Natasha Tszyu reveals she won’t attend her sons’ fights following Tim Tszyu’s thudding stoppage defeat in the US last year

Natasha Tszyu likens watching her sons box to a mother dog caring for her puppies, and Australia’s first lady of boxing has had enough of watching her puppies get hit.

Australia’s first lady of boxing, Natasha Tszyu, will no longer attend her sons’ fights following Tim Tszyu’s thudding stoppage defeat in the US last year.

As Tim attempts a career comeback on Sunday afternoon in Newcastle against American Joey Spencer, Natasha will not be there for the first time in his career, and has also vowed to keep away from younger son Nikita’s future bouts.

Once married to unified champion Kostya Tszyu, Natasha has been around boxing for most of her life, but has finally had enough after enduring Tim’s hospitalisation following his brutal third-round knockout to Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando last October.

“I’m not going to be in Newcastle, that’s the first time,” Natasha told Code Sports.

Tszyu vs. Spencer | SUN 6 APRIL 11AM AEDT | Tim Tszyu makes his highly anticipated return to the ring as he looks to push himself back into world title contention against Joey Spencer | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports

Natasha Tszyu. Pictured Thursday 4th April, 2025. Picture - Daily Telegraph / Dylan Coker

“For me as a mother, I don’t want to be sitting there and hear this noise. What happens in the fight, for me, it doesn’t matter win or lose.

“It’s my son. It’s not making me difference.

“But I don’t want to hear the noise. I can feel every punch.

“Every punch they take, I can feel it inside me. It’s a mother’s connection to the son. It’s still very strong.

Tim Tszyu is knocked down in Orlando in October. Picture: Alex Menendez/Getty Images

“It’s like a dog and her puppies, someone is taking your puppies, and the dog is getting angry. That’s how I feel, like for me I’m still protecting my boys. That’s my instincts.”

Tszyu was left with concussion and spent four hours at a Florida hospital after the bout.

Natasha and Nikita went out for dinner, where they found themselves sitting in the same restaurant as Murtazaliev and his team.

As she wept inconsolably at the table, Nikita told her it was time to walk away.

“It came from Nikita as well, Nikita talked to me a lot after Tim lost,” Natasha said.

“He said, ‘Mum, that’s enough. Boxing is for us, but it’s not for you. Stop watching, stop worrying, stop asking the questions. It’s better for you to live your own life’.”

Natasha found the strength to walk up to Murtazaliev and congratulate him. But she was clear in her mind that this would be the last time she would attend a bout for Tim, 30, and Nikita, 27.

LIVE: All the action from Newcastle as Tim Tszyu takes on Joey Spencer

The Tszyu clan, Natasha (from mother, L-R), Anastasia, Nikita and Tim Tszyu at a press conference for his dad Kostya’s fight. PIC: Milan Scepanovic

For Tim Tszyu, who also had father Kostya ringside in Orlando, he will now likely forge the rest of his career without either parent at his bouts. But he’s clearly unbothered.

“I couldn’t care less who’s there, it doesn’t bother me,” Tim said.

“It’s good to have grandpa (Boris), but my mum, not really, it’s all right.

“I don’t really see her before the fight anyway, just after the fight.

“And dad’s never really been around. He’s been to a couple of amateur fights, two pro fights.

“So I’m not really used to it.

“I’ve got my little circle.”

Natasha will be in Sydney with her mother-in-law, and won’t even watch Tim’s fight on television.

She will receive text messages from family members at Newcastle Entertainment Centre notifying her of the result.

“I’ll let my son be with the people who will be there for him, he trusts them,” Natasha said.

“And we have a strong family inside. Win or lose, it doesn’t matter.

Natasha Tszyu (centre) celebrates in centre ring after son Tim (left) defeated Tony Harrison in Sydney to win the WBO super-welterweight title in 2023. Also pictured are Tim’s wife Alex, sister Anastasia, grandfather Boris and brother Nikita . Picture: Supplied

“I do worry about his head or the blood, everything is so much in my head.

“But on another side, I still think for my boys it is better to fight than to do nothing. I’m so happy that my boys represent Australia. They’re putting so much effort in.

“I know it’s a dangerous sport, but I know this sport is not going to be forever.

“There will be so much opportunities after this boxing and my boys are fighting not for the money, they are fighting for pride.”

Originally published as Natasha Tszyu reveals she won’t attend her sons’ fights following Tim Tszyu’s thudding stoppage defeat in the US last year