Tim Tszyu’s wacky week in Las Vegas ahead of fight with fight with Terrell Gausha
Las Vegas is like no other place on earth, as Tim Tszyu and News Corp reporter Jamie Pandaram found in the lead up to the Aussie fighter’s bout with Terrell Gausha.
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Penis protesters disrupted Tim Tszyu’s trip back to his hotel after training.
Fears of spying forced the Tszyu camp to cancel his final sparring session.
This is weird and wacky Las Vegas, where, on any given day, a man will stop traffic on The Strip by gyrating at oncoming cars (Wednesday), G-string clad women will threaten men with whipping (Thursday) and marijuana salesmen will offer 2-for-1 “March Madness” specials (Friday).
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All the trappings are here to distract a fighter from the task at hand.
But Tszyu won’t allow the bright lights to blind him from his mission of defeating Terrell Gausha next weekend in Minneapolis.
“There’s plenty of different personalities walking around the hotel, around the Vegas strip, it’s good fun,” Tszyu said.
“America is different to Australia. I think we’re so calm, they’re different.”
Tszyu got his first experience of the bizarre when anti-circumcision protesters – complete with red-stained groins, chant at passing cars to end “male genital torture” – blocked his car returning to The Mandalay Bay hotel on Wednesday after he’d finished training.
His camp believes a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) spy was at the famous Mayweather Boxing Gym when he bashed Kevin “Thunderstorm” Johnson on Tuesday, and relayed information to Gausha, who is promoted by PBC.
The Tszyu team cancelled a planned sparring session on Thursday, instead moving to another gym to do padwork.
But there are no hard feelings.
On Wednesday, after he’d hammered Johnson, much to the dismay of Floyd Mayweather Sr, Tszyu was back at the Mayweather gym training.
Jeff Mayweather, brother of Floyd Sr and the late Roger Mayweather, was happy to have Tszyu back.
“I know a little bit about Kostya Tszyu, he fought my brother (Roger, in 1995 in Newcastle),” Mayweather said.
“I remember that fight, and of course the one fight that no one will ever forget is him and Zab Judah, that fight was funny.
“Sometimes, the child of a champion doesn’t have that same grit, the same mentality as the father. That’s like with Floyd’s sons, they come in the gym every once in a while, and they’ll play with boxing, but they’re never going to box.
“But they don’t need to, their dad is filthy rich. So why?
“But if Tim was always with his dad, I’m sure he was around his dad in training camps, and that’s what made him fall in love with boxing. Most kids, when they’re growing up, they look up to their parents.
“So I wish him well and I hope he can achieve what his dad did.”
As Tim Tszyu works the mitts with trainer Igor Goloubev in the smaller of the two rings inside the no-frills gym, a curious onlooker steps forward to get a closer look.
It’s DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, who was a sparring partner for Kostya Tszyu before he defeated Sharmba Mitchell in 2001 at Mandalay Bay to claim two light-welterweight belts before unifying the division later that year by drilling Judah in the second round.
Corley, 47, is still fighting 25 years after his professional debut, and is stunned at the similarities he now sees.
“Helping Kostya get ready for his fight against Sharmba Mitchell was a great experience, he was world champion at 140 pounds and I was coming up at 140 also, possibly I could have got a shot at Kostya Tszyu because he fought Zab Judah, and I fought Zab Judah,” Corley said.
“It was a great experience working with him, seeing how he made certain moves, and his power was just amazing.
“And now looking at his son, he is the total image of him. But he’s more of a boxer, his dad was just coming in fighting.
“Some of the moves he does, his dad did – very quick reflexes, his hands and punching power, I’m watching him now as he hits the pads, he punches just like his dad.
“He looks just like him as a younger version. He boxes, that’s something Kostya didn’t do much of, Kostya was coming.”
There is no shortage of personality in the Mayweather gym.
Non-stop joking, boasting and roasting is part of the atmosphere.
But the underlying understanding is that when it’s time to work, that is exactly what you must do.
“This place has become a landmark in Vegas, because Floyd (Mayweather Jr), for most of his career, he was right here,” Jeff Mayweather said.
“People would come here from all around the world to see him train, you’d have a ton of cars outside just with people who couldn’t get in. Every time Floyd fought, it was an event, even his training session was an event, and it went on for a long time, until he finally retired.
“But even when Floyd walks in now, if somebody is sparring they’re going to try to kill the other person, because they think Floyd is going to sign him or is looking at him.”
Tim Tszyu has relished the entire week in Vegas, from the glitz to the grind.
He has run each morning along The Strip, strolled around the man-made beach at his hotel, and enjoyed the interrogation from US reporters.
“This is what I live for, this is sick,” Tszyu told the local press pack when asked why he was risking this fight in the States when he is already the No.1 mandatory challenger for the world title.
“In Australia we’re in our comfort zone, it’s great to get out. Even sparring at the Mayweather gym, everyone is yelling, it’s mad.
“Even seeing you guys, it’s all new faces to me. I’m used to the same old media, the same old gyms, same old climate, weather, everything.
