Tim Tszyu refusing to live in the shadow of dad Kostya in wake of US debut win over Terrell Gausha

After wowing an increasingly excited US market, Tim Tszyu betrayed his usual cool demeanour of deflecting comparisons to his dad with an extraordinary expletive-ridden outburst.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 26: Tim Tszyu (white with blue trunks) v Terrell Gausha (white with red and gold trunks) box in the Super Welterweight main event at the Armory on March 26, 2022 in Minneapolis, United States. Tszyu, in his USA debut defeated Gausha by judges decision. Adam Bettcher/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

“Call me by my name motherf*****s”.

With that statement, Tim Tszyu made it clear to bitter rival Jermell Charlo and any critics who believe he is living in the shadow of his legendary father, Kostya, that a new era has dawned.

After making a stunning American debut last weekend by defeating the tough Terrell Gausha over 12 rounds, a fired up Tszyu betrayed his usual cool demeanour of deflecting comparisons to his dad, with Charlo’s snipe that he is “Tim Kostya Tszyu” obviously still a sore point.

Tim Tszyu is determined to make his own name in boxing.

“I’m coming,” Tszyu said.

“Charlo can’t call me ‘Tim Kostya Tszyu’. Call me Tim Tszyu. Call me by my name motherf*****s. Call me by my name f***wits.”

The 27-year-old undefeated world title contender has been carrying the burden of his surname since turning professional in 2016 – with Kostya Tszyu having been a unified world champion and one of the greatest fighters in Australian history.

Tim Tszyu has, at times, embraced his lineage, and at others looked to remove himself as much as possible from comparison to Kostya.

It will be an ongoing struggle for the son of a legend, but after his breakout American performance, Tszyu is drawing a line in the sand to say this is his time, and he will define his boxing story.

Charlo, the WBC, IBF and WBA super-welterweight champion, had dismissed Tszyu as a future opponent last year on the Ringside With Lions podcast.

“Tim ‘Kostya’ Tszyu is not on a level to even fight for a world title,” Charlo said.

Tszyu goes to work on Terrell Gausha on Sunday.

“He ain’t even on the level to fight some of the guys that I’ve knocked the f--- out of and he ain’t even going to get no chance to fight me, probably throughout my career. I’m just being honest with you.”

But now, there is little chance of avoiding Tszyu if he remains champion.

Tszyu (21-0, 15KO) is the No.1 mandatory challenger for the WBO super-welterweight title held by Brian Castano.

Last year, Castano and Charlo fought for all four major belts, but drew. They have a rematch on May 14 – which Tszyu will personally attend – and the unified winner would have to fight him or relinquish a belt.

“If you look at Terrell after the fight, and the trouble I gave him, I don’t think they want a piece of this,” Tszyu said.

“They want an easy fight where you can box and tip-tap, but that will never be happening with me.

Tszyu has his eyes on the winner of the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castano rematch.

“It has to be (the world title fight next), me and Terrell were the top boys in the division and me and Terrell said it, the winner should fight (the winner of) Charlo-Castano.

“I just beat a guy whose only losses are to (Erislandy) Lara and (Erickson) Lubin.

“That was my best opponent, better than Jeff Horn, everyone knows that. And what did I prove?”

Tszyu and his team plan to return to the US for the world title fight in Las Vegas, in either September or October if the winner of Charlo-Castano takes the fight.

They will have 120 days after the title fight to make a decision, which is not ideal for Tszyu who has been the most active world-ranked fighter in the world over the past two years.

“That’s the politics of boxing, you have to do what you have to do,” Tszyu said.

“I couldn’t care less at the moment, I’ll have another fight if I have to. I’m not going to let my future depend on two guys having a honeymoon.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu refusing to live in the shadow of dad Kostya in wake of US debut win over Terrell Gausha