Nikita Tszyu has revealed there shall be no snake blood fuelling his upcoming Australian title showdown, whereas additionally explaining the “dangers” his world champion brother faces this Sunday.
Set to combat for the nationwide tremendous welterweight title in November, Nikita will first head to the Gold Coast this week to help brother Tim’s first WBO world title defence towards American Brian Mendoza.
Boxing: Tszyu vs Mendoza SUN fifteenth OCT 12PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
Fresh off his personal Thailand coaching camp, Tszyu described his brother’s rival as an ungainly fighter, with “one punch power” – however stresses there are exploitable flaws in his recreation.
The undefeated southpaw famed for his eclectic weight loss program — suppose bull testicle, cow liver, even Cobra coronary heart – additionally revealed to Fox Sports Australia that he had not partaken in ingesting snake blood on his recent abroad getaway.
He did nonetheless embark on some grappling coaching at famed MMA fitness center, Tiger Muay Thai — a earlier base for UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski — after being impressed by at least Floyd Mayweather.
Undefeated and now headlining Australian exhibits like his brother, Nikita faces the largest check of his undefeated profession subsequent up towards the nation’s youngest champion, Dylan Biggs.
This Friday nonetheless, the younger Tszyu sibling may also jet into the Gold Coast to help his brother’s first world title defence towards Mendoza, who’s himself coming off consecutive spotlight reel KOs.
“He’s an awkward guy, very dangerous,” Nikita mentioned of the challenger.
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“Mendoza has also proved he’s got that one punch power, and proved he works well under pressure.
“Even when everything is stacked against him, he can rise.
“And that’s dangerous.
“But I know Tim and I know what he brings.
“Plus, Mendoza has flaws in his game.
“He’s beatable.
“Tim just has to be switched on.
“Can’t make mistakes.”
Asked concerning the American’s flaws, Tszyu continued: “He can be outboxed.
“When you apply pressure, or smart tactical pressure, he can really be broken down.
“You just have to watch out for his counters.
“Attack, then defend straight after.
“And be mindful when defending because he gets his knockouts after the other guy has thrown his punch.”
Before his most recent win over Jack Brubaker in August, Tszyu revealed he had eaten a Cobra coronary heart, after which drank its blood, throughout a Thailand coaching camp.
So as for what took place on his most recent go to?
“No, very boring,” the fighter conceded.
“And I found out that eating snake hearts, drinking their blood, it’s actually illegal.
“Which made me a bit sad about what I’d done.
“But you know, first time around, I was in too deep. So I had to go through with it all the way.
“This visit though was great.
“The beauty of Thailand is that you can really embrace the fighter lifestyle.
“Thai fighters train old school, hustling their arses off to make it.
“It’s inspiring to be around that.
“I was also doing some Muay Thai grappling work, after previously seeing where Floyd Mayweather had done it too.
“Just the way he holds you and finds ways to recover.
“I also did wrestling work and it was all really eye-opening.”
Any probability of an MMA crossover bout then?
“Oh, f*** that,” he laughed.
“Those guys kick.
“But me, I whinge even when the masseuse twinges my calves, so there’s no way I could deal with kicks.’”
Biggs calls out Nikita for simple fights | 01:12
Tszyu additionally revealed extra about how he felt after Biggs, his upcoming opponent, knocked him down throughout a sparring session two years in the past, earlier than his skilled debut.
“It’s definitely a motivator,” he mentioned of the incident which is bound to grow to be a focus of his Newcastle headliner in November.
“Obviously I’m a completely different person now too.
“The mindset I had in those days, I wasn’t really tactical, I was just walking through people.
“So I’ve matured a lot.
“But it still brings out the fire.”
Pushed on how the incident impacted his build towards a professional debut, the place he ultimately wanted simply two rounds to complete Queenslander Aaron Stahl, Tszyu continued: “It put a lot of doubt into my head.
“And that’s what I really appreciate about it.
“It made me ask ‘f***, am I ready for this sport?’
“It reminded this is serious s***, something you can’t mess around with.
“It made things real.
“Boxing, we’re not painting each other’s nails and s***, we’re fighting.
“There was never a moment where I questioned wanting to be there, never a moment where I was looking for a way out.
“But immediately I was looking for a solution, a way through door.
“Like ‘OK, this is a hurdle how do I get over it?’”