“Now I’m at Mandalay Bay, where I’ve been watching my whole life, watching the Mayweather 24/7s, I’m at the gym sparring, everyone is screaming, this is what I live for, this is unreal.
“I’m here in Vegas, preparing for the fight of my life.”
Goloubev was last in Vegas in January 1995, when Kostya defeated Jake Rodriguez at the MGM Grand to win the IBF light-welterweight belt, his first world title.
Back then, Goloubev wasn’t a trainer, he was simply a friend.
“I was last here when Tim was born 27 years ago, I came on my honeymoon, it was Kostya’s title fight, and he invited me to watch him,” Goloubev said.
“I was 21, coming from Serov, seeing all the lights here was a big shock. It was crazy for me.”
But Goloubev doesn’t worry about his young charge losing focus this week.
“We’ve done a lot of camps, and when you come for work it doesn’t matter what’s in front of you, whether in Vegas or some other town, we’re here to work,” he said.
“When you go for a run in the morning, no matter how shiny it is or how many people are walking around, it’s easy stuff, he is in a tunnel.”
Tszyu (20-0, 15KO) fights American Olympian Gausha (22-2-1, 11KO) at The Armory in Minneapolis next Saturday (Sunday AEST), and while he is the visitor, he plans to make the hometown fighter feel lost.
“I don’t look big, I don’t look strong, but when I get in this ring, I give this dominance out where this is my arena, this is what I do, and you’re coming into my stage,” Tszyu said.
“I will make the boys know, as soon as we shake hands, I will present that dominance straight away.
“From the first second when the fight starts, my objective is to take you out.
“Every second of every round, I’m going to be in front of my opponent’s face.
“As soon as I get in the ring I like to punch on, I like to inflict damage, I like to inflict pain. There will be plenty of pain coming next Saturday.
Tszyu bashes Mayweather fighter in final spar
Tim Tszyu bruised and bloodied a Mayweather fighter so badly in his final sparring session that it was called off early.
In Las Vegas to prepare for his world title eliminator next week, Tszyu attended the famous Mayweather gym and was thrown in against Kevin “Thunderstorm” Johnson.
Johnson’s crew told the Tszyu camp he would “smash” the Australian fighter, and one of them called Tszyu “a s**t fighter”, but after a brutal hammering the sparring session supposed to last 10 rounds was halted after the ninth.
Floyd Mayweather Sr was in Johnson’s corner along with a large contingent of trainers and supporters, and they screamed instructions at their fighter throughout the spar.
But it became obvious that Tszyu was hurting Johnson, and after the eighth round a teammate stepped in to stop the bashing.
To his credit, Johnson – a super-lightweight signed to Mayweather Promotions – showed enormous heart and said “one more round”, but after further punishment from Tszyu it was stopped.
This was Tszyu’s final spar before he fights Terrell Gausha in Minneapolis on March 26 (March 27 AEST) in a WBO super-welterweight eliminator.
“Blood was everywhere, it was good,” Tszyu told News Corp Australia.
“Why were they screaming? Because he was getting bashed, he was running around the ring trying to hug me, but he gave up a good fight.
“It was good to have that experience, having everyone on top of the ring screaming, saying I’m a s**t fighter, ‘He doesn’t know how to fight’.
“The momentum changed, and there was a bit of silence.
“I was in this zone, I was so calm, I didn’t let it get to me. I knew he was struggling, he was going downhill.
“He was trying to represent, I came to his gym, fighting their fighters, they’ve got to represent. I didn’t want to try to hurt him, but it is what it is.”
Tszyu (20-0, 15KO) did not hear the comment made by Johnson’s team that he would be smashed, but he certainly heard the other derogatory remarks during the spar.
He had not anticipated Johnson (10-2, 6KO) to come out so aggressively.
“I realised when he started throwing, I thought OK, sweet, let’s do this,” Tszyu said.
“My trainer Igor [Golubev] said they wanted 10 rounds, they were getting paid for 10 rounds, but he said let’s see if they last. All it took was nine rounds.
“They were going to quit after eight, he said ‘one more round’. But they didn’t make it to 10.”
Tszyu held an open media session in Las Vegas on Thursday morning, and is now sharpening his preparations before heading to Minneapolis next Tuesday where he’ll come face-to-face with Gausha (22-2-1, 11KO).
Their bout at The Armory will be shown live to millions of Americans on Showtime, and the winner is expected to fight the new unified super-welterweight champion, which will be decided on May 14 when belt-holders Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano have their much-anticipated rematch.
Tszyu predicts Castano will win.
TSZYU’S 20,000KM TREK TO SALVAGE US DREAM
The temporary closure of the US Consulate office in Sydney nearly cost Tim Tszyu his dream of fighting in America.
The Australian boxing star has been forced to travel 20,425km in four days to get to Las Vegas for his training camp ahead of the March 26 showdown against Terrell Gausha in Minneapolis.
Tszyu had to fly to Perth and back on Thursday to secure a work visa, before jetting off to Vegas on Saturday morning.
