Nikita Tszyu makes shock confession about knockout win calls out heavyweight world champ Tyson Fury
Nikita Tszyu has shown his boxing background by extending his unbeaten run with a landslide win over Benjamin Bomber in the first round – although he admitted he was ‘slightly shaken’ in the opening moments.
Tszyu, who was Wednesday night’s co-main event at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena, landed a big uppercut and then finished off the young Victorian with a flurry of punches.
The referee tried to intervene when Bomber landed on the canvas on top of him.
Tszyu is the son of the former great Kostya, and the younger brother of Tim, who was ringside and looked just as thrilled as his sibling by the dominant win.
The victory came 20 years after three-time world champion Kostya defeated American Jesse James Leija in six rounds in Melbourne.
Nikita Tszyu showed his boxing background with a first round win over Benjamin Bomber
Tszyu admitted afterwards that he was ‘slightly shaken’ after a straight right from Bombers found the target early in the fight
Nikita, 25, is undefeated through six professional fights as Bomber went 5-0 going into this clash.
He lived up to his nickname ‘The Butcher’ with his ruthless performance.
Tszyu wasn’t quite having a good time though, and was hit with a straight to the right early in the round, which he said left him ‘slightly rocked’.
“I wasn’t dizzy, wasn’t hurt, but he caught me,” he said.
‘Surprise shot.
“But the thing is, I feel like I can really take a beating.
“My brother kept me warm all our childhood. I got a spanking and a half from him.
“So I feel like I have some miles on my chin.”
Tszyu said the ‘surprise shot’ didn’t make him dizzy and he can take a beating
Tszyu admitted that he wished the fight lasted a bit longer and went into “kill mode” when he saw his opponent was wounded.
“It was over in a flash, I was hoping it would take a little longer,” Nikita said.
“I landed an uppercut. I saw a victim, the hunter instinct in me went into murder mode.
“When I see someone hurt, I want to hurt them, it’s just instinct.”
Tim joined Nikita in the ring and rated his performance as ’10/10′.
‘I am a proud brother. Nikita did a fantastic job,’ Tim said.
“My dad fought here in Melbourne’s Telstra Dome in 2003 so for Nikita to come back 20 years later and carry on the legacy here is an honor for us and I’m sure I’ll be back one day too will be.’
Nikita said after the fight that the win had given him a “huge buzz.”
‘That was unexpected. I didn’t expect it to be this short,” he said.
When asked who he would like to face next, Tszyu gave a sassy answer by calling out heavyweight champion Tyson Fury
It is speculated that Nikita Tszyu could next fight the talented Aussie Brock Jarvis, who has been considered one of the hottest young boxers in the country for several years now.
“He (Bommber) was a little tricky at first, but he opened up a little bit and that upper-cut is something I’ve been working on all camp.”
When asked who he would like to record with next, Tszyu gave a cheeky answer.
“There’s one person in this arena I’ve got my eye on, and that’s Tyson Fury, the Gypsy King,” Tszyu said.
“Just kidding, don’t kill me,” he added.
It is speculated that Tszyu could next take on the talented Sydneysider Brock Jarvis, who has been regarded as one of the hottest young boxers in the country for several years.
Jarvis recently split from long-time trainer Jeff Fenech and has expressed his interest in moving from featherweight to welterweight, or even high middleweight.
Bomber, 21, went into the fight with high hopes after calling Tszyu for the past year.
He spent build-up training in Las Vegas with respected American trainer Rodney Crisler, who arrived in Melbourne after helping Devin Haney hold onto his belts.
But he failed to gain weight on the first attempt, leading Tszyu to describe him as unprofessional.
Tszyu described the win as a “sweet feeling” and that his previously undefeated opponent would be “gutted” by the result
“It was a nice feeling – he was absolutely gutted because it’s a tough loss for him to have early in his career.
“I said at the first press conference that one of us is progressing and the other is not and that’s the harsh reality of the sport.”
Meanwhile, ex-bomber Tom Bellchambers dominated in a clash of former AFL heavyweights Cameron Mooney, playing for Geelong.
The super welterweight pair both landed some heavy punches in the opening round, with Bellchambers taking down the big cat.
He then landed a big right with 47 seconds left in the third and final round to win by knockout.