If the faith Tim Tszyu is placing in Pedro Diaz as his new trainer represents his last chance to realise his potential, in his short time under the Cuban he has rediscovered the enthusiasm of a fighter on the eve of fighting as a professional for the very first time.
The junior middleweight is typically – and perhaps inevitably, given his stoic Russian-Australian father Kostya is widely regarded among Australia’s finest ever fighters and that Australia, where he was born, encourages one of the most machismo cultures of all – both dry and authentic even beyond the standards of his contemporaries who are so often encouraged to shamelessly promote themselves in an attempt to enhance their “brands” and to sell their fights.
His surname and his handsome features have contributed to that – from his earliest days as a professional his marketability meant that his profile surpassed his achievements and that by his profession’s standards his opportunities quickly became vast.
That same machismo, independence and authenticity regardless ensured that opportunities continued to follow when he reached the highest level of his remarkably competitive weight division – sometimes, largely because of his fearlessness, to his detriment – and, in contrast to the very many desperate to a build a relationship with him, that he made himself an enemy of none other than Turki Alalshikh.
There remains little about him that suggests that Alalshikh’s hostility will remotely trouble him, but the previous two years of his until-then successful career have been challenging to the point that scarring is inevitable – he has been forced to accept that he is not invincible – and, at 31, the fear will also be growing that after sacrificing so much his dreams could be dying because his time is running out.
A fight between Tszyu and Jermell Charlo represented, until Charlo instead moved up two weight divisions to challenge and convincingly lose to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2023 at a time when Alvarez was given the freedom to fight whoever he pleased, the most appealing between two junior middleweights that could be made. Little over two years on Tszyu has not only experienced defeat, he has lost three of four fights and watched a contest between Vergil Ortiz Jnr and Jaron “Boots” Ennis – welterweights when he deserved to be matched with Charlo – become the most sought-after of all at 154lbs.
Few who ever reach Tszyu’s level endure periods quite as chastening, even if the realisation that the affection and dedication that they have for their profession isn’t mutual is almost always as punishing and stark.
That less than a month after revealing the appointment of Diaz as the final addition to his overhauled team – Glen Jennings had been his manager and his uncle Igor Goloubev had been his long-term trainer; the recruitment of Jeff Fenech, Mike Altamura and Darcy Ellis preceded the arrival of Diaz – he describes himself as having “fallen back in love with the sport” and with an almost unrecognisable enthusiasm demonstrates that, psychologically at least, he is in a significantly improved place.
When in March 2024 Tszyu so narrowly lost to Sebastian Fundora and therefore lost for the first time he had been particularly unfortunate on account of the late-notice change to a vastly different opponent and the damaging cut he suffered in the second round that demanded greater protecting from those then forming his team. He lost again, six months later, when instead of rebuilding he so readily accepted a fight against the heavy-handed Bakhram Murtazaliev, but his fearlessness and his determination to win put him in harm’s way and ensured that he went down fighting until his corner rightly threw in the towel.
In his rematch in July with Fundora he worryingly then appeared defeated before defeat became official. Physically he may never recover what he lost during the course of those four fights – he followed defeat by Murtazaliev with victory over Joseph Spencer – and he will also forever know that he can be hurt and that he bleeds and that he can be beaten, but even if he doesn’t prove a technically sounder fighter under Diaz, that after the nature of his rematch with Fundora he is again so upbeat and bullish means he might yet have a chance of succeeding in his aims.
“It’s definitely a different type of energy that I’ve felt in a long time,” he said from Miami, Florida, where Diaz is based. “It’s made me, honestly, fall back in love with the sport; the reason why I started. It reminds me of when I was a 15 year old coming back home from school, and watching tapes and studying the game, and it’s put me back to that mindset. I’ve missed that feeling for such a long time.
“I’m honestly just enjoying life here. Miami’s a pretty cool vibe. The first place I went is a bit different, but I’ve settled in here; it’s nice and homey; the weather’s good; I can’t complain. I’ve got the right people around me – it’s a good vibe.