News Corp Australia understands that had it not been for intervention from high-ranking officials, Tszyu would not have been granted an interview this week and would have faced the prospect of arriving in the US just days before his fight, or not at all.
The closure of Sydney’s US Consulate has caused havoc for many Americans in Australia and locals looking to travel to the States.
The office is moving from the CBD to North Sydney, however due to Covid restrictions the new building has not been fully completed.
The Consulate is only processing emergency visas for US residents.
Everyone else in Sydney requiring a visa interview has been redirected to the Melbourne or Perth Consulate offices.
Due to overwhelming demand on the east coast, the Melbourne office is booked out for weeks.
Tszyu was initially rejected from being granted an appointment in Perth, but well-connected people in his camp managed to secure a last-minute interview on Thursday morning.
Tszyu flew from Sydney to Perth on Wednesday, had his interview Thursday, secured his visa that evening, and was on the plane to Los Angeles on Saturday morning.
“It has not been ideal, but this is the life of a professional athlete today with the difficulties in travelling internationally,” Tszyu said.
“It has worked out in the end, my team managed to organise it.
“Nothing can distract me from getting the job done in America.”
Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings said any further delay in securing Tszyu’s visa would have sabotaged their entire training camp.
“The key for us was to be able to get to the States two weeks out from the fight, we need two weeks to acclimatise,” Jennings said.
“It was a chaotic week, for a little while we didn’t think we were going to get it, but through persistence and hard work we’ve managed to sort it out.
“This is the biggest fight of Tim’s career, and after a mad scramble we’ve ensured that our plan to arrive in the US on time has worked out.”
Tszyu (20-0, 15KO) fights Gausha (22-2-1, 11KO) at The Armory in Minneapolis in a super-welterweight world title eliminator on March 26 (Sunday, March 27 AEST).
WBO champion Brian Castano and WBC, IBF and WBA champion Jermell Charlo will have their delayed rematch for the undisputed crown on May 14.
The winner of Tszyu-Gausha is set to face the unified champion later this year.
Tszyu is the first Australian to headline a major show in the US in a non-title fight.
He will begin training in Vegas on Sunday with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s striking coach, Dewie Cooper.
Tszyu will also be training at the gym of legendary champion Floyd Mayweather.
TSZYU FEARS US DEMOLITION COULD LEAVE RIVALS ‘RUNNING SCARED’
Tim Tszyu will train at the gym of legendary champion Floyd Mayweather and work with the striking coach of UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou in preparation for his American debut in little over a fortnight.
The Australian leaves for Las Vegas in days to finalise his training camp before taking on former Olympian Terrell Gausha at The Armory in Minneapolis in a super-welterweight world title eliminator.
Mayweather, who became the richest prize fighter in history by amassing $1.5 billion throughout his flawless 50-0 career, while the dreadlocked Cooper has guided Ngannou to the UFC championship as the most devastating puncher in mixed martial arts.
“When you get to live this boxing life, this is the kind of stuff you want to be doing, cool s--,” Tszyu said.
“It’s all about enjoying the process of boxing.
“I’ve been talking about fighting in the States for a while. After I was done domestically, which was after Jeff Horn (in 2020), I feel like that’s where the road led to.
“I finally get my chance to go to that global scene and give myself the performances and the breakout fights I need to keep bringing my career up and up.”
The Tszyu-Gausha fight will take place on Saturday night on March 26, meaning it will be beamed live in Australia on Sunday afternoon (March 27) on Main Event and Kayo pay-per-view.
Originally scheduled as the co-main event to the world title unification rematch between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano in Los Angeles earlier this month, Tszyu’s fight had to be reshuffled when Castano pulled out with a bicep injury.
The rematch is now expected to take place on May 14, with the winner of Tszyu-Gausha expected to face the unified champion later this year.
But Tszyu (20-0, 15KO) says he may have to take it easy on Gausha (22-2-1, 11KO) in order not to scare off either Charlo or Castano.
“I’ll probably go 12 rounds and don’t make it an easy looking fight so all these boys can just take a fight,” said Tszyu, who had called out Charlo when Castano got injured, only to be ignored.
“If you go out and pump them hard, they’re going to be running scared.
“This sport is funny. You smash someone hard, the rest get scared and they’re never going to fight you and you never get to fight for a world title, even if you’re the best talent.
“Or you can be a s--- fighter, win scrappy decisions, ugly looking fights, everyone is going to want to fight you.”
Tszyu made it clear that the drama around the Charlo-Castano rematch and delay of his US debut had not dented his focus.
“I’ve stayed pretty focused, I haven’t allowed that to put me down,” Tszyu said.
“There’s no choice but to make a statement.
“I’m going straight into training camp there, I’ll have a mix of different sparring partners, I’ll be tapering off, I’ve done most of the core work here so I’ll basically be going there to punch on.”
Tszyu has worked with Cooper during previous camps in the US, while the Mayweather Boxing Club has hosted numerous world champions and celebrities, including Mariah Carey and Eddie Murphy.
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