‘I’m Here to Do Damage and Hurt My Opponent’: Exclusive Interview With a Confident Tim Tszyu

On March 30 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Tim Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) will headline The first PBC pay-per-view event with Prime Video, where he will take on the experienced but largely inactive Keith Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs). The 12-round showdown will be at a contracted weight of 155 pounds, one over the junior middleweight limit. In preparation for fight night, there has already been a virtual press conference – and Tszyu has now spoken to Dan Rafael on the Big Fight Weekend/Fight Freaks Unite podcast about the upcoming fight and his honest feelings about Thurman.

Tim Tszyu Next Fight: Headlining on Prime Video and Fighting in the U.S.

Tim Tszyu Next Fight: Keith Thurman and Potential Terence Crawford Fight

When asked about the opportunity to headline the first Amazon/PBC PPV event, Tszyu was full of excitement: “Yes, it doesn’t get any bigger. It’s like a pinch yourself type moment” He added: “This is as big as it gets. You know, you dream as a kid to be fighting in everything you just said.”

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“It’s what dreams are made of.”

The Rockdale native was unable to fight Jermell Charlo and touched on the disappointment and how long he chased that fight:“I’ve been chasing him for years now. It’s been a long time.”

Listen below to the full interview between Tim Tszyu and Dan Rafael, and more on the latest “Big Fight Weekend Boxing Podcast.”

Thurman and the Future

Rafael went on to ask Tszyu if the inactivity of Thurman makes it an easier fight for him: “No, it’s not just that. You put a Thurman in his prime – in his active stages, Tim Tszyu still beats him every day of the week.” 

He added: It doesn’t matter.”

“I respect him as an opponent, but I see holes, even in his hay days,” said “The Soul Taker.”

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Thurman has never been stopped in his professional career, and Tszyu was asked if his goal is to become the first person to do that: “Victory by any means, but if the stoppage comes, and it’s presented, then of course, I’m not here to tip and tap. I’m here to do damage and hurt my opponent.” The fight will not be for the WBO super welterweight title due to Thurman’s inactivity and not being in this weight class. But that doesn’t seem to bother the Australian fighter: “Honestly, I couldn’t care less, really couldn’t care less.”

Rafael then asked Tszyu about this fight being disastrous if he loses, as people expect him to win anyway: “I ain’t losing, that’s the thing,” said the Rockdale native.

Towards the end of the interview, Tszyu spoke about a potential clash with Terence Crawford in the future: “He’s number one, P4P fighter.” He added: “I would welcome it with both hands.”