Tim Tszyu has sacked his entire support team.
Code Sports first reported the former world champion has made the massive call to cut ties with head trainer Pedro Diaz, strategic adviser Mike Altamura and manager Darcy Ellis as he prepares to face American legend Errol Spence Jr on Australian soil in coming months.
Aussie icon Jeff Fenech has confirmed he is set to reach an agreement with Tszyu to take over operations as head trainer and manager.
It is a staggeringly quick turn of events after Diaz helped guide Tszyu to a convincing win over Denis Nurja in Wollongong on Easter Sunday.
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It is the second time in recent months the 31-year-old has cleaned out his support staff.
The Sydney product cut off ties with former manager Glen Jennings and trainer Igor Goloubev in October.
One of the big decisions from last year’s clean out was to turn to Fenech as a mentor to work alongside the new regime that replaced Jennings’ crew.
Fenech is now the only one left standing.
“I’m 100 per cent convinced that Tim Tszyu can be world champion again,” Fenech told foxsports.com.au.
Fenech, one of the greatest boxers Australia has ever produced, has been a straight shooter throughout Tszyu’s career.
He was a vocal critic of how Tszyu’s corner got it so wrong in allowing him to continue to fight despite a sickening head gash during his world title defeat to Sebastian Fundora.
Tszyu’s career went into a tailspin following the shock loss — when he could have escaped the first Fundora fight with a “no contest” result.
After two losses to Fundora and an ugly beat down defeat at the hands of Bakhram Murtazaliev, Tszyu’s career was on life support.
However, wins over Anthony Velazquez and Nurja have helped create a blockbuster fight with Spence Jr.
It has been a turbulent time for Tszyu, with confirmation this week his relationship with brother Nikita has turned heated.
The pair have supported each other throughout their boxing careers to date — until Nikita was nowhere to be seen at Tim’s Easter weekend bout with Nurja.
Nikita, 28, explained he was absent from the fight due to illness, a comment that was laughed off by Tim.
He responded to a video of Nikita’s explanation with two laughing emojis.
Tim told CODE Sports this week that he told his brother not to show up to his fight.
Nikita has responded by confirming the split, and he said he does not care if Tim attends his clash with Oscar Diaz on May 6.
“I don’t want to get into it too much,” Nikita told CODE Sports.
“I know you guys feed off the spicy drama and everything that’s happening between us, but you are correct.”
Tim and Nikita have been regulars at each other’s fights with the former fiercely supporting his brother following his no contest with Michael Zerafa in January, calling Zerafa’s decision to pull out a “cowardly act”.
The pair have not revealed the reason behind their feud, but is has been reported the animosity surrounds Tim’s acrimonious split from Jennings.
Tim and Jennings’ row over money led to a legal dispute, and Nikita’s decision to support Jennings, whom he is also managed by, is understood to have angered Tim’s camp.
