Australian boxer Tim Tszyu has dropped a bombshell about his future ahead of his showdown for the IBF Super Welterweight world title against Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Tszyu is stepping into the ring for the first time since his bloody defeat to towering American Sebastian Fundora and is promising to put on a show.
Speaking from Florida ahead of the bout, the Sydneysider revealed he is planning on relocating to the States for good after his fight this weekend.
‘Looking at houses and cars,’ Tszyu told News Corp.
‘Because my future, it’s in America.
‘I’ve got seven, maybe eight years in this sport and I really want to make the most of it.
‘I’m ready to knuckle down, chase my dreams.
‘And I’m willing to sacrifice life at home in Australia to make it happen.’
Sydneysider Tim Tszyu (pictured at training) has revealed he is planning to relocate to the United States for good after his fight this weekend
Tszyu and his fiancee Alexandra Constantine (pictured together) are looking at properties to purchase in the USA
Tszyu is adamant he will strip the undefeated Russian of his IBF belt on Sunday.
‘I’m just here to show that I’m levels above, quite simple,’ Tszyu said, dismissing Murtazaliev’s claim that the son of Hall of Famer Kostya was ‘the most hyped name in boxing’.
‘I’ve listened to that since the start of my career. [It’s] not new.
‘They keep saying that. A couple [of rivals] have started respecting but then, then you get another one and again – hype, blah, blah, blah, more, more bulls**t.
‘It is what it is, I guess. What, what can I do?’
Murtazaliev (22-0, 16KOs) also accused Tszyu (24-1, 17KOs) of talking too much, but the Sydney knockout artist swatted that sledge away with another taunt.
Well aware that the California-based, Grozny-born 31-year-old had been dodged by former undisputed champion Jermell Charlo three times while building his unbeaten career over more than a decade, Tszyu branded Murtazaliev ‘not promotable’.
Tszyu (pictured with Constantine after winning a fight) is adamant the referee will raise his hand at the end of his bout with the undefeated Russian on Sunday
Tszyu is stepping into the ring for the first time since his loss to towering Sebastian Fundora
‘Me talking? I do interviews, but that’s what selling a fight does, and talking about the fight,’ Tszyu said.
‘Unlike some guys that aren’t promotable at all, it’s not my fault he is one of those guys.
‘He’s sort of had to go wherever he’s been told – he’s taken step-aside money a lot of times.
‘He’s a step-aside fighter clearly. I’m here to take the biggest challenges, the hardest fights, the biggest fights and create a legacy and make a shit ton of money.
‘That’s what I’m here for.
‘Him on the other side, he’s step-aside money, this and that and whatever, man. We’re in two different worlds.’
Tszyu’s scathing assessment of the reigning IBF champion received the nod of approval from training great Johnny Lewis, who questioned the Russian’s unbeaten credentials while tipping his Australian challenger to win comfortably.
‘They (boxers) can run up records these days and they don’t fight the best,’ Lewis told AAP on Tuesday.
‘Too many of them that are undefeated, they don’t fight.
‘I’ve got no doubt that Tim will work him out. I think he can stop him.’
Tszyu has confirmed that his dad Kostya will be at the event at Caribe Royale Orlando on Sunday to support him.
‘It’s more a moment for him,’ Tszyu told Wide World of Sports.
‘It’s going to be pretty cool for him to see how far we’ve come.’
The Aussie revealed that his famous dad Kostya (pictured together) will be ringside on Sunday
His loss to Fundora will forever be marked with an asterisk, as evident by the IBF’s decision’s to grant Tszyu a shot at redemption after he sustained a gruesome, accidental head cut in the second round in Las Vegas in March.
Lewis is unconcerned about Tszyu’s lengthy lay-off.
‘He lives cleanly and he’s ready for it,’ said Lewis, who sat in Kostya’s corner as Tszyu’s legendary father became a unified world champion.
Should Tszyu prevail and join Kostya as a multiple world champion, the 29-year-old will be firmly back on track to secure a rematch with Fundora or a mega-money blockbuster with pound-for-pound champ Terence Crawford.