Ridiculing Tim Tszyu’s US ambitions, trash-talking local Keith Thurman has vowed to send the Australian home ‘with his tail tucked in and his head down’ – before labeling the undefeated star as a ‘flat-footed, slow Mexican’.
Tszyu will step into the ring against the two-time world champion as he makes his highly anticipated Las Vegas debut in a mega-money pay-per-view blockbuster on March 30 (March 31 AEDT).
The undefeated Sydney slayer stepped to the microphone in Los Angeles on Wednesday to signal the end of Thurman’s career and the beginning of ‘Tszyu-SA’.
But it was Thurman who won the fiery altercation with a series of verbal blows.
“He comes – young, undefeated, determined – and tries to open the gates to his new era, the new generation,” Thurman said.
American Keith Thurman has lit the fuse ahead of his fight against Tim Tszyu, labeling the undefeated Australian star a ‘flat-footed, slow Mexican’
Tim Tszyu kept his composure before guaranteeing to knock out Keith Thurman
“But my job is to close the door right in his face.
“I want him to leave, with his tail tucked in, and his head back to his dad in Australia: ‘I’m sorry, Dad. I’m sorry, the name Tszyu. I am going to stop. I’m ready. I didn’t know he was that bad.”
WBO super welterweight champion Tszyu fired back, declaring he would knock out the 35-year-old, but Thurman responded in flamboyant fashion.
“You’re slow – Australia, that’s a little island very far away and I didn’t know flat-footed Mexicans were born in Australia,” Thurman said, referring to Tszyu’s fighting style.
Then he sang, “Mexican Tszyu, what are you going to do?” before adding, “I am not lost to any Mexican. Do your research.”
In boxing circles, the Mexican style of fighting is commonly described as an aggressive, lunging style that relies on strength and wearing down opponents, as opposed to the more finesse-based, light-footed technique that Thurman is known for.
While he won’t be fighting to strip Tszyu (24-0, 17KOs) of his title when the two meet at T-Mobile Arena, denying the 29-year-old a career-defining victory would be enough for Thurman.
The American recently came out on top against compatriot Mario Barrios in February 2022, losing just once in his career: to Manny Pacquiao in 2019 via split decision.
A win for Tszyu could pave the way for super fights against pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford (40-0, 31KOs) and Errol Spence (28-1, 22KOs).
Thurman, 35, was in a playful mood but on fight night he promised to send the Australian home with ‘tail tucked in and head down’
After the Thurman fight, Tszyu wants to fight Terence Crawford and Errol Spence
“I plan not only to beat Keith Thurman, but to create a spectacle unlike anything he has ever seen before,” Tszyu said.
“I aim for the throwback fighters. Fighters these days, in this modern age, are just a bunch of p***ies.
“In the 2000s, everyone just fought the best. That’s what I am.’
Tszyu insisted he had already done the work to take down Thurman, having imitated him as a sparring partner for Filipino legend Pacquiao before the pair’s 2019 fight.
“I’ve been saving Manny to prepare for Keith Thurman, so I know. I studied him, I had to imitate him for Pacquiao. I know him back and forth.
“And when I’m done with Thurman, I want Spence, Crawford and all those big names.
“This is a different era – this is the Tim Tszyu era.”