By Harry Constable
Australian boxer Tim Tszyu has wasted no time finding a new team after sensationally sacking five members of his staff last month following a form slump that saw him lose three of his past four fights.
Tszyu has hired manager Darcy Ellis, the son of former five-time Australian world champion Lester Ellis, as well as new fight strategist Mike Altamura.
Altamura is a seasoned campaigner, having guided 12 boxers to world championship glory over his two decades in the boxing world, while Ellis is the CEO of Hitfit; a boxing gym franchise in Australia.
Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech has also agreed to be part of Tszyu’s new team in a mentoring and advisory role.
Tszyu, the son of former Australian champion Kostya Tszyu, has had his career follow a downward trajectory having lost his WBO light middleweight title to fierce rival Sebastian Fundora.
Tszyu made a post about the split from his old team on his Instagram account.
“I wanted to make an official statement before it goes out to the public,” Tszyu said. “To reach the next level, I’ve decided to restructure my team and bring in some new faces to support me on this next chapter.”
Among those moved on was manager Glen Jennings, who spoke to Wide World Of Sports.
“Yeah in a little way [I was blindsided], but it’s not something that’s ever gonna be scripted and it’s probably a hard decision for him to make as well,” Jennings said.
“It’s the end of an era and I guess at the end of it for me, if this is what Tim needs to do to get back in the winner’s circle, he should go and do it. I’m not gonna be the guy, nor are any of the others gonna be the guys that try and put up a roadblock for that.”
Tszyu has lost his past two fights, the first against Bakhram Murtazaliev for the vacant IBF light middleweight title before losing again to Fundora and failing to reclaim his title.
Looking towards the future, Tszyu plans on moving to the United States and touring potential gyms all over the country in the hopes of finding the right trainer to revitalise his career, a move he revealed in a recent appearance on the Unscripted Podcast with former NRL player Josh Mansour.
“My plan now is I’m gonna move to the States,” Tszyu said. “Just by myself. It’s a big move. I’m going solo and I’m just gonna see what opportunities there are out there and make the most of it.”
Former manager Jennings will continue to manage Tszyu’s younger brother Nikita, insisting that this split won’t affect his relationship with the family.
Featured image: Australia boxer Tim Tszyu training in Japan. Photo: YouTube
