Fenech said Tszyu’s career changed after the bloody Fundora loss and vowed to restore his pressure style against Errol Spence Jr.
Jeff Fenech believes Tim Tszyu’s career changed the night his corner allowed him to continue fighting through the gruesome cut against Sebastian Fundora in 2024. Fenech said Tszyu would still be champion today if the fight had been handled differently and promised a more aggressive version of Tszyu against Errol Spence Jr.
“He’d be a world champion still today,” said Fenech to Boxingscene.
“You’ve got to know the rules before a fight. Those people didn’t even know they could stop the fight. I love Tim. I spoke to him after, and he was happy that he was heroic. Getting through the cut itself was heroic.
“But Tim’s been through that now. He knows what we’ve got to do. He’s got someone he can trust in the corner now.”
Tszyu’s career spun in the wrong direction after the bloody 12-round split-decision loss to Fundora in March 2024. He later suffered a third-round knockout loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev and then dropped a rematch against Fundora before deciding to rebuild his team around Fenech ahead of his July 26 fight against Errol Spence Jr.
The Australian star admitted he drifted too far from the pressure style that helped make him one of the sport’s most dangerous offensive fighters.
“Stylistically, I was getting caught up in the Cuban style, a rhythmic style,” Tszyu said. “This fight, I wanted a change in my approach. As much as I tried to do things different, I feel my style lends itself best to pressure, with punches, trying to drown my opponent.
“Who best to learn from than Jeff Fenech?”
Fenech made it clear Tszyu is returning to an aggressive style after consecutive losses damaged his standing at 154 pounds.
“What you’re saying is 1 million percent right: Tim Tszyu is going to be there, but he’s going to be in the right position,” Fenech said.
“So, after he throws a combination, we’ll throw another one. We’re not going to give him the opportunity to hit us.”
Tszyu sounded equally direct about his mindset for the Spence fight.
“Yeah, that’s what’s going through my head: Take him out,” Tszyu said. “This one’s a different approach, you know? We’re coming for war.”