By all reports, Tim Tszyu “bashed” Kevin “Thunderstorm” Johnson last week.
Tszyu’s camp wanted to get through 10 rounds of sparring ahead of his US debut against Terrell Gausha.
But with “a lot of people watching” at the famous Mayweather Boxing Gym in Las Vegas, Tszyu only got through nine rounds.
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“We were supposed to go 10,” Tszyu tells foxsports.com.au.
“They pulled out at eight. We got nine in.”
Was Johnson bashed?
“I don’t like to talk about my sparring partners or my spars, I wouldn’t say it was a bashing,” Tszyu says stonely.
Why is that?
“I have respect, man,” he says.
“I don’t tell anyone that I bash people.
“It’s respect to my opponents and respect to my training partners.”
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According to Tszyu’s manager, Glen Jennings, it was exactly what the Australian boxing star needed despite the earlier than hoped finish.
“We expected it to be a bit rough and tumble,” Jennings said, with the dry manner of someone who has seen a few sparring sessions during his time.
“Timmy was just on fire and it’s hard to compete with Tim when he’s on point like that.
“It was quite interesting, there were a lot of people at the gym. Floyd Mayweather Sr was up on the ropes and Jamie Mitchell, the female WBA champion, was up on the ropes in Kevin’s corner and they were encouraging him, but he really didn’t have an answer for Tim.
“Whilst we would never belittle the guy or say something detrimental, he gave us great work, on this particular day Tim was very hard to beat.”
Tszyu has not fought in the US, but he’s not exactly an unknown either.
His father Kostya lit up America during his decorated career, so Tim’s fists have a sense of familiarity about them.
“People still know me from my dad,” Tszyu says. “He created this great history here, so it’s great to be able to live it again.
“Everyone mentions it, especially here because I haven’t been exposed as much here.
“In Australia, it’s different, I’ve been exposed.
“Again, it’s a new chapter.”
READ: ‘Heartbroken’ Aussie legend’s KO warning to Tszyu after 30-year world title robbery
Jennings has seen this story before.
He was there when Kostya started out, and now he is by Tim’s side as he becomes the first Australian to headline an event in the US without a world title on the line.
While a less focused person could get distracted by the lights and action in Las Vegas, Jennings says it is business as usual.
“It’s quite bizarre,” he says. “People have the assumption that when we’re in Vegas and America (it’s wild). It’s certainly exciting, but it’s quite bland. It’s no different to what we do at home, it’s just in a different place. We don’t have any distractions, we train, eat and sleep, and that’s about it.”
Tszyu attests to that, saying sleep and watching crime documentaries was the No.1 priority when not in the gym.
Tszyu, who will fly to Minneapolis on Wednesday AEDT, will make the weight comfortably, with the Australian 27-year-old tracking well ahead of Sunday’s fight.
The Australian super welterweight star (20-0, 15KO) is the heavy favourite against American Olympian Gausha (22-2-1, 11KO) at The Armory.
But he has been urged to make sure of the result by Jeff Fenech, with the Australian boxing great urging Tszyu to ensure the result is not left in the hands of the judges.
“Hometown is hometown,” Fenech told foxsports.com.au.
“They’re definitely going to look after their promoter. Their promoter is the person that brings all these referees and judges around, feeds them, wines them and dines them. I honestly believe Tim needs to knock this guy out. Not do it early but he just has to knock him out to make sure he gets this decision.
“I would not leave it in the hands of the judges if I was Tim.”
Jennings says the matter has been spoken about.
“Yeah we’ve talked about that, and whilst we can’t ever predict anything in boxing, we’re coming for a knockout,” he said.
“Tim doesn’t want to entertain going to cards. He’s going to do whatever he has to do to take care of that.
“That’s between two people only, we can all talk about that, but I’m sure Gausha’s camp are thinking the same thing and, in fact, have said they’re quite confident they can move Tim on pretty early.
“Plenty have said that, it’s yet to be judged on the night. But absolutely, (trainer) Igor (Goloubev) has got Tim ready to go in there and get it finished.”
Tszyu won’t change his tactics to force a result.
He’ll “box smart”, yet in an ideal world he won’t leave it to chance.
“Look, in the best circumstances, of course (I’ll finish it),” he says, “but it’s easier said than done.
“You’ve got to be smart in this sport, especially when you’re fighting these boys. It’s not an easy thing. You’ve got to be smart.”
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