Tim Tszyu appears to be thriving in Las Vegas ahead of Saturday, the biggest night of his boxing life.
Looking relaxed at Wednesday’s Grand Arrivals and public workouts at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Tszyu, whose opponent was changed some 12 days ago when Keith Thurman injured his biceps and was replaced by Sebastian Fundora, Tszyu couldn’t have appeared less fazed by the moment.
“It’s a wonderful time to be alive,” Tszyu said.
The 29-year-old Tszyu (24-0, 7 KOs) will be topping the bill in Sin City for the first time, but he’s used Las Vegas for training camps before and feels he has acclimated well, having trained at the Split T Boxing Club.
“You get a lot of experience here,” Tszyu said. “It’s my fourth prep here, so I’m quite used to the conditions. So everything’s according to plan.”
Tszyu is understandably proud of his reputation as a throwback fighter and someone who is willing to face anybody. Fundora, a 6-foot-5 southpaw, may prove to be a handful – but Tszyu had no hesitation in accepting such a different fight.
“I live by that – never retreat,” Tszyu said of being described as a throwback. “I fear no one. I would go into any fight, it doesn’t matter – two weeks, 12 days, tall guy, whoever they put in front of me. I’ve just got to adapt, change and take over.”
Fundora will boast an incredible nine-inch height advantage, but Tszyu believes he will see the opportunities. As a point of reference, he called back to a short, stocky heavyweight great: “Mike Tyson did a lot of things in his prime, so hopefully I can do a Mike Tyson on him.”
The fight was originally to be contested only for Tszyu’s WBO belt, but the WBC has subsequently opted to put its vacant junior middleweight title on the line, too, making it a fight for a unified title. That decision was only lukewarmly accepted by those who didn’t feel Fundora merited a shot coming off a bad stoppage loss to Brian Mendoza last year.
Tszyu isn’t paying any mind to that.
“You know what, it’s another opportunity for greatness,” said Tszyu, the son of one of the great 140-pounders of all time, Kostya Tszyu. “In the record books, we’d be the second unified family in the world to ever be in this position, so for me there’s so much on the line. There’s so much at stake, it’s just a wonderful time to be alive.”
Under the circumstances of a late change of personnel in the opposite corner, plenty could be excused for seeking a win by any means necessary – but Tszyu has no intention of that. He wants to deliver a headline performance and win emphatically.
“It’s the only way,” he said. [Win in] convincing fashion – what I’ve always done.
“This will be a classic. When we’re talking about classics, something that’s going to be replayed forever, I’m hoping it’s going to be one of those.”
Talk in the last few days has centered on a future fight with star Terence Crawford perhaps being on tap for the winner, specifically Tszyu.
“I guess this is the drive,” Tszyu said of his continued motivation. “You drive every day so you can get into the position where you can go to the very top, pound-for-pound lists, I guess. The opportunities are endless after this, but I’m solely focused and zoned in for one job ahead.
“This is another day in the office, I’ve done it 24 times in the pro ranks; it’s just the 25th time. This time it’s a bit more enjoyable. I’m relaxed, I’m focused right now. I’m an eagle flying around, and I’m going to be going for that prey soon.”
Asked how the fight would go, Tszyu concluded: “One way: KO.”
