‘F***ed up’: Nikita Tszyu claps back at ‘ignorant’ pundits, reveals truth about Fundora stoppage

Nikita Tszyu has slammed critics of his brother Tim's Las Vegas defeat, revealing the truth about how the fight ended – while defending the family's boxing legacy.

Nikita Tszyu has hit out at “ignorant” fans and a “f***ed up” boxing world while slamming commentary around his older brother Tim “quitting” on his stool against Sebastian Fundora.

Meanwhile, longtime Tszyu family rival Michael Zerafa – who fights on the same August pay-per-view card as Nikita – claims ‘The Butcher’ is actually a better fighter than his older brother.

Nikita returns to action for the first time in a year against German-based Macedonian Lulzim Ismaili (12-0) on August 20 at the ICC Theatre in Sydney, and was ringside as Tim was beaten by a much-improved Fundora at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

After a week of speculation, Nikita says it was trainer and uncle, Igor Goloubev, who stopped the fight after the seventh round.

“Tim just didn’t have anything left in him and the corner stopped it,” Nikita told Code Sports. “They visually saw that he was out, and that he no longer had the strength.

“Igor stopped it. My uncle stopped it. I’m 99% sure of that.”

Tszyu moments after the end of the seventh round. Picture: No Limit Boxing

That hasn’t stopped a wave of online criticism being aimed at Tim, with many fans and pundits saying he quit on his stool, despite saying just days earlier that he was willing to die in the ring.

“I’ve been seeing a lot of ‘quit, quit, quit,’ but it wasn’t the case,” Nikita said. “It was done. It was a losing battle.

“It’s just a bit of ignorance and it’s a shame that it happens. It’s a shame that we’re so flawed as a society that everyone has to play the blame game.

“There’s no dishonour in that fight.

“Tim fought his ass off, did everything he could and wasn’t able to finish the job. He got beat. There’s no dishonour in that.

“Why’s everyone slamming him? It’s kind’ve fucked up.

“Do you expect him to die on his feet? The boxing world is messed up.”

Tszyu couldn’t work out the puzzle of Fundora. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech was one of many to slam Tim’s corner in the days after the fight, and urged the Sydneysider to make changes to his team.

Nikita brushed off those criticisms and will use the same personnel, including Goloubev, cutman Mark Gambin and trainer Dave Barker, on August 20.

“I’ll always use them,” he said. “I feel most comfortable with them, and if there’s anyone I’d want to lose with, it’s them.

“My mentality is just different than most boxers. I don’t think there’s dishonour in losing. You go into a fight, you prepare your best.

“If you don’t prepare, that’s the most dishonourable thing you can do. We always come in as prepared as possible.

“If we win, we win. If we lose we lose, but we always fight our ass off.

“The UFC is the perfect example of how it should be. People fight, they win, they lose, everyone gets praised.

“In boxing, everyone just gets slammed. It’s a weird dynamic.”

Nikita is back in action on August 20. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Nikita has been out of action since his August 2024 Fight of the Year win over Koen Mazoudier.

Since then, ‘The Butcher’ has battled with a hand injury, got married and had his first child, a daughter named Curiosity.

Lulzim will be his first international opponent, and there are plans for Nikita to face Zerafa later this year.

He wouldn’t talk about a potential fight with Zerafa, who fights American Mikey Dahlman (18-1) in the co-main event on August 20, while ‘The Pretty Boy’ says he’s now focused on landing a big-money fight with the older Tszyu brother.

He even claims Nikita is better than Tim.

“The grudge match isn’t with Nikita, it’s with me and Tim,” Zerafa said of his years-long rivalry with Tim. “Nikita’s still young in his career, I’m ranked higher than him, and now, higher than Tim.

Michael Zerafa (R) wants a fight with Tim Tszyu. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

“He’s crafty and strong, and I actually think he’s a better fighter than Tim.

“He’s still raw, he’s still fresh in the sport, but he’s doing great things. He’s a weird personality – he’s the weird guy, I’m the bad guy.

“But it’s one fight at a time. That’s Nikita’s thing, so keep doing it.”

The August 20 undercard also sees the return of Sydneysider Brock Jarvis against Sam Beck (7-0) for his first bout since his defeat to Keith Thurman in March.

Rising Sydney superstar Ahmad Reda is on the hunt for a new opponent after Brisbane power puncher Billy Polkinghorn was forced out through injury.

Further down the card, heavyweight slugger Brandon Grach is in a five-rounder, while Jasmine Parr and Isaias Sette will also feature.