With less than a month before he lives out his dream of fighting in Las Vegas, Tim Tszyu is ready to prove himself as the divisional king.
The 29-year-old has spent more than a month training in the world's boxing capital, where he will headline a mega-money pay-per-view blockbuster on March 30 against double world champion Keith 'One Time' Thurman.
Already the WBO super-welterweight world-title holder, Tszyu (24-0, 17KOs) plans to make a statement in his first fight in America and "steamroll" his veteran opponent.
"If you make it here in Las Vegas, you make it worldwide, it’s quite simple," the unbeaten Sydneysider said in a press conference.
"This is my time, this is my moment and this is my era. This is the passing of the torch. I can’t wait to get in there.
“The way I’m feeling right now, I feel like a train that’s about to steamroll everyone.
"It’s not just Keith - no disrespect to him, but I’m ready to go through everyone.
"I wanted to prove to everyone in the division that I am the man. It’s all about being the man at 154 pounds.”
Tszyu's non-title meeting with Thurman at T-Mobile Arena will be at 155-pound catchweight - one pound over his super-welterweight limit.
Tszyu has been craving a major fight and may have his wish granted with pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford (40-0, 31KOs) this week saying the Tszyu-Thurman showdown is on his radar.
Crawford said he could move up a division to fight for Tszyu's belt, giving the Australian extra incentive against Thurman.
“Tszyu’s got a tough fight in front of him with Thurman. Hopefully after that fight we can see the next move," Crawford told Boxing Social.
"We’ve got a few guys on the roster for my next fight - Tszyu-Thurman is one of them.
“Right now, the way that my career is going, I’m looking for the biggest and most lucrative money fights, and the bigger fights are in a higher division. So, I might be moving up.”
Thurman has only lost once in his career - to the great Manny Pacquiao in 2019 - but hasn't fought since February 2022.
He said the bout with Tszyu had reignited his desire to be back in the ring and back on top.
“When I got the phone call to fight Tszyu, it just woke up the warrior in me," said 35-year-old Thurman.
"I have so much to gain in this fight. That’s what this fight is all about.
"Tszyu is trying to make this his era, but I’ve done great things in boxing.
"I’m coming to make a big splash against this Aussie shark and take him into deep waters.
"I had other fights I could have taken, but I feel like a victory over Tim Tszyu, with all the work he’s put in to build his name, is the perfect statement."
