crucial life lessons in back-to-back defeats in the US last year to Fundora and Murtazaliev.<\/p>\n
“You grow as a person,” the 30-year-old said.<\/p>\n
“I’m just more disciplined. Adversity teaches you some stuff that victories don’t.<\/p>\n
“I’m at a different feeling right now.<\/p>\n
“What happened in the past has made me into who I am today. Today is a dangerous, hungry young fighter who is willing to take it all and just wants success.<\/p>\n
“So, for me, this is a different phase from last year. I’m more mature, more hungrier, and more confident.”<\/p>\n
Fundora won last year’s epic bloodbath on a split decision after Tszyu was left half-blinded by a cut artery to his head after walking into the so-called Towering Inferno’s elbow late in round two.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fundora outpointed Tszyu last March in the Australian’s first career loss.\u00a0 (Getty Images: Anadolu\/Tayfun Coskun)<\/p>\n
The US jabber says he won’t need to alter his game plan to prevail once more, but Tszyu is adamant he will win regardless of what his rival brings to the blockbuster sequel.<\/p>\n
Tszyu’s younger, undefeated brother Nikita often says how scary it is entering the ring with his older sibling, who boasts the boxing nous and “Soul Taker” traits of the pair’s Hall of Fame father Kostya.<\/p>\n
And now Tszyu believes he has the answer to anything Fundora throws at him, adamant the champion fears his awesome firepower.<\/p>\n
“Even the last time, as soon as I hit him, he started just jabbing,” Tszyu said.<\/p>\n
“That’s why I invite him to the war.<\/p>\n