EXCLUSIVE: Tim Tszyu took a photo with Jeff Fenech to unveil him as a new team member. Then something ‘strange’ happened

When Tim Tszyu announced he was moving on from his old team in a bid to reverse his recent slide, Jeff Fenech was announced as part of his new team.

Tszyu had posted to social media about establishing a new team, with Fenech joining Darcy Ellis, the son of boxing great Lester Ellis, and Mike Altamura in guiding Tszyu.

In fact the photo posted to social media was taken inside Fenech’s home.

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To some it was a surprise move for Tszyu to hire Fenech, given the 61-year-old had been vocal about his team’s mismanagement of the star.

Yet what comes as more of a surprise , is that Fenech was barely consulted in the lead up to Tszyu’s fight with Anthony Velazquez on Wednesday night.

The photo of Tszyu’s new team released on social media. Instagram

Fenech has long described himself as a fan of Tszyu and believes he can be world champion.

The international boxing Hall-of-Famer, however, has expressed misgivings with Tszyu’s selection of Pedro Diaz as his coach.

It was that decision that has seen Tszyu go it alone in the last 10 days of his preparation for this fight due to Diaz’s prior commitments to Armenian WBC champion Noel Mikaelian, who claimed the belt last weekend. That makes it 22 trained world champions for Diaz.

Tszyu maintained his glare on Velazquez. FOX Sports

It’s understood Tszyu and Diaz joined forces while the Cuban trainer was still in camp with Mikaelian. Diaz arrived in Sydney for the weigh-in on Tuesday just a day out from the Velazquez bout.

Even with Diaz out of action during the most vital time of preparation, Tszyu did not ask for assistance from Fenech, rather seeking help from former coaches.

Fenech told Wide World of Sports it was “strange” that he had spoken to Tszyu’s wife more than he’s spoken to the fighter and was highly critical of the pad work he’s seen Tszyu do with Diaz on film.

“The work that I see him doing with the guys. To be honest it’s terrible,” he said.

“He needs somebody that’s going to make him fix what he done wrong in those in those fights to make sure he gets better.

“And what I see him doing is exactly the same, there’s been no change.

Hector Bermudez, trainer for Anthony Velazquez. Main Event

“This guy’s doing pad work where he slaps Tim’s hands hard.

“Tim’s not even moving to throw a punch. If you do that when you’re training, you’ll do that when you fight. It’s all muscle memory.

“People like to say they’ve trained world champions. Listen, I tell people this. My grandmother could have trained Mike Tyson or my daughter could have trained Mohammad Ali to be world champions.

“World champions have got the DNA and then they find somebody who they love being with.

“You have to pick the right person.”

Fenech is adamant that he wants to see Tszyu succeed and is not concerned by the blowback he may receive by speaking his mind.

Jeff Fenech. Getty

He said he’s not overly concerned by the people around Tszyu “who don’t like me” and that he should defeat Velazquez on Wednesday, because the American hasn’t fought anyone in the “top 500.”

However, that does not take away from the fact Tszyu had to spend the most pivotal time preparing for the fight with different trainers, who all look for different things.

“The last 10 days is the most important days of your camp,” Fenech added.

“That’s when you’re putting the icing on the cake. That’s when you’re dotting your Is and crossing your Ts and make sure you’ve done all this.

“He’s had two different trainers in the last couple of days.

“So you get all these different messages in your head and your your body. Honestly, I thought Tim was smarter than that.”

Fenech said the timing of the event is also questionable. He believes Tszyu moved too quickly in booking a fight before the end of 2025, perhaps attempting to put the losses behind him mentally.

Tszyu faces Velazquez on Wednesday. Getty

“One hundred per cent. What he should have been doing now was going through a process of fixing what he’s done right and wrong,” Fenech said.

“Making those things better, making sure they don’t happen again. I learned from, I believe, one of the greatest trainers in history, which was Emanuel Steward.

“He said to me, ‘Jeff, when we do pad work, this is your opponent.’

“I don’t hit your punches. You’re gonna hit me. You’re gonna have to move to your side.”’

“If [Tszyu] had a Johnny Lewis in the corner for the first Fundora fight he may still be world champion.”

While fans might be wondering – if Fenech is willing to be an advisor and give Tszyu advice – why doesn’t he just train Tim himself?

“I would have done it six months ago, not now. I wouldn’t even consider it now. if you ask me to help him in other ways I would do that 100 per cent. I help everybody in the sport.

“A lot of the people around him dislike me, and they only dislike me for one reason, because I tell the truth.”