An undefeated Nikita Tszyu has been urged to “grow some balls” and start fighting beyond six rounds, with his latest rival Ben Bommber suggesting even YouTubers brawl for longer than the Hall of Famer’s son.
Exactly 20 years after Kostya Tszyu last headlined in Melbourne, 25-year-old Nikita is now set to do the same on a hyped Australian show where no less than Tyson Fury is tipped to be ringside.
As revealed on Wednesday, the reigning WBC heavyweight king is in talks to be present when New Zealand’s Joseph Parker – a close friend, sparring partner and former world champ himself – fights for the first time on Australian soil.
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As part of his push back into title contention, Parker will throw down against Queenslander Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu for the Commonwealth heavyweight title — a belt previously held by the likes of Lennox Lewis, Anthony Joshua, even Fury himself.
The co-main, meanwhile, will see a showdown between undefeated rising stars Tszyu and Bommber – both of whom are undefeated in five professional fights.
While Tszyu insisted during Wednesday’s press conference that the two rival teams have agreed on six rounds, Bommber’s manager Marin Jerak stressed no such contracts have been signed.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia after official proceedings, the agent also questioned if Team Tszyu truly believed in their fighter while insisting no agreement had yet been reached regarding fight length.
Jerak added that he would continue pressing No Limit to make the fight over eight or even 10 rounds.
Team Tszyu remains adamant, however, that the fight should be six rounds – as has been the case for all of the super welterweights previous five outings.
Yet speaking during Wednesday’s press conference at Margaret Court Arena, Bommber took a shot at his high-profile rival saying: “You’ve got YouTubers who are fighting eight rounds so I’m sure Nikita Tszyu can do eight.”
Yet Tszyu responded: “You signed for six rounds.
“And my team have a special plan for me.
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“So we’re not going to fall into your demands because you want eight rounds. We’re not going to be bullied.”
Soon after, Tszyu went again at his 21-year-old rival, who has only just returned from training in Las Vegas at both the Top Rank and Floyd Mayweather gyms.
“Eight rounds?” the younger Tszyu brother shrugged.
“I don’t even think it’s going six rounds.
“If you’re so confident let’s make it two rounds. Let’s make it a one round fight where we go in there and belt each other for three minutes.
“Or dog house rules?
“There’s only one round, until someone falls — Mayweather style.
“You’ve been in Las Vegas this whole time, so let’s do dog house rules.”
However both Bommber and his management team insisted nothing had yet been signed, and questioned why one of Australia’s most hyped fighters was “scared” to fight beyond six rounds.
“The contract we signed was actually for today’s date,” Jerak revealed of the initial agreement made some time back.
“And it stipulated the fight would be over six or eight rounds, depending on whether or not Nikita got injured in his last fight.
“Well, he had no injury.
“And the fight is now taking place at a later date.
“So nothing is signed, simple as that.
“Tszyu’s team say he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, yet they insist on six rounds?
“Then Nikita says in the press conference it won’t go six rounds. Might only go two rounds.
“Ok, so what are you scared of then? Back yourself.
“You’ve sat there in a press conference saying it won’t go the distance so back yourself and change it to eight rounds.
“Put your money where your mouth is.
“Get some balls Team Tszyu.
“They’re sheltering this kid. Don’t believe he is as good as they say he is.
“You’ve got YouTubers fighting eight and 10 rounds.
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“This is a kid who has boxing in his DNA, who has been around boxing all his life, has all these amateur fights … and you’re telling me he can only do six rounds?
“Mate, you need to have a look at yourself.”
Bommber agreed, stating: “This talk about Nikita rushing into it? He’s 25 years of age.
“He’s in his physical prime.
“So I’m sure he can do eight rounds by now.
“It’s not about bullying him, it’s boxing.
“He’s 25 years of age, they’ve put him on major shows, he’s a main event, he is this, he’s that … it’s about time Nikita stepped up.”
Asked about Tszyu as a fighter, the young Melburnian continued: “I look at his skills, look at my skills and don’t see anything he does better than me.
“I truly believe I’m the better fighter.
“And give credit to him, he’s done what he had to every time he’s gone out there.
“You can’t knock his performances.
“But this time it’s different.
“You’ve got a young hungry kid who has sacrificed a lot … I’m not just happy to be fighting a Tszyu.”
To which Tszyu says what?
“I remember him being one of the first to call me out after my pro debut,” the Sydneysider said.
“So his name has always been lingering in the background.
“And I’m glad he’s been going to Las Vegas, glad he’s really dedicated.
“This is the step up I need.
“I’ve only seen one of his fights — not his most recent, maybe the third or fourth – and he has good fundamentals.
“(But) I see quite a few holes in his defence, his offence and I’ve been practicing to exploit them.”