Team Tszyu drop ‘insane’ bombshell as Aussie prepares for career-saving fight
Tim Tszyu has been dealt a ‘just insane’ blow ahead of his crucial fight next week, with the Aussie left without his trainer in the lead up to his date with American Anthony Velazquez.
Tim Tszyu will be sweating on the reliability of a 15 hour flight from Los Angeles next week, with his new trainer, Pedro Diaz, unable to arrive in Sydney until the day before his career-defining fight on December 17.
The Miami based trainer Diaz is credited with helping Tszyu rediscover his love of boxing after three defeats in four fights, but the veteran mentor, his chief second and his cut man won’t touch down in Sydney until next Tuesday, just 36 hours before the must-win bout.
The delay comes as Diaz is set to work with Norair Mikaeljan in his WBC cruiserweight world title clash against Badou Jack this weekend in LA, before jetting into Sydney.
With the time difference and travel time, the earliest he can arrive in Sydney is Tuesday.
It means Tszyu, who returned to Sydney from Miami on Sunday morning, will spend the final 10 days of his fight preparation without his new crew for their first fight together as a team.
One boxing insider called the situation “just insane” as Tszyu fights to save his career after parting ways with his old team in September.
Instead, Tszyu has reconnected with one of his very first coaches and mentors, Khalil ‘Killa’ Saab, who will help put the finishing touches on camp with input from Diaz remotely.
“Killa’s helping me out, and we’re going through a program from Pedro,” Tszyu tells Code Sports before pulling out his phone and showing a detailed training itinerary leading into fight week.
“I get sent a proper program for everything I need to do each day. This says, ‘at this stage no intense work should be performed. The objective is to maintain weight, finetune sensations and preserve mobility without generating fatigue’
“Everything’s all in there.
“Nine weeks ago, I didn’t have a coach at all. I didn’t have a fight either. I had nothing.
“I went on this crazy journey to find it.”
That Tszyu is so comfortable with the late-arrival of his new coach speaks to the instant connection they had when introduced by Aussie boxing insider Grant ‘Tassie’ Brown.
“In all honesty, I feel blessed because I was able to join training camp and connect and learn new things,” he says. “They took me on as family, it’s my second home.
“To be welcomed like that, it means a lot.
“They’re very loyal too. I can’t ask them to miss a world title fight, so they’ll fly in straight from LA and get here on weigh-in day.
“Just because he’s not here for a few days when I’ve already finished my prep, it’s a no brainer.”
Tszyu admits he lost his love for boxing at times over the last two years, and credits Diaz, who trained the legendary Miguel Cotto, for helping him reignite the spark.
If anything, Tszyu wishes he met Diaz earlier, saying he may have even made the switch after his win over Tony Harrison in March 2023.
“Pedro is a f***ing legend,” Tszyu says. “Just the way he talks, his charisma, his personality, his motivation, his passion, his experience, character and beliefs.
“He’s a true inspiration, and it’s cool to have someone like that in my life.”
Killa’s return to the fold is just as significant.
One of Tszyu’s long-time coaches, mentors and mates, Saab is well-respected in the Sydney boxing scene and travelled with Tszyu to America as he tested out new trainers in October.
Saab was in Tszyu’s corner for every fight up until the first defeat to Sebastian Fundora, but has always been there for ‘The Phoenix’.
“Killa’s always stuck by me,” Tszyu says. “When everyone disappeared, and the phone calls and all of that stopped, Killa was there. Always.
“There were only a few people still there. And Killa was one of those guys.
“He’s always been there as a brother, helping me out on this adventure.”
Originally published as Team Tszyu drop ‘insane’ bombshell as Aussie prepares for career-saving fight
Bennett, Bunnies, set to boost Tszyu’s fight to save career
