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<\/p>\nThis is Fox Sports Australia\u2019s combat sports column Fighting Words, where we give you all the latest news and views in MMA and boxing, from Australia and abroad.<\/p>\n
Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech has rejected suggestions Tim Tszyu should spar his younger brother as part of preparations for American superstar Errol Spence Jnr \u2014 but still has plans to help reunite the feuding siblings.<\/p>\n
Speaking with Fighting Words this week, Fenech also revealed the three men who will help corner Tszyu for the biggest fight of his career, including a Queenslander who was part of Jeff Horn\u2019s epic upset against Manny Pacquiao. <\/p>\n
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The revelations come as famed American trainer Robert Garcia is not only backing Tszyu against Spence on July 26, but insists Fenech\u2019s aggressive coaching style is \u201cperfect\u201d for causing the upset.<\/p>\n
Spence Jr. vows all-out war with Tszyu | 13:36<\/p>\n
Yet in a jab that could hint at a future showdown for Tszyu, Garcia added that while he would\u2019ve happily readied Tszyu for Spence himself, he could never have \u2018The Phoenix\u2019 spar his own super welterweight star Vergil Ortiz Jr.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou would have to come help Tim Tszyu out of the ring,\u201d he grinned.<\/p>\n
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia last month, Tszyu and his new coaching team \u2014headed by Fenech \u2014 are jetting out to Bangkok, Thailand from next Monday for three weeks of training and sparring.<\/p>\n
While Tszyu has previously done entire camps in both Las Vegas and Miami, Florida, this latest preparation will include only a few weeks in Asia before the final six weeks of work are completed in Sydney.<\/p>\n
While the Tszyu brothers have endured a public falling out in recent times, there has already been suggestions Nikita \u2014 a southpaw like Spence \u2014 could be brought in for sparring, as the brothers have done previously.<\/p>\n
Nikita has also said, despite staying away from each other\u2019s fights recently, he would consider the role of sparring partner if the camp was in Australia.<\/p>\n
Yet while \u2018The Butcher\u2019 is now ranked top 10 in multiple divisions, and unbeaten in a dozen fights, Fenech says the rising 28-year-old won\u2019t be used in preparation for the Spence showdown. <\/p>\n
\u201cObviously my job is to pick the sparring partners,\u201d Fenech told us this week. \u201cAnd for this camp Tim Tszyu doesn\u2019t need Nikita \u2026 because Nikita is nothing like Errol Spence Jnr.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brothers Tim and Nikita Tszyu.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Fenech added that his decision has nothing to do with the ongoing beef between the boys, which he described as \u201cabsolutely fixable\u201d.<\/p>\n
The four-time world champ has known both fighters for their entire lives and also welcomed the chance to eventually bring them together.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, of course I\u2019d love to do that,\u201d Fenech said. \u201cAnd I know things are absolutely fixable.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut right now, entering camp, no fighter needs the added pressure of that.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlus, Tim is fine. Obviously Nikita has stayed with Tim\u2019s old team, and people who were wanting to take Tim to court. So right now I just want Tim happy and part of a happy camp.\u201d<\/p>\n
US COACH: \u201cYOU\u2019D HAVE TO HELP TSZYU OUT OF THE RING \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
One of America\u2019s most esteemed coaches has labelled Jeff Fenech \u2013 and his famously aggressive training style \u2013 as the \u201cperfect\u201d way for Tim Tszyu to fight, and beat, Errol Spence Jnr.<\/p>\n
Speaking with The Punch Podcast this week however, Robert Garcia also joked Tszyu would have little hope in even a sparring session with his own star, Vergil Ortiz Jnr, grinning: \u201cYou would have to come help Tim out of the ring \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of a rollercoaster eight months for Australia\u2019s longtime pay-per-view king, Tszyu has changed camps not once, but twice — dumping longtime trainer Igor Goloubev before then lasting just two fights with Cuban master Pedro Diaz.<\/p>\n
And while Garcia admitted, initially, to having no idea who was now coaching the former world champ when interview this week, he quickly backed the Australian\u2019s switch when told it was Fenech.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Garcia said he would have absolutely taken Tszyu on as a client \u2013 as many suggested early on — but suggested the Australian may still be eyeing of a showdown with Ortiz Jr.<\/p>\n
