Tim Tszyu’s make-or-break Easter showdown with Denis Nurja has taken on a whole new dimension after revelations the Australian is in line to rocket into the top spot on the WBO’s super-welterweight rankings.
Victory over the unbeaten Albanian in Wollongong on Sunday will vault the former champion into a potential world title shot this year.
Already slated to fight American superstar Errol Spence, beating Nurja would also set up a possible blockbuster against reigning WBO champion Xander Zayas (23-0, 13KOs) or fellow undefeated fighter Jaron Ennis (35-0, 31KOs).
Tszyu is currently unranked with the WBO as a super-welterweight but is rated No.4 in middleweight with the organisation because his last fight against American Anthony Velazqua was fought at a catch weight.
‘Bring it on. Simple,’ Tszyu said after hitting the scales at 157 pounds at Saturday’s weigh-in at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
The 31-year-old said he’d never felt better after successfully making weight.
Tim Tszyu faces unbeaten Denis Nurja in Wollongong with WBO rankings surge and world title shot on the line
Aussie star is already linked to mega-fights against Errol Spence, Xander Zayas and Jaron Ennis this year
‘I woke up this morning and for the first time in my career I didn’t have to do like a bath or do a work-out,’ he said.
‘I sort of woke up at whatever time I was needed to and just hopped on the scales and I was there and, yeah, it’s the first time for me.
‘I would say usually I’m like gaunt. I didn’t have that feeling today.’
Tszyu will be having his second fight under his new team and expects to reap the benefits of more time in camp under esteemed Cuban trainer Pedro Diaz.
‘(There has been) a big difference technically, different tactics as well, working on fundamentals, putting myself in different boxing situations,’ he told AAP.
‘Just trying to improve on every point.’
Tszyu, also ranked sixth by the WBC and eighth by the IBF, pounded out a one-sided unanimous points decision win over previously unbeaten Velazquez in his first fight with his new team last December.
But with so much on the line, Tszyu is looking to make a statement this time around.
The 31-year-old says he feels stronger, sharper and more prepared than ever under trainer Pedro Diaz
‘If he doesn’t start running, then I’m going to get him out,’ said the Sydney slayer.
‘Victory by any means, of course. Doesn’t really bother me in which way but you don’t get paid overtime in the sport so if we can get it done nice and early or whatever, I’m all for that.’
Tszyu will set one family first on Sunday, as neither his younger brother Nikita nor their Hall of Famer father Kostya had a professional fight in Wollongong.
One fighter who will get enormous support on Sunday is Albion Park local Sam Goodman, who will face Argentinian Rodrigo Ruiz (23-1, 17 KOs) in a IBF super bantamweight world title eliminator.
The fifth-ranked Goodman (21-1, 8 KOs) last year unsuccessfully challenged for a version of the featherweight world title.
Ruiz, ranked 10th, has won a couple of regional titles and his only loss was by a points decision.
In a spicy curtain-raiser, fellow former NRL stars Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jarrod Wallace will slug it out in a heavyweight encounter after throwing verbal barbs at each other all week.
The two-metre tall Asofa-Solomona (134.46kg) will not only enjoy a massive height advantage but also weigh almost 14kgs more than boxing debutant Wallace (119.60kg).
Also on the main card will be two of Australia’s brightest boxing prospects, middleweight and 2024 Olympian Callum Peters (5-0, 5 KOs) and light heavyweight Paulo Aokuso (9-0, 4 KOs).
