'Same gene pool': why Nikita Tszyu craves a world title

Perth Now

a day ago

Nikita Tszyu insists he is feeling no pressure to restore any family reputation as he bids to protect one of the greatest legacies in Australian sports history.
Tszyu will square off with undefeated Macedonian Lulzim Ismaili in Sydney on Wednesday night with much more than the vacant WBO intercontinental super-welterweight title on the line.
As well as Tszyu himself, the 27-year-old's Hall of Famer dad Kostya and older brother Tim - in an elite group of father-son world boxing champions - have never lost a professional fight in Australia.
Between the trio, Nikita (10-0), Tim (23-0) and Kostya (18-0) are an amazing 51-0 on home turf.
It is a record that will likely stand the test of time, but one that is also under threat as Nikita returns from a 12-month injury lay-off in a genuine danger bout.
Tszyu, though, maintains his driving motivator is on becoming a world champion in his own right.
"That's the end goal," he told AAP.
"It should be for any boxer, aspiring fighter. It's the pinnacle of all your hard work and it's a reflection of your hard work.
"I don't focus too much on the legacy side of things."
Branded "The Butcher" for his merciless style and sadistic demeanour, Tszyu does concede to drawing inspiration from his father and brother.
"Just what they've achieved, watching them the way Tim goes about his business, it's eye-opening seeing them,'' he said.
"Yeah, it's definitely motivating and there's a lot of sense of pride that I feel that we've come from the same gene pool."
But Tszyu doesn't feel any responsibility to win to defend family pride following Tim's three world-title losses in the US over the past 18 months.
"We're in our own different worlds," he said.
"Our worlds are connected, but I'm on my own path and he's on his own path."
Tszyu knows he is in for a battle at the ICC Exhibition Centre, with the Germany-based Ismaili having KO'ed seven of his 12 vanquished opponents.
"He's going to come to fight," Tszyu said.
"He hasn't come from Germany for no reason."
Accused in the past of being too cavalier, reckless even, having been dropped three times already in his fledgling career, Tszyu is hoping to show a more patient version of himself in his first fight since undergoing hand surgery last August.
"Maybe a little bit more thinking," he said.
"That's what I've been trying to do a lot more, out-thinking the opponents."
Victory for Tszyu could set up a domestic blockbuster with his family's arch-rival Michael Zerafa, who features as the co-main event on Wednesday night.
After failing to front for Monday's official pre-fight press conference, Zerafa apologised to No Limit Boxing for the apparent "misunderstanding" following Tuesday's weigh-in.
The 33-year-old will joust with American Mikey Dahlman for the WBO intercontinental middleweight strap.
While he would prefer to fight Tim Tszyu next, Zerafa said he was also prepared to settle for Nikita if need be.
"If there's a big fat number at the front of the contract with a lot of zeroes following or a world title on the line, 100 per cent," Zerafa said.
"I like Nikita. He's actually starting to grow on me.
"But the rivalry is between me and Tim. Respectfully, I think Nikita needs to do a little bit more.
"He's only 10 fights in and he's doing great things, credit to him. He's winning, he's beating everyone in front of him, and he's a strong, strong unit.
"But I feel like his level is below me at this stage."