Vergil Ortiz JrSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
It has now been over two years since Tszyu was forced to withdraw from a proposed fight with Ortiz Jr, due to the cut suffered in his 2024 bloodbath against Sebastian Fundora having failed to recover properly.<\/p>\n
Quizzed on the idea of having Tszyu and Ortiz Jnr under the same roof, Garcia said coaching the Australian \u201cwould be a great challenge\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201c[But] I don\u2019t know about sparring him and Vergil,\u201d he said. \u201cThat might be a little too much to handle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do have another five or six 154 pounders that are young, hungry, talented and would bring the best out of Tim Tszyu definitely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Told a sparring session between Tszyu and Ortiz could have tickets sold to it, Garcia laughed: \u201cYeah, but you would have to come help Tim Tszyu out of the ring \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Then after a short pause, the coach clarified. \u201cLook, I\u2019ve never met him,\u201d he continued of Tszyu. \u201cI have nothing against him and wish him all the best. It\u2019s just joke \u2026 but Vergil is my fighter, definitely.\u201d <\/p>\n
And as for Tszyu\u2019s recent coaching switch up?<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know why Tim Tszyu didn\u2019t like [Diaz],\u201d started the trainer whose clients include the likes of Jesse \u2018Bam\u2019 Rodriguez, Raymond Muratalla, and Ortiz Jnr.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I know Pedro likes to use a lot of movement, a lot of footwork, which could be good for some,\u201d Garcia explained. \u201cBut I think Tim Tszyu is more a \u2018look for the fight\u2019 type of fighter. Someone who has good reflexes in front of his opponent, counters really well and has great power.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I don\u2019t know how Fenech will do in the corner, but he\u2019s a former champion and a tremendous warrior \u2026 and that style is what Tim Tszyu needs to perform.<\/p>\n
\u201cPedro was more of a technical, round by round trainer. He\u2019s not too excited to go out there and put a beating on your opponent. He wants you to take your time and fight smart. Which isn\u2019t a bad idea but maybe just didn\u2019t fight Tszyu\u2019s style.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked how he would prepare Tszyu, Garcia told The Punch Podcast: \u201cHow I would train any of my fighters against Spence is to be aggressive. Stay on top of him, throwing punches and moving.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, he does have skills and you have to be careful. Move your head. But, yes, I think being aggressive, going after the fight and making him fight is the best way to go at this stage of Spence\u2019s career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liam Paro excited to “make history” | 27:35<\/p>\n
TSZYU\u2019S NEW CORNER REVEALED<\/p>\n
Back on Fenech, and the Hall of Famer has revealed Tszyu\u2019s corner for the Spence bout.<\/p>\n
Asked about the corner for Spence, and Fenech revealed his chief second will be Basil Nassis, a longtime Sydney trainer who has also worked with athletes from a variety of sports including the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sydney FC and Australian Rugby Sevens teams.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, one of Australia\u2019s most respected cutmen, Stephen Edwards, will also join the team for the July headliner.<\/p>\n
Edwards has worked a host of huge world title fights \u2013 including Jeff Horn\u2019s unforgettable 2017 upset of Manny Pacquiao \u2013 and will also be with Liam Paro when he challenges IBF welterweight champ Lewis Crocker in Brisbane in June.<\/p>\n
The final place in Tszyu\u2019s corner will go to the fighter\u2019s grandfather, and perennial good luck charm, Boris.<\/p>\n
AUSSIE HEAVYWEIGHT\u2019S \u2018DRUG CHEAT\u2019 DRAMA<\/p>\n
Justis Huni\u2019s team have declared no interest in facing outspoken American Jarrel \u2018Big Baby\u2019 Miller, with the Australian heavyweight\u2019s manager Mick Francis saying: \u201cI don\u2019t want my fighter in front of drug cheats\u201d. <\/p>\n
The revelations comes as Huni now plans to hit the open market later this year, with Francis refusing to rule out a move to Zuffa Boxing, where he already has Australia\u2019s cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia.<\/p>\n