“I went to five different trainers, and all of these guys were world class. Their history; every time I went to a coach I was like, ‘This is the guy’. The next one I was like, ‘No, this is the guy’. Then, as soon as I got to Pedro I was like, ‘This is the guy’. His passion and knowledge and who he’s worked with, and just the way he does things – the Cuban boxing-type style – there’s a lot of Soviet-type of work. It’s just refreshing.
“I’m doing a lot of stuff that I used to do as a child; I used to watch my dad train, back when I used to see my dad; a lot of old-school stuff, and I’ve grown up with that type of stuff, and unfortunately in the last couple of years I went down a different path. More western boxing; being tough; aggressive; strong. But it’s made me realise that the sport’s a lot about to do with skill; intelligence. That’s what Pedro’s bringing out of me.
“I’m still the same-old Tim – that’s never going to change. But a few little adjustments; a deeper fire burning inside me; it’s a whole different scenario now.”
If Tszyu has developed a false confidence that even he himself cannot recognise is false it may be because he needs it to be able to envision himself again competing among the intimidating Ortiz Jnr, Ennis, Murtazaliev and more. It is certainly tempting to listen to him speak and to question whether, like so many other fighters, he is lying to himself about the progress having already been made in such a short space of time, but the fact that he sounds so content training in a coastal city not unlike that he grew up in in Sydney, and under a trainer in whose background in the Cuban amateur system he can detect similarities to the Soviet-led schooling of his father, equally fits. Perhaps the character he describes in Diaz – and Fenech appears capable of similar – has also taken some pressure away from his no-doubt broad shoulders by providing him with a paternal figure given the ongoing absence of his father and by ensuring that he doesn’t need to be the same focal point he often appeared with his previous team.
“[I was looking for] somewhere I feel comfortable,” Tszyu explained. “Someone that I could just click and bond [with]; someone that brings the passion. As soon as I met Pedro I was like, ‘Man, this is him – this is the guy’. It’s honestly made me fall back in love with the sport. I’ve got a whole new desire for the sport now. It’s a different feeling.
“I went with Rudy Hernandez – I worked with him for a bit – and then I went to Abel Sanchez in LA, Big Bear area. Then I went to Boxer Gym – my mate owns the gym here in Miami so I still do a bit with them. But I was looking more for like a Mike Tyson-Cus D’Amato type of relationship; someone that you can look up to. Sometimes, when the fire isn’t burning, you can get someone to ignite it back, and that’s who I’ve got. He’s a real, loyal, passionate, family-type man, and that’s exactly what I am as well. We clicked straight away, and I’m glad where we’re at now.
“I grew up watching Miguel Cotto – he was one of my favourite fighters back in the day. I saw the changes that he made [under Diaz]. It’s crazy the names that he worked with. Twenty or so world champions; I don’t know how many Olympic gold medals; something crazy, man. He’s been there and done that with everyone in the sport and he’s still got this burning desire, and the fact that he’s taken me on and welcomed me like a part of his family – that’s basically how it happened. It was just a good feeling to have that.
“[Previously] I was just on to the next task; on to the next task; on to the next task. I forgot why I was so in love with it. I never used to watch tape, and I never used to watch boxing. I maybe turned off in my spare time; I’d just relax and not think about boxing. But now it’s like, boxing is in my blood and I’ve realised that it’s part of my DNA. The love that I have for it; what it’s done for me; the discipline; the love I’ve always dreamed about. So I just embrace it, man – I’ve been watching old-school tapes and old fights, and really fallen back into the process and the love for it. It’s a good feeling to have that, and part of the reason for that was being introduced to Pedro and his passion and love for the sport and how he never switches off.
“He came to me and said I’m better than Fundora. I’m better than Fundora, and it just wasn’t the right tactics. Tactically I’ll prepare differently now; [be] more strategic; think more in there rather than rely on my destructiveness, ‘cause that can only get you so far in this sport.
“We do a lot of training. Everything’s very strategic. He’s got this handbook, and he reads and he clears it all out and everything’s structured. It’s crazy, man. Honestly, this guy is a genius; his energy levels are insane; the bloke doesn’t sleep, and it comes back to me as well. When I feel that energy it’s unbelievable, and I’m doing stuff that I haven’t done for such a long time.”
The fact that Tszyu, speaking via conference call, responded to one question about the all-Australian 157lbs catchweight contest on January 16 between his younger brother Nikita and Michael Zerafa by saying “I don’t know, man – I really don’t give a fuck, I’ll be honest with you” provided a reminder of not only his authenticity, but of the reality that, regardless of his availability to speak owing to an attempt to continue promoting him, the glowing terms with which he described Diaz were not simply an attempt to charm.
After 28 fights and particularly after the way in which Fundora replaced the higher-profile, less challenging Keith Thurman as his opponent and also the way in which his career has since unravelled, Tszyu, more than ever before, is aware of how quickly the best-laid plans can change and also of the risks involved in attempting to follow a script.
He wasn’t supposed to fight Fundora the first time and he wasn’t supposed to lose to him on either occasion, in the same way that the fight with Murtazaliev also wasn’t supposed to end in defeat. He’d previously decide to commit to his career by relocating to Las Vegas before his increased perspective led to him favouring remaining in his long-term home in Sydney. Diaz may join him more consistently in Sydney – or more time in Miami to be close to Diaz’s base may be next. His new team had also previously indicated that his next fight would follow a period of recuperation – the likes of which he would have benefitted from after losing to Murtazaliev, if not the first fight with Fundora – but, and this same streak has previously worked against him, he is so keen to test himself under Diaz, who he revealed will contribute to his matchmaking, that he is pursuing a fight before the conclusion of 2025.
“That’s all in the works,” he said. “We’ll see how things are. But I’m starting to get my mind here. The world here’s a big place, man. Miami – I just feel comfortable here, to be honest with you, and I’ll see where things are at in the next couple of months.
“I feel comfortable with him and it’s a good vibe here. The weather’s good; it’s not dry like Las Vegas, and I’m pretty happy with that. But [it’s] mainly my coach.
“I haven’t really thought about it too much, but Pedro’s like family now. I know it hasn’t been a long time – we’ve been with each other for a month now. But he’s welcomed me with open arms, and the way him and his family have treated me has been unbelievable. I can’t wait [to fight under him]. And I see how he is with his team and his fighters – I was watching him and Miguel Cotto walk out. He was right by their side. He’s a real – very loyal – and true day-one type guy, and he’s more than welcome to come to my gym and be everywhere. This guy’s a part of my career now, and we’re only going to the top, so I’m going to welcome him in the same way that he’s welcomed me.
“I feel what I feel. We connected straight away – even how he is in the corner and the instructions he makes and stuff like that. It’s crazy, the way he wraps hands and everything – it makes me feel like a young kid again. I’m watching someone who’s at the very top of what he’s done in his career, and I’m in that position now with him, so we’ve got to get comfortable with each other – of course, I know that – but again, we’re not in a rush. The world titles will definitely come, and that’s what I’m aiming for.
“He’s always talking about belts. Belts. That’s all he wants. That’s his whole aim; purpose; goal, to just create belts and legacies and make the big, big fights and win the big fights. He’s got a record with professionals of something like 110 fights that he’s been in the corner with, and 17 losses, and this is like top level – [the Cuban great Guillermo] Rigondeaux, the heavyweight [Ruslan] Chagaev, Miguel Cotto. These are the top guys that he’s been in the corner with, and that’s the type of record that he’s producing. It’s just about getting comfortable with him. I’m learning a bit of Spanish now; I’m more trying to understand things rather than [speak fluently].
“It was tough [telling Goloubev and Jennings that they were being replaced]. It was tough, ‘cause I’m very loyal. But look, I needed changes and needed something new in my life, and I’ve stuck by it.
“I appreciate what the guys did for me and how far we’ve reached together. It’s just a change that was needed for myself.”
