NIKITA Tszyu has admitted to carrying a “hatred” for Dylan Biggs as bookmakers wind Australia’s youngest champion in to become the man most likely to end The Butcher — and his family’s unbeaten run on home soil.
While almost unbackable through the first seven fights of his undefeated career, Tszyu has opened a $1.60 TAB favourite for next Wednesday’s Newcastle Entertainment Centre showdown.
Biggs, meanwhile, is $2.32 — or around half the odds of any previous Nikita Tszyu rival.
It comes as the undefeated son of Kostya Tszyu admitted to Fox Sports Australia he is yet to emerge from the large shadow cast by both his Hall of Fame father and WBO world champion brother, Tim.
Tszyu also returned serve on Biggs after the champ, speaking with journalists in Brisbane a day earlier, labelled him ‘Baby Tszyu’, called his new TV commercial “cringey” and explained in no uncertain terms who would be walking out last on fight night.
BOXING: Nikita Tszyu v Dylan Biggs WED 22nd NOV 7PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
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The drama over who actually walks last has become the biggest talking point of fight week, with both camps having voiced reasons why it should be their own man.
Yet when asked for his thoughts on Friday, Tszyu said: “That’s not a question for the fighters to deal with. That’s for the promoters.”
Do you care?
“Promoters,” he deadpanned.
Told Biggs had warned he will happily play chicken, and wait in his dressing room as long as it takes to ensure, as champion, he walks last, Tszyu shrugged: “Then wait it out.
“That’s up to him.
“Mentally exhaust himself? Good.
“It’s not something I care about.
“It’s the promoters.
“It’s their show. We’re the product. We can’t start thinking about it like we have this right to have a say in this.
“The promoters are the ones putting up the big bucks.
“Whoever is the big boss is in charge.”
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Elsewhere in a Friday press conference at his family’s Rockdale gym, Tszyu also spoke of the “hatred” he carries for his rival, who is himself undefeated in 10 fights.
“It’s the same kind of hatred you have for every single opponent,” the fighter started before adding, “or I have for every opponent.
“I don’t hate him to the point I get one of those dolls and start stabbing it.
“What are those dolls called …”
Voodoo dolls?
“Voodoo doll, yeah,” he grinned.
“I’m not going to get a voodoo doll and curse him or anything like that.
“But there is a hatred.
“Because this man is trying to take your future away from you.
“That’s how I see it.
“And anyone against you, there is a certain hatred you have for them.”
Reminded that his new TV commercial, while not involving any voodoo doll, did have him hurling a steak knife into a picture of Bigg’s melon, he grinned: “A director came up with that”.
Told Biggs called the whole thing cringey, he continued: “It wasn’t my idea.
“(But) I actually liked it.
“I thought it was a good representation of what my mind is like.
“There are a lot of dark areas in my mind.
“And that’s how I feel a lot of the time.
“I’m sitting in a dark room always thinking about these fights.
“Pondering about these moments in my career.
“And how to improve.
“There is this tunnel vision for my opponent.”
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So as for him calling you Baby Tszyu?
“Baby Tszyu? In reference to what?” Nikita shrugged.
“That I look like a baby?”
Told it was more about being the youngest in his family, he continued: “I have a big responsibility to create entertainment and uphold the family name.
“It keeps me sharp.
“Like every time I get in the ring is a life and death situation.
“It honestly feels like I’m back in the gladiator days.
“Any mistake, it will be death.
“So I can’t make mistakes.
“That’s a beautiful way to be wired.
“Any mistake, you’d be dead if living 2000 years ago.”
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Speaking separately with Fox Sports Australia, Tszyu conceded that while everyone may be calling him the undeniable A Side for this week, he understands his famed surname remains “the ticket seller” for the Tszyucastle showdown.
“Right now, it’s my family name, my last name, that’s the ticket seller,” he conceded.
“And I know that.
“Know people aren’t necessarily coming for me, and that I still have to make a name for myself.
“Which is what I’m trying to do.
“I have to lift to that standard that my father set.
“And a standard that my brother has now reset.”
Asked if that means added pressure on Wednesday night, Tszyu continued: “There is a certain level of pressure that they’ve brought on.
“But I feel like I thrive in that.
“These standards I have to work to, they’re motivating me because knowing all eyes are on me, it’s a huge driving factor.”
So what chance being Nikita Tszyu is even harder than being Tim Tszyu?
“Um, I don’t know,” the youngster shrugged.
“It’s an interesting question and an interesting way to think about it.
“But this sport, it’s tough no matter who you follow.
“Our children will be four, five, six in line … they will have names to live up to as well.”
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A TAB spokesman confirmed that week that, at $1.60, Tszyu is opening longer than ever before in his career.
Tellingly, Briggs is also far shorter than any rival the super welterweight has faced – with the odds of previous opponents reading Jack Brubaker ($5.70), Benjamin Bommber ($11.00), Bo Belbin ($10), Darkon Dryden ($11), Ben Horn ($11), Mason Smith ($8.50) and Aaron Stahl ($4.50).
For his previous fight against Brubaker, Tszyu was $1.13 and before that $1.05 twice. He has also been $1.02 twice in fights.