BRISBANE, Australia – The trainer who oversaw the finest years of Kostya Tszyu’s career sees in Nikita Tszyu similar potential to that that took Kostya into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
The 27-year-old Tszyu enters the biggest fight of his career at a catchweight of 157lbs in an all-Australian match-up with Michael Zerafa at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Friday night.
After 11 fights as a professional he is far from reaching the same heights as his older, former world champion brother Tim, but Johnny Lewis believes him capable of doing so and expects victory over Zerafa to provide further proof that he can.
It was under the respected Lewis that Kostya Tszyu established himself as perhaps Australia’s finest ever fighter. Lewis remains wary of the experienced Zerafa’s abilities, but also believes that, at 33, his confidence is as capable of proving his weakness as his strength.
“It’s gonna take one heck of a fighter to beat Nikita,” Lewis told BoxingScene. “There’s a fair bit of Kostya in him – he’s certainly got punching ability. He’s certainly gotta tighten his defence, and when he does that we’re gonna have a very, very good fighter.
“He’s definitely got that killer. He punches hard, and he’s always fit.
“His defence, at times, lets him down. As he goes up the ladder he’s gotta make sure that he does address that.”
Asked about Zerafa’s abilities he then responded: “Sometimes he’s good, sometimes he’s awful. I see him a long time ago and thought he was gonna be really good, but when they get beat too easy, you’ve gotta ask questions.
“Confidence. It’s either confidence or lack of confidence. He just stops working.
“I honestly think Nikita will win it. That’s a fight – I know it’s a first fight in January, but it’ll most probably be the best fight of the year. I think it will.
“Zerafa’s no dummy. He can do it, but it’s just whether he’s gonna do it the whole fight or curtail out of it.
“I think [Tszyu] can come in the later rounds [and earn a stoppage].”
