Brubaker wants Tszyu revenge: ‘Wouldn’t mind punching him in the face’

Comeback kid Jack Brubaker wants revenge on the Tszyu family after losing to Tim in 2019.

Jack Brubaker has revenge on his mind in his comeback fight this week. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Comeback kid Jack Brubaker plans on beating Troy O’Meley this Wednesday before taking revenge on the Tszyu family by knocking out “strange dude” Nikita Tszyu.

Brubaker hasn’t fought since a 2021 loss to Stevie Spark, but after some time off to reassess his career and enjoy the birth of his first child – a son named Bear – the 31-year-old excitement machine is back.

His comeback bout will be against the 14-3-1 O’Meley on the undercard to Paulo Aokuso’s light-heavyweight main event against Renold Quinlan.

But the big prize is Tim Tszyu’s younger brother Nikita.

Nikita Tszyu is coming off a first round demolition of Ben Bommber in May. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Brubaker fought Tim in December 2019 just as the elder Tszyu’s career was taking off. A natural showman, Brubaker did an expert job of needling Tszyu in the build-up, but Tim got payback in the ring, forcing trainer Jeff Fenech to throw in the towel in the fourth round.

“They’re 1-0 right now, but I’d love to get my revenge on Timmy and knock out little baby bro Nikita,” Brubaker told this masthead. “And if Tim wants some smoke later, I’ll give him some.

“I called (Nikita) out a few years ago. He was saying no one wanted to fight him, so I said, ‘Let’s go’, but I don’t think they wanted to throw him in with the lion too early.

“Now they’re mistaken in thinking that he’s ready for another step up. I’m happy to prove them all wrong and push him back down a level.”

Brubaker wants revenge on the Tszyus after losing to Tim in 2019. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Despite plenty of bluster in the build-up, Brubaker’s preparation for his fight with the elder Tszyu couldn’t have been worse. He was hospitalised with a staph infection just three weeks before the fight, while his trainer Fenech was hospitalised during training camp in Thailand and required emergency heart surgery 10 weeks out.

It’s one he wants back.

“Nikita’s a great fighter, but he’s had hype around him his whole life and he’s beatable,” he said of the 6-0 Tszyu. “He’s a bit of a strange dude, a bit hard to talk to – similar to Tim.

“They don’t have much personality, although Nikita has a bit more than Tim. I wouldn’t mind punching him in the face.”

Brubaker was last in action against Stevie Spark in an eight round war in 2021. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

First though, Brubaker must contend with 30-year-old Novocastrian O’Meley.

“Troy comes to fight, he’s a durable opponent, but he’s someone I should beat,” he said. “Every time he steps up in opponent, he gets beaten.

“He stepped up against Wade Ryan, he got beat. He steps up against Jack Brubaker, he’s going to get beat.

“He’s just a guy I need to look good against, and that will open the door to Nikita. If I don’t beat Troy, I don’t get Nikita.”

Troy O’Meley (L) had a pair of wars against Wade Ryan (R). Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Nikita is coming off an impressive first round knock out of Ben Bommber in Melbourne in May, and has a fight booked for August 23. He doesn’t yet have an opponent, but barring injury, promoters No Limit hope the winner of the Brubaker-O’Meley showdown will be ready to fight Tszyu in five weeks’ time.

“When fighters like this make call outs like that, it makes my job really easy,” No Limit CEO George Rose said on Monday. “It’s always tough to match Nikita, so when Troy and Jack both want a piece of Nikita, that’s something I can definitely make happen.”

Originally published as Brubaker wants Tszyu revenge: ‘Wouldn’t mind punching him in the face’