Tim Tszyu has received one last spiritual boost from his father as he bids to emulate the legendary Kostya as a two-time boxing world champion.
A day after Kostya gatecrashed the official pre-fight press conference for his son’s IBF super-welterweight showdown in Florida, Tszyu revealed the gift his dad handed over at their emotion-charged family reunion.
“My dad has worry beads. That’s what they’re called,” Tszyu said after also throwing one final pot shot at his Russian rival Bakhram Murtazaliev.
“Dad can’t go a day in his life or move around anywhere without them.
“I remember as a young kid, he always used to ask for them.
“I remember he couldn’t find them once and it was a big panic.
“So he got me some good ones and I guess I’ve got to start flipping them around.”
After trading verbal jabs all build-up, Tszyu expressed surprise at Murtazaliev hitting the scales at 152.8 pounds – 1.2 pounds under the limit – at Saturday’s weigh-in.
The Russian belt holder had been seemingly struggling to make weight in the countdown to the blockbuster at the Caribe Royale resort in Orlando.
“Nah, I think he’s not that smart. I’ve said it all week,” Tszyu said, accusing the unbeaten divisional champion of botching his preparation.
“He’s not used to the spotlight.”
Tszyu weighed in heavier at 153.4 pounds and said he felt like a lion, hence why he crouched down at the face-off before rising sharply to stare down his opponent.
“It’s just like my little thing. I feel like a lion and I’m ready to paw.
“A lion goes through plenty of battles in their lives and no matter what they always come up out to the other side.”
Kostya has flown in from Russia to watch his son live for the first time since the 29-year-old’s professional debut in Sydney in 2016.
The former unified world champion concedes he’s nervous but confident his son will rebound from a bloody split-decision loss to Sebastian Fundora in March and regain an all-important belt.
Victory would put Tszyu back on the path towards a mega-money fight against the likes of Terence Crawford, Errol Spence or Jermell Charlo.
But, in a surprise late twist, jilted American Keith Thurman – in Orlando as a commentator – confronted Tszyu before the weigh-in to call him out to “sign the contract”.
The pair were slated to square off in Las Vegas seven months ago in a unification blockbuster before Thurman withdrew with a training injury and Fundora stepped in to snatch Tszyu’s WBO title.
“Tszyu, you get the contract? You going to sign it?” Thurman teased as Tszyu walked in to the weigh-in.
The Sydney slayer wouldn’t rule out the challenge.
“Why not? And we do have unfinished business,” Tszyu said.
Unbeaten younger brother Nikita will serve as a “bucket boy” in Tszyu’s corner, while the 29-year-old’s mother Natasha will also be in attendance.
Nikita is tipping his brother to be too classy.
“I think Bakhram is a good style up for Tim. He’s kind of willing to slug it out but Tim, he’s got brains in this sport,” he said.
“He’s got depth to his kind of skill set and he hasn’t fully shown all his tools at this point.
“So I think it’s a great match-up where he can really just break him down over the course of 12 rounds.”
