![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776909012_441_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
And while promoters No Limit have also suggested Tszyu could be fighting for a world title this year, \u2018The Butcher\u2019 insists only one man will determine his timeline \u2013 and it isn\u2019t the old man.<\/p>\n
Instead, Tszyu says the decision will be made by his longtime trainer, and uncle, Igor Goloubev.<\/p>\n
Only eight months ago, older brother Tim shocked the boxing world by splitting from both Goloubev and manager Glen Jennings.<\/p>\n
While the move caused more than a little drama, both men remain a cornerstone of Nikita\u2019s entourage, with the 28-year-old convinced Uncle Igor is the trainer to take him to super welterweight glory.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause there\u2019s a misconception out there that my dad taught us to box,\u201d Nikita explains. \u201cBut, no, it\u2019s my uncle. He\u2019s been there since day one\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nikita Tszyu 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<\/p>\n
Which is why, when asked about being ready to fight for a world title this year, Nikita continues: \u201cI\u2019ll be ready when my uncle says I\u2019m ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the one who sees me every day.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd he\u2019s the one who has been building me up ever since I was a kid.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Laughs] Because before joining his gym, I was a soccer player.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything I\u2019ve learned comes from him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo when he gives me the green light, I\u2019ll go for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Already, No Limit boss George Rose has said Tszyu could be ready to fight for a world title in six months.<\/p>\n
There have also been suggestions he will go to No.3 in both IBF and WBO rankings with a victory against Diaz. <\/p>\n
Only last week, UK promoter Eddie Hearn also declared interest in placing the younger Tszyu brother in against a number of his Matchroom stars, including IBF super welterweight champ Kelly and American superstar \u2018Boots\u2019 Ennis.<\/p>\n
Yet when Fox Sports Australia asked this week if he is ready, right now, to fight for a super welterweight gold, Tszyu replied frankly: \u201cI don\u2019t think so, no.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve still got a lot to learn before I go charging for a world title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it will happen within two, maybe three years. But that\u2019s just being truthful and honest to myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boxers separated after x-rated exchange | 02:48<\/p>\n
So as for a growing popularity, and rise up the rankings, putting you there quicker? <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always been that voice, telling people I need to chill out,\u201d he says. \u201cThat it\u2019s not a race to the top.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, I want to make sure that when I do get to the top I deserve to be there.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnsure I haven\u2019t taken a quick road.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously my family name has helped get me to where I am right now, but moving on from here I really need to make sure I\u2019m taking the necessary steps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Which again, is why he will let Goloubev make the call.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, Tszyu also credits his famed love of woodwork to the trainer who, more than once, has been spotted doing running repairs at whatever gym he works out of.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore I started boxing, I was working with my uncle in construction,\u201d Nikita continues. \u201cHe had a framing company and we were doing apartment fit outs.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo basically from age 13, I\u2019ve been around him, working, almost every single day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand each other, we\u2019re honest with each other and there is no bullsh****ing between us.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s clear dialogue when things are working. And clear dialogue when they aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my uncle who taught me to build and box.\u201d <\/p>\n
Inoue vs. Nakatani: Fight Highlights | 03:00<\/p>\n
Toughest thing Igor has asked you to do?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first job he ever had me do,\u201d Tszyu laughs. \u201cIt was screwing in top hats to wall exteriors for a cladding system.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was on scaffolding, up four storeys, and absolutely sh***ing myself. But you figure things out pretty quick.\u201d<\/p>\n
Same in the gym.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the routine we have,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s really balanced between technical days and physical days.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s based around consistency and we\u2019ve developed a beautiful rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nikita Tszyu has opened up on the \u201cmisconception\u201d his Hall of Fame father Kostya taught him to box,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":648865,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[64,63,802,85],"class_list":["post-648864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-boxing","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-boxing","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/648864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=648864"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/648864\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/648865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=648864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=648864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=648864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}