50-0 family legacy Tim defends in ‘Tszyucastle’… and the moment, 22 years ago, he understood it

For Tim Tszyu, it isn’t so much a streak being threatened as his greatest family memories.

Like that night, aged eight, and before some 30,000 screaming fans, when the then Sydney schoolboy nervously shadowed his old man out and into the middle of Melbourne’s Telstra Dome.

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Can you imagine it?

Walking into battle alongside your ponytailed father.

A fella who also just happens to be the undisputed super lightweight king