Changing coaches twice during the year usually doesn't mean “I've found the solution.” It screams, “I'm trying to find anyone who can tell me I'm still 24k gold.” If Fenech can't magically install a protective shell in three months, that Spence fight could be the iceberg that sinks the ship forever.
For a young man whose work was supposed to be a constant march towards goodness, this looks like a hero in an identity crisis.
Firing your longtime team, Igor Goloubev and Glenn Jennings, after the disasters of Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev was understandable. It was a search for answers. But dropping Pedro Diaz after just two wins against Anthony Velazquez and Denis Nurja suggests Tszyu doesn't like what he sees in the mirror.
On paper, Tszyu's 10-round decision over Denis Nurja on April 5 looked like the kind of fight aimed at rebuilding confidence. He won comfortably, controlled long streaks, and gained rounds after losing hard.
But after a few weeks, his team was pushed aside ahead of talks about a possible fight with Errol Spence Jr.
That time points to anxiety within the camp. Tszyu won the battle, but he was still beaten more than he should have been against a limited enemy. The same habits that hurt him in Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev were still evident. He came straight, took the exchange with ease and left gaps after hitting.
Against Nurja, those mistakes could be saved because the other side lacked the power and finishing ability to turn moments into damage. Against bigger punchers or sharper fighters, the outcome could have looked very different.
Changing coaches can improve preparation and strengthen mistakes, but it doesn't remove years of natural wisdom from one camp. Tszyu is always dangerous because of his pressure, tenacity and willingness to engage. He is always someone you can punish.
Tszyu did not look improved on April 5th against Nurja. She was still cut off by a boy who had no business even touching her.
Hiring Fenech, who has been trashing Diaz's training methods as “s***,” feels like a reactionary move. It's a throwback game, but doing it before a potential date with Errol Spence Jr. July is the definition of extreme vulnerability.
The “B-level” tag fans have given Tszyu is a huge insult in boxing, but the evidence is mounting that it is.
When Tszyu was up, he was hitting guys like Dennis Hogan, Tony Harrison, and Carlos Ocampo. Those were strong words, but they were all outdated or personal in style.
There is a possibility that the sledgehammering Tim took from Murtazaliev changed his chemistry. When a pressure fighter who relies on toughness starts losing his mustache or second-guessing his defense, the descent is often steep and ugly.
If Tszyu was exposed to Fundora's height and Murtazaliev's power, Errol Spence Jr. he offers a different kind of nightmare: elite ring IQ. Even a slimmed-down Spence won't let Tszyu 'Terminator' last 12 rounds.
