‘There’s no curse’: Tim Tszyu dismisses long-time Las Vegas hoodoo ahead of fight Sebastian Fundora

The height of Tim Tszyu’s opponent in Las Vegas is one challenge to overcome, but the ‘curse’ is another. Not that it concerns the Australian boxing star, with his focus firmly on Sebastian Fundora, and no future multi-million dollar bout can distract.

Tszyu and Fundora pose at the Split T Boxing Club in the lead-up to Sunday’s fight. Picture: Louis Grasse/Getty Images

Tim Tszyu has brushed off suggestions there is an Australian curse in Las Vegas as he prepares for Sebastian Fundora and a possible $15 million blockbuster against Terence Crawford.

Many Australians have come up short in Vegas, including Jeff Fenech, Jeff Horn, Andrew, Jason Moloney and even “Aussie” Joe Bugner.

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However, Tszyu said from his Split-T Gym training base in the Vegas suburbs five days before his Sin City debut that he gave short shrift to talk about a curse.

“I try not to think about that,” he said. “I just know I have to do everything convincingly to win in any manner possible.

“But no, there’s no curse – definitely not.”

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Tszyu’s dad Kostya, who is rumoured to be attending this weekend’s fights, had great success in the world’s fight capital and Tim is intent on turning his own Vegas daydreams into reality.

“I remember the Zab Judah and Sharmba Mitchell fights,” Tszyu said of his old man’s career. “I came here to watch Manny Pacquiao versus Miguel Cotto.

“That was the first time I came here and that was a dream come true.

“Now I’m on the other side. That was 2009 and now I’m living the dream and doing it every day.”

The height difference between Fundora (L) and Tszyu (R) is phenomenal. Picture: Louis Grasse/Getty Images

Despite constant speculation about a fight with Crawford, who will become the WBO mandatory to this weekend’s unification bout winner, Tszyu isn’t concerned about anything but Fundora.

“That’s just noise,” he said of a Crawford bout. “There’s only one task ahead of me at the moment and then we’ll move on.

“If I can be an example of people living the dream and going all in, then that’s what it’s all about.

“I’m doing that. I’m ticking every box but one at a time.”

Tszyu isn’t entertaining the prospect of the financial windfall that would come his way in a Crawford fight.

Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings said the figure would be in the millions and one of the richest Australian fights.

Terence Crawford is the king of boxing. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

“If he beats Fundora, Crawford’s going to say, ‘You’re my next’, and for us that’s amazing, it’s the jackpot,” Jennings said.

“The reality is, Crawford uses a $15 million figure as where he wants to be.

“I believe Tim will be very, very well compensated for that fight because it will become a mega fight.

“Terence is pound-for-pound, and he can command that money, and Tim Tszyu is probably the only fighter who can get Terence Crawford out of bed.

“It’s a real challenge but, yes, I do believe Tim Tszyu beats Terence Crawford.”

Nikita Tszyu’s US push

The Nikita Tszyu sweepstakes curse has taken out three fighters.

Tszyu is searching for an opponent for his PPV fight on April 24 after Viliami Liavaa, Koen Mazoudier and Danilo Creati all fell short of locking in the bout.

Mazoudier came closest with a win over Travis Druce but perforated his eardrum.

With the super-welterweight ranks in Australia running low, the search has spread to the US, where Nikita has been training alongside older brother Tim.

It’s now looking likely that the younger brother could be fighting an American opponent in a month.

Jennings, who is also the manager of Nikita, said there had been advanced talks with one US opponent and confirmation was expected in the next week or so.

Nikita Tszyu is looking for a fight. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Nikita has spent the past three weeks in Las Vegas training alongside his older brother but has been keeping an eye on his domestic opponents falling over.

“I’ve been hearing names,’’ he said. “I don’t watch the fights but the shows come out and we hear there was a loss, an injury.

“It’s been funny to watch Glen lose his hair and see his worried face.

“I’m fine about it. I’m in a Zen mode, just concentrating on Tim and training. When the name comes, I’ll be ready.”

Tszyu said he still planned to fight Mazoudier but had begun thinking about a bout in the US.

“When I’m ready, the time will come, we’re not going to rush things,” he said. “There’s still some business in Australia I have to clear up.

“I haven’t cleared out the division yet. Then we’ll come over here when the time comes.”

Nikita has spent the last three weeks training with Tim in Las Vegas. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Liam Wilson vs. George Kambosos?

Liam Wilson takes on Oscar Valdez this weekend but his call-out of George Kambosos in December is still fresh in the memory.

A fight between them isn’t entirely out of the question.

Wilson’s camp is confident that this weekend’s fight will be made an interim WBO super-featherweight after Emanuel Navarrete moved up to lightweight.

If Wilson wins, and Navarrete stays at lightweight, the Aussie is likely to be elevated to full champion, like the WBO did with Tszyu last year.

There will be title defences and unification options for Wilson, who has already been called out by WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster.

Kambosos lands a left hand on Devin Haney. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

But a mouth-watering domestic clash against Kambosos could happen, depending on how “Ferocious” goes against Vasily Lomachenko in May.

“It’s something I’d like to do,” Wilson said. “Deep down, I think George would want to do it as well.

“I think it makes complete sense and Australia deserves that fight.

“We’re two great fighters in the lower divisions.”

Rose said he would seek to make that fight happen.

“I think that would be a great fight,” he said. “When eventually Liam does head up to lightweight – if he does – it’ll be a great all-Aussie showdown for whatever title Liam holds at the time.”

Michael Zerafa vs. Mateo Tapia

That’s not the only domestic showdown that could come out of this weekend.

Michael Zerafa is fighting Erislandy Lara for the middleweight WBA world title and there are two local fighters who will gladly step into the ring with the “Pretty Boy”.

Kiwi slugger Andrei Mikhailovic is ranked with the WBA and Sydney’s Mateo Tapia has recently signed with No Limit and is due to fight on Nikita Tszyu’s undercard next month.

“They’re all within contention,” Rose said. “Mateo is one of the best and a fight for him against a guy like Zerafa is great.”

Mateo Tapia will be fighting in Australia in April. Picture: Russell Freeman/Getty Images

Tapia has been based in the US and hasn’t fought in Australia since 2022.

“El Tijuanero” has a 16-0 record with 10 knockouts and will be a staple on No Limit cards.

“I’m excited about Mateo Tapia getting back in the ring,” Rose said. “He’s a guy we’ve been starved of.

“He’s a guy we should have seen a lot more of over the last few years.

“Now we are getting to see him regularly and he’s going to be fast-tracked to the top of the rankings.”

Originally published as ‘There’s no curse’: Tim Tszyu dismisses long-time Las Vegas hoodoo ahead of fight Sebastian Fundora