‘I love you, we’ll figure it out’: Alexandra Tszyu reveals brutal details of his world title defeat
Tim Tszyu’s world came crashing down with successive defeats in the US. Now, through wife Alexandra, we take you inside the post-fight hospital vigil, chaotic aftermath and a haunting premonition.
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A group of Tim Tszyu’s closest friends and family waited outside the hospital overnight for four hours as he had scans following his shock loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando last year.
Meanwhile a pre-fight premonition nearly caused chaos, and Kostya Tszyu was adamant Tim shouldn’t do a media scrum moments after the third round knockout.
Ahead of Tszyu’s bid to save his career this weekend against Joey Spencer in Newcastle, this masthead can reveal incredible details of the moments after his world title loss in Orlando that have never been heard before.
WATCH THE INCREDIBLE INTERVIEW WITH TIM TSZYU’S WIFE ALEXANDRA, AND THE FALLOUT FROM HIS DEVASTATING ORLANDO DEFEAT, IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
In an exclusive sit down interview, Alexandra Tszyu – who married ‘The Soul Taker’ in December – spoke to Code Sports about the harrowing hours following the defeat, including a trip to a Florida hospital, and the online hate that was sent their way.
SOMETHING WAS OFF
After the bright lights of Las Vegas in March last year, when Tim lost a bloody split decision to Sebastian Fundora, The Caribe Royale on the outskirts of Orlando was a drastic change.
Even Tszyu admits the lack of energy threw him off.
It wasn’t just him.
“Prior to leaving for Orlando, I went and visited my grandfather, who’s very wise – he’s about 102,” Alex told Code Sports. “He said, ‘Alex, if you feel something’s off, do whatever it takes to make sure Tim doesn’t fight’.
“I had that feeling in Orlando – something wasn’t quite right. Maybe I should’ve listened to my grandpa and gotten into the ring or something silly.”
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
Would she really have called the fight off at the last minute?
“What would I have done? And can you imagine the ramifications if I actually did something?” she asked. “I can’t even imagine.
“Fight called off because wife does something crazy.”
BLOODY WORRY BEADS
Alex sat next to her mum and Kostya on fight night.
“My mum cares deeply for Tim, like her own son,” she said. “It was the second time Kostya has ever been at any of his fights, so it was kind of strange having him there.
“He’s got these infamous worry beads and he kept flipping them and flicking them around during the whole fight.
“I’m thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, will this man stop flicking around these bloody worry beads?’
“It was really doing my head in, but it’s Kostya Tszyu at the end of the day.”
Worry beads aside, Kostya was a calming influence when Tim was knocked down for the first time in the second round.
“He said, ‘Don’t worry, Alex, it’s fine, there’s still more time, everything’s going to be okay, don’t worry, don’t worry’,” she said.
The rest of the fight passed by in a blur, but Alex remembers being so proud of Tim rising each time he was dropped.
‘WE’LL FIGURE IT OUT’
After four knockdowns in three torrid rounds, Tim’s brother Nikita threw in the towel, and Alex immediately jumped into the ring.
“A lot of people were around him, and I just wanted to make sure he was okay,” she said.
“I said to him, ‘I love you, everything’s gonna be okay, we’ll figure it out’.
“I’ve never actually been around anyone who was concussed, so he probably didn’t even hear anything.
“He probably didn’t understand what was happening, you could tell he was a little confused.”
THE MEDIA SCRUM
No one would have begrudged Tszyu for not speaking to the media, but he fronted a press scrum less than half an hour after the fight.
Kostya didn’t want him to do it.
“My father-in-law said, ‘No, absolutely not. He’s not coming out, what do we have to do so that this doesn’t happen?’” Alex said.
Tszyu wanted to front up though, but was clearly devastated and the scrum was shut down after just 90 seconds.
“It was upsetting to see your partner on live television feeling lost and confused,” Alex said. “Was it the right decision? I don’t know, I can’t comment, it’s not my place.
“Would I let it happen again? Definitely not.”
A NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL
Tim needed scans and travelled to a nearby hospital in a Ford Escalade, while other friends caught Ubers and waited outside all night.
“It was a bit scary, and obviously the health system is different in America,” Alex said. “Tim got admitted, and he did a CT scan, so it was me, my mum, his coach Igor, Glen – his manager – his best mates from Hong Kong, Omar – his chef and confidant – and a few friends from Sydney.
“They all waited four-and-a-half hours outside the hospital because they weren’t allowed in.
“It was a worrying time being in a foreign country as well.”
THE FALL OUT
Tim wasn’t allowed to sleep all night due to concussion symptoms, but he hung out with Kostya the next day, drinking coffee and chatting – although not about the fight.
The real blowback came once they arrived back in Australia.
Tszyu told Code Sports that he expected some online abuse, and is fine receiving it, but was angry that trolls went after his family.
It wasn’t restricted to online either.
“I had a group of guys in a car actually come up and say things to me,” Alex said. “It was quite upsetting, and I think I had some smart response, but when I came home, I got really upset.
“I get comments all the time, like, ‘Why didn’t Tim do this? Why didn’t Tim do that?’
“It’s like, ‘Man, you’re on a computer flicking around numbers all day, are you joking?’
“But at the end of the day, everyone’s entitled to their opinion.”
WEDDING BELLS
The fallout wasn’t all bad, with Tim and Alex tying the knot barely two months later at a lavish ceremony in Sydney.
“Apparently it was the next morning that he decided we should get married,” she laughs. “I wasn’t privy to that conversation, but I’m glad he made the executive decision to do so.
“Give me a wedding any day over a fight camp. It’s much easier to plan a wedding in five weeks than it is to undergo a fight camp with Tim.
“As delightful as he is, there’s still a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone involved.”
THE COMEBACK
Tim makes his return to the ring against Joey Spencer this weekend, and hopes it’s the start of the journey back to big time fights in the US.
“Tim wants to prove himself, but I don’t think he has anything to prove because I believe he’s the best in the world and he will come back quickly to where he was,” Alex said.
“There’s no doubt about his fitness, but now he’s focusing more on recovery.
“That’s something he learned from his last camp, acknowledging when to taper back. That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve noticed in this camp.”
Originally published as ‘I love you, we’ll figure it out’: Alexandra Tszyu reveals brutal details of his world title defeat
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