Already a pay-per-view star in Australia in just his 10th professional fight, Tszyu faces the toughest test of his career to date against Koen Mazoudier at the ICC Theatre on Wednesday night. A win will see the 26-year-old catapulted into the IBF and WBO super-welterweight world rankings, and this masthead can reveal there are plans for ‘The Butcher’ to break into the American market by 2026. BOXING: NIKITA TSZYU V MAZOUDIER | WED 28 AUG 7PM AEST | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
And it’s a simple piece of advice from Kostya that could make all the difference as Nikita attempts to follow his father and older brother to America. “One of the biggest changes was my dad saying, ‘Not every punch has to be a knockout’,” Tszyu told this masthead. “As soon as he said it, it just clicked in my head.
“Like, how did I not think about that at all? “When I look back at all my other fights, I feel like such an amateur for always going for that big shot.” It will instead be a more patient and calculated fighter who meets Mazoudier (12-3-1) in centre ring on Wednesday night. Which is ironic considering the breakneck speed of his career to date.
“In 2025 we’ll have Nikita in some really good competition, and that will take him through to about 13 or 14 fights,” Tszyu’s manager, Glen Jennings tells this masthead. “In 2026, that’ll be the perfect time to launch Nikita overseas. This is the next stage of his career.
” It’s an extraordinarily quick rise for any professional boxer. By comparison, Tim Tszyu’s 10th pro fight was against the unheralded Stevie Ferdinandus on a Billy Dib undercard in Redfern. “With Tim, we brought him through 13 fights before signing with No Limit, then did another 10 fights before heading overseas,” Jennings said.
“So Nikita’s been fast-tracked, but he had the luxury of being able to jump on Tim’s tail and the road map we had for him.” It’s not just Tim’s career blueprint Nikita has been able to take advantage of. Those closest to him say they’ve seen monumental changes in Nikita since his second training camp in Las Vegas alongside his older brother.
“He’s stepped up to a new level,” says uncle Igor Goloubev, who has trained both brothers since their amateur days. “Nikita’s growing to another level, and I’ve tried to put more attention on Nikita as well. “So, it’s younger brother watching what his older brother is doing, but it’s also two completely different styles.
” Tim has noticed that change too. “I’m not a bullshitter with him,” Tim says. “I see how he is and he’s really peaking this time.
“He’s really understanding the game more than he was previously. He’s really thinking inside the ring and not just going for the kill every time. “He’s using his brain, which is dangerous for Koen Mazoudier.
” There have been big developments outside the ring as well. “He’s reached a level of maturity now we’re he’s grown up,” Jennings says. “He now knows boxing is business, not just fights.
“The beauty of sending him over with Tim and Igor to Las Vegas, is that he sees what it takes to get to the highest level that his brother’s at. “And you can’t help but elevate.” Americans are already taking notice after Russell Crowe mentioned Tim and Nikita on Joe Rogan’s podcast last week.
“People were already talking about Nikita from the sparring he’s done over there,” says No Limit CEO George Rose, who backs Nikita’s fast-tracked path to the US of A. “He’s an exciting fighter and now even Joe Rogan knows about him, which is really cool. “He’s only going to continue to grow, and he’ll grow quick.
“It’ll be no shock for people around the world when they see another Tszyu on the scene, and I think this fight is the one that opens the door for those next fights over the next 12 months.” As for the plans in place to take him overseas and kickstart the next portion of his career, Tszyu responds in typical Nikita fashion. “I hadn’t thought about that until you just mentioned it,” he laughs.
“I’m just walking into this fight with the same mental clarity that I did for my pro debut. “And I don’t think that side of it will ever really change. “But I have made some big shifts in my style, where I’m not looking for those messy kinds of fights anymore.
There’s a lot of mental stuff too. “It’s about understanding the body and when to exert yourself and when not to. “I’m a much smarter fighter now.
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