Tim Tszyu vs. Keith Thurman world title fight: Australian boxer’s US journey officially takes off
Tim Tszyu has waited a long time to get a title defence in the USA. But now he gets the chance to make good on his promise to ‘let them all squeal and feel it all’.
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Tim Tszyu may have waited a long time to get a title defence in America, but the plane has taken off and the WBO super welterweight champion is on his way to the USA with plans to “knock them all out, let them all squeal and feel it all.”
Accompanied by No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose and his team, Tszyu left Sydney on Monday morning to prepare for his biggest fight to date against former champion Keith Thurman in Las Vegas on March 30.
“I’m stoked to be able to say that we are heading to the USA today, it’s the beginning of the takeover,” Rose said.
Tszyu had been campaigning for well over a year to head to the states to fight, with the Australian now making history with his new chapter.
“This is massive for Australian boxing, whenever Tim Tszyu is doing well, Australian boxing is doing well.”
Although Thurman has gone toe-to-toe with some of boxing’s best, Tszyu is welcoming the big challenge ahead of him and is glad he stayed patient when looking for his opponent.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better result. This is one of those pinch yourself moments type of things,” Tszyu said.
Tszyu described the opportunity as a “you only live once moment” and plans on taking it with both hands.
Rose told media that headlining the famous T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas is a dream that all boxers have, but an Australian headlining a U.S. pay-per-view is unheard of.
“An Australian-born fighter has never headlined a U.S. pay-per-view, Tim Tszyu is about to do that,” he said.
The 29-year-old has spent a number of weeks preparing for southpaw Erickson Lubin but has no fear switching to a different fighter as Tszyu has become accustomed to fighters pulling out.
The world champion is starting to find this is becoming a habit for the opponents he is lined up to face.
“Typical, they start getting cold feet so what do I do,” he said.
“The show goes on, I’m even more happier now that it’s Keith Thurman, bigger name, calibre of fight bigger.”
As Tszyu prepares for the biggest fight he has ever been a part of, he is using the “pressure as privilege” and believes it will help him get the job done.
Tszyu has predicted his fight against Thurman will be finished in under six rounds with the boxer confident he will get the job done.
“He’s got the calibre, his names have definitely been much better than my ones, the resume is much higher, I completely agree with that, but he has never faced a Tim Tszyu in his life, so that’s the most challenging part for him.”
The WBO super welterweight champion is hoping this fight is the first in his USA take over, claiming he is coming to “knock them all out, let them all squeal and feel it all.”
While the travel to the US is a big step in Tszyu’s career he refuses to shut the door on bringing more super fights to Australia.
“I love Australia, I’m not the type of guy that waits,” he said.
“If I’m going to be waiting six, twelve months for a fight that’s not going to be me, and if the boys can make a fight happen in between I will fight in Australia.”
Tszyu has signed a multi-fight deal in America, beginning with his championship bout against Thurman.
He will headline a card also featuring fellow Aussie Michael Zerafa as he hopes to bring another world title down under.
TSZYU-ZERAFA IN BLOCKBUSTER LAS VEGAS WORLD TITLE FIGHTS
By Peter Badel and Brendan Bradford
They are Australian boxing’s bitter rivals.
Now Tim Tszyu and Michael Zerafa are about to hit the big time – together – before a record audience of 160 million in a history-making blockbuster in America.
In a massive moment for the sport Down Under, fierce foes Zerafa and Tszyu will feature in separate world-title fights as Australia’s dynamic duo on a historic card in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 31 (AEDT).
Tszyu (24-0) will defend his WBO super welterweight world title against Keith Thurman (30-1), while Zerafa (31-4) finally gets his shot at glory in a middleweight showdown with WBA champion Erislandy Lara (29-3-3).
Relations between Tszyu and Zerafa hit rock bottom in July 2021 when ‘Pretty Boy’ sensationally withdrew on the eve of their Australian super fight amid claims he was scared to take on the son of Kostya.
But more than two years on, the worlds of Zerafa and Tszyu will sensationally collide in Sin City as headline acts on promoter Premier Boxing Champions’ debut pay-per-view show on Amazon Prime.
The streaming service has more than 160 million subscribers in America and Zerafa says he is primed to scale the world-title summit after a frustrating 14-month wait to fight Lara, who turns 41 in April.
“I’m stoked, this has been more than 20 years in the making for me,” said Zerafa, the WBA No.1 mandatory.
“I’ve been waiting patiently the past 14 months for a world title shot and it’s here now.
“I’m headlining in Vegas with another Aussie (Tszyu) so it’s a massive day for boxing in our country.”
Having ruthlessly disposed of Brian Mendoza on the Gold Coast in October, Tszyu will make his debut in Vegas and Zerafa insists he won’t be death-riding his Australian rival.
Instead, the 31-year-old Maltese mauler hopes he and Tszyu both prevail to eventually set-up an explosive, all-Australian, multi-belt title blockbuster.
“I never thought the day would come when me and Tim Tszyu would be flying the flag for Australian boxing,” Zerafa said with a laugh.
“He is the main event, he has a tough fight against Thurman and I’m sure he’ll get the job done.
“I didn’t expect me and Tim to ever be on the same card, but it makes for a great potential fight between us.
“If we both win, there’s a huge mega Aussie fight on the horizon and if we both lose, there’s the rebuild there for us.
“I don’t really care about Tim at the moment. He is doing his thing in his division and I’m doing my thing.
“We’re both in world-title fights on this stacked card – it’s massive for Australian boxing.
“I feel like the fight with Tim will eventuate one day, but right now my only focus is this world title fight against Lara.
“I want to bring the world title home and then begin my defence in Australia.
Zerafa’s most recent fight was an uninspiring unanimous points defeat of Danilo Creati on a No Limit card in Sydney in November 2022, but the man who once bashed Jeff Horn in Bendigo isn’t concerned by his 16-month hiatus.
“I’m not worried about being rusty,” he said.
“I’ve been training three times a day in the gym. I’ve been staying active and I’ve always been ready to go.
“Even now, I’m just 2kg off my fight weight so I’m ready to go. There’s no concerns there.
“Lara is a very dangerous opponent, but I feel like he is getting older now and I’m hungry. He hasn’t got my hunger. For me, the hunger will be a big factor and I’m ready to take his world title.
“I knew my world-title shot was inevitable, I’m the mandatory and I knew the light would be there at the end of the tunnel. We’re eight weeks out from the fight and I’m ready to rock and roll.
“All the crap I’ve gone through and the haters and the lies, I’ve come through that to fight for a world title.
“Lara won’t be easy, he will want to make a statement, but it won’t be as big as mine.”
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