Supercoach to be ringside at must-win Tszyu showdown after face-to-face meeting

Tim Tszyu’s upcoming opponent Anthony Velazquez has copped a second flight delay in as many days, throwing fight week into chaos.

Anthony Velazquez has copped a second flight delay in as many days, meaning the undefeated American knockout artist won’t land in Australia until Friday morning at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Tim Tszyu cancelled a scheduled media call on Thursday morning as he heads into the final few days of preparation for his must-win bout with Velazquez on Wednesday.

Velazquez was scheduled to leave Los Angeles on Tuesday evening (Australian time), and land on Wednesday morning, but he wasn’t allowed on his original flight after an administrative error with his ticket.

He was rebooked to depart LAX the following day, but the United Airlines flight was cancelled, leaving him stranded for another 24 hours.

Velazquez will now have just five days to overcome jet lag and acclimatise to a new time zone before the biggest fight of his life.

Anthony Velazquez punches Michael Crain during a welterweight fight. Picture: Getty Images

He is now expected to arrive at 9:05am on Friday morning.

The 29-year-old is expected to head from the airport straight to the Tszyu Boxing Academy in Rockdale for his first face-to-face meeting with ‘The Phoenix’.

If he makes it on the plane and through customs in time, it will be the first time the Australian public gets to lay eyes on the man promising to end Tszyu’s career as he conducts his first workout in Sydney.

Velazquez’s flight dramas could be a bad omen, with event organisers already sweating on Tszyu’s new coach, Pedro Diaz arriving on time.

Diaz is working a world title fight in Los Angeles this weekend, and isn’t scheduled to land in Sydney until Tuesday morning, a little over a day before his first fight in Tszyu’s corner.

Tim Tszyu must defeat Velazquez to reignite his boxing career. Picture: No Limit Boxing

The unique set-up doesn’t concern the Sydneysider though, with Tszyu telling Code Sports Diaz has been sending daily programs and routines for the final week of his fight prep.

Tszyu is keeping his circle small and his commitments to a minimum this week ahead of the do-or-die showdown.

After three defeats in his last four bouts, another loss will all but crush his hopes of climbing back up the rankings and fighting for world titles again.

Tszyu was scheduled to take part in a Zoom call with world boxing media on Thursday morning, but it was cancelled at the last moment.

BENNETT, BUNNIES, INSPIRE TSZYU

NRL supercoach Wayne Bennett is set to be a special ringside guest at Tim Tszyu’s must-win fight with Anthony Velazquez next week after the pair sat down for a one-on-one meeting at South Sydney training on Wednesday morning.

Tszyu, who fights to save his career at the TikTok Entertainment Centre (formerly the ICC Convention Centre) in Sydney, took a break from the final week of fight preparation to spend an hour on the sidelines at Souths training this week.

He tossed a ball around while taking in the action before catching up with Rabbitohs stars Cam Murray and Latrell Mitchell.

Souths five-eighth Cody Walker then presented Tszyu with a jersey with his name on the back, saying he’ll also be in attendance on December 17.

Cody Walker presents Tim Tszyu with a Rabbitohs jersey. Picture: South Sydney Rabbitohs

“Hope to see you wearing it at a few games, mate – maybe a GF,” Walker said. “I’m excited to see Tim back in Australia, I’ve always been a big supporter.

“I remember back at the Hordern Pavilion (he) fought on a Paul Gallen undercard in the very early days.

“I was a big supporter of his dad’s too from a young age.

“To see him back in Sydney, we’ll all be down there as a club, and we’re looking forward to seeing him getting his arm raised in victory.”

Tszyu met Bennett for the first time on the side of the training paddock moments after the session ended, before the former World Champion spoke to the seven-time Premiership winner inside Rabbitohs HQ.

Walker, Cam Murray, Tszyu and Latrell Mitchell. Picture: South Sydney Rabbitohs

“It was exciting to meet the great Wayne Bennett and sit down for a few minutes,” Tszyu said. “He told me he was coming to watch me fight next week.

“That was my first time meeting him, but he seems like a very knowledgeable man.”

Despite being spotted with Cronulla Sharks jerseys over the years, Tszyu confirmed his true allegiances lie with the Rabbitohs.

“I’ve been to a lot of different games and a lot of different teams have given me jerseys, but I’ve always been a Bunnies supporter,” he said.

There are some similarities between Tszyu and the Rabbitohs, with both attempting to bounce back from disappointing outings over the past two years.

Tszyu has lost three of his last four, but is adamant with a new team around him he can make it back to a world title shot again, while Souths finished a disappointing 14th on the NRL ladder.

“It’s not what you’ve previously done, it’s what you’re about to do,” Tszyu said. “We’re in the same position, we need to prove it to ourselves.

“I’m bulletproof, and the only thing on my mind right now is victory.”

Walker and Tszyu share a laugh. Picture: South Sydney Rabbitohs

Murray and Tszyu catch up after training. Picture: South Sydney Rabbitohs

Walker said he’s no good with a pair of gloves on, but singled out a couple of teammates who can throw hands.

“There’s a few of our boys who could transition (to boxing) and do a good job,” he said. “Jacky Wighton’s name gets mentioned a fair bit, and Brandon Smith as well. He’s got that boxing mentality.

“I definitely won’t be getting in the ring.”

Tszyu’s appearance at Rabbitohs training came as Velazquez’s departure from America was delayed after his name was printed incorrectly on his ticket.

He was unable to leave on his scheduled flight, and was forced to re-book to a later flight.

Team Tszyu could already be sweating on flights and airport delays, with his trainer, Pedro Diaz, only scheduled to arrive in Australia one day before the bout.

“Seriously? This is the first time I’ve heard of it,” Tszyu said of Velazquez’s first delay.

“Don’t scare me, please.

“Let’s just get him here. I don’t care, give him any advantage he needs, I just need him here.”

Originally published as Supercoach to be ringside at must-win Tszyu showdown after face-to-face meeting