As fiercely as Tim Tszyu strives to rewrite his career track over the next few years, his new trainer, the legendary Jeff Fenech, believes some reflection is in order.
In a Wednesday conversation with BoxingScene, International Boxing Hall of Fame member and former four-division champion Fenech said Tszyu’s former cornermen committed “total negligence” by allowing him to fight through a ghastly second-round head cut that hindered him in what became a split-decision WBO/WBC unified title loss to Sebastian Fundora in 2024.
“He’d be a world champion still today,” Fenech, 61, said of Tszyu.
In reference to then-trainer Igor Goloubev and his supporters, “You’ve got to know the rules before a fight. Those people didn’t even know they could stop the fight. I love Tim. I spoke to him after and he was happy he was heroic. Getting through the cut itself was heroic.
“But Tim’s been through that now. He knows what we’ve got to do. He’s got someone he can trust in the corner now.”
Taking time before they Monday for three weeks of sparring and training in the warmer weather of Thailand, Australia’s Tszyu, 27-3 (18 KOs), and Fenech discussed how their union is preparing Tszyu for his July 26 (in Austrtalia) Premier Boxing Champions’ Prime Video pay-per-view bout against former three-belt champion Errol Spence Jnr Down Under.
Tszyu shifted away from Cuban trainer Pedro Diaz after two tune-up bouts that followed last year’s more one-sided stoppage loss to current WBO champion Fundora.
Tszyu said he reasoned only two men from Australia could maximize his ideal fighting style: Fenech and Tszyu’s former world-champion father, Kostya Tszyu.
Considering the Tszyus’ at-times volatile relationship – “That would be too chaotic,” Tim Tszyu said – the fighter selected Fenech.
“Stylistically, I was getting caught up in the Cuban style, a rhythmic style,” Tszyu said. “This fight, I wanted a change in my approach. As much as I tried to do things different, I feel my style lends itself best to pressure – with punches, trying to drown my opponent.
“Who best to learn from than Jeff Fenech?”
Fenech’s background in toe-to-toe warfare doesn’t mask the intention of Tszyu, 31, as he confronts a 36-year-old Spence who hasn’t fought since being decked repeatedly and losing an undisputed welterweight title fight to five-division champion Terence Crawford.
Some speculate the toll of the Crawford beating atop a harrowing 2019 car crash that hospitalized Spence have left him shot.
Tszyu clearly intends to find out.
“These are the things we’re working on to make Tim a better version of Tim,” Fenech said. “Over the last year or so, Tim’s had a lot hanging over his head. I’m trying to make sure mentally he’s great. He’s got a plan. What this kid's been doing here has been sensational.”
Tszyu, too, had critical words toward his former corner in reviewing their impact upon him in hindsight.
He said the best thing about camp with Fenech is, “Not having head noise. Everyone on the team is together. We do things as a family and it feels nice. Before, there were too many groups in my team – this guy was with this guy, that guy’s with that guy – you’ve got to be all together, willing to die for each other, and it’s refreshing to have that.”
The high stakes, fresh start and new attitude could sway the outcome.
“If he can take that into the ring on the 26th of July, I’m super confident he can win,” Fenech said. “I’m not saying Spence can’t fight. He’s one of the greatest. But sometimes your time’s up, and it’s time for someone else.”
Fenech said one of his pressing instructions for Tszyu is to pace his preparation.
“I’ve never seen a kid who wants to do so much. If I let Tim do what he wants, we’d be ready for the fight next week,” Fenech said. “I want him to slowly build up to the 26th of July. It’s one little thing at a time.”
The respect is full, Tszyu said.
“When someone’s been there, done that, and understands the concept of what we’re doing, it makes a big difference,” Tszyu said. “There’s only so many people in Australia that I can really relate to and take advice from, people who have been at the same type of level.”
Fenech won title fights ranging from bantamweight to super-featherweight from 1984-1991, sealing his Hall of Fame induction in 2002.
Returning to the sport’s highest level has been inspiring for Fenech.
“I’m doing this for a kid I know is much better than his last few fights,” Fenech said of the Tszyu stretch that’s included a later 2024 drubbing at the hands of Bakhram Murtazaliev by third-round knockout and the rematch defeat to the remarkably tall Fundora possessing a unicorn reach at 154lbs.
“Tim’s been fighting a guy who’s[6-feet-6] on the outside. He’s got an amazing ‘A’ plan that has won him many fights. But he’s got to have a ‘B’ and a ‘C’ plan, too. This is the kind of kid that as soon as I show him something, he learns it so quick. Tim has been one of the best fighters of the past decade, and I truly believe he has the skills and tools to beat anybody – including Spence.”
Spence’s 2012 U.S. Olympic teammate Jamel Herring spoke recently with Spence and said the Texan is confident in his opponent choice, who also has been scarred by ring battles.
“Errol, since I’ve known him from 2010, he’s always had that mentality that he’ll push through anything. Even after his [car crash], he still won more titles,” Herring said.
“If I’m looking at this fight as a manager or promoter, I do think Tim Tszyu is the perfect style for him in terms of returning. Tim Tszyu is going to be there. He’s not going to be hard to find. He’s not like [Terence Crawford] ‘Bud,’ who can box, mix it up and beat you at your own game.”
If fight observers doubt Spence, “We still have questions about Tim Tszyu,” Herring said.
“Does he have that same hunger as when he was undefeated? After he’s taken these losses, he hasn’t been the same Tim Tszyu. Even though Errol’s been gone for three years, it’s the right matchup to answer the questions, and a good fight for Errol.
“He’s motivated for it. He hears the whispers, sees everything that’s being said that he should remain on the sidelines. That motivates him. He has a new great trainer, too, in Ronnie Shields. He’s in the right place and has the hunger back.”
It sets the stage for a bout that will be seen in the U.S. and UK on July 25. Sydney or Australia’s Gold Coast could stage the bout, Tszyu said.
Fenech said not being hard to find is in Tszyu’s best interest.
“What you’re saying is 1 million percent right: Tim Tszyu is going to be there, but he’s going to be in the right position,” Fenech said. “So, after he throws a combination, we’ll throw another one. We’re not going to give him the opportunity to hit us. It’s not just twos and threes … and Tim can do that the entire round.
“Watching him growing up, I thought, ‘This kid can be better than all of us.’ I still have that opinion. Tim just needs to take the plan we have for him and execute it. I have full confidence he can do that.”
Tszyu, as well, said aiming to fight in close proximity to Spence is part of the strategy being honed by Fenech aimed at taking Spence out.
“Yeah, that’s what’s going through my head: Take him out,” Tszyu said. “The last couple of fights, I’ve been like, ‘Let’s get back into the groove, move around, jab around, use my legs. This one’s a different approach, you know? We’re coming for war.”
Some of boxing’s best fights ever have been the ones involving veterans who badly need a victory.
“There’s so much on the line for both of us. He’s sort of at the end. Whether he wins or loses, he’s got three or fights left in him, maximum,” Tszyu said. “I’ve got four to five more peak years to get everything I want.”
At the May 2 news conference in Las Vegas to formally announce the bout, Spence declined to shake Tszyu’s hand and said he heard negative chatter from the Aussie on social media.
“The thing is, maybe I was too nice,” Tszyu said. “I had never said anything bad about Errol. I’m used to shaking hands, so that got me a little wound up. I went into a little bit of a silence with myself. It woke me up. It gave me that little bit of, ‘Alright, we’re not friends. Let’s get to work.’”
