Nikita Tszyu has surprisingly admitted to being caught up in the hype surrounding his famous surname – and the power associated with it – revealing: “I thought I could knock out everyone”.
Only a week out from his Super Saturday showdown against Darkon Dryden in Newcastle, Tszyu has promised to completely overhaul a fight style that, he says, has seen him competing “arrogant” and chasing finishes.
Despite only debuting in March, the son of Australian boxing legend Kostya Tszyu admitted getting caught up the headlines surrounding his punch powering and ‘Butcher’ moniker.
For proof, the undefeated super welterweight pointed to his most recent win over Ben Horn — the younger brother of former champ Jeff Horn – where he was “continually trying to force the knockout”.
“I was starting to believe the hype,” Tszyu said this week from inside camp.
“Thought I could knock out everyone.
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“In my last fight (against Horn), I was looking for the knockout, trying to force it, putting everything in to trying to hurt him.
“But what I learnt about that style back in the amateur days, you can become careless.
“You lose the fundamentals.
“So I’m approaching things differently now.
“Trying to learn from my mistakes in the last fight.”
As part of his overhaul, Tszyu is promising a more measured, technical approach against undefeated Novocastrian Dryden on Saturday, October 8.
“And it’s nice to have got that slap in the face,” Tszyu grinned.
“I’ve told myself ‘you aren’t invincible … you can’t just knock everyone out’.
“I have to be more intelligent.
“Master the art of the sport.”
Pushed on the surprise admission, the 24-year-old continued: “I can admit when I’m wrong.
“Can concede when I have that little bit of arrogance in my head.
“And it’s good that I’ve acknowledged it early on.
“In this next fight, I won’t be trying to knock my opponent out. I’ll be looking to pick him apart.
“Get under his skin.
“Get into his head.
“Break him from the inside out.
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“That’s where most of my success was in the amateurs. Having that technical advantage on my opponent.”
While Tszyu admits the revelation was made after watching replays of his most recent win against Horn, he says there was no ‘lightbulb moment’ that has led to the changes.
“No, it’s mainly just been self-reflection,” he says.
“I’m constantly watching tape, constantly judging myself. And I’m a harsh critic.
“I see the mistakes and know the changes I need to make.
“During the fight though, I do remember having that feeling going through my head – that mentality of ‘I can take him out, I’m going for the knockout’.
“It was an over confidence in my abilities.
“And I know it’s good to be confident. But being cocky, that’s when you make mistakes.
“So it’s about balance.
“You have to have the confidence in yourself while still being humble. Being honest with yourself.”
Asked about Dryden, Tszyu added: “He’s tough.
“And I think he will be looking for the knockout.
“Watching his fights, he is patient at the start. But then once he senses weakness, he goes for it.
“And that could go to his advantage or disadvantage next week.
“But he’s tough, that’s what I will say.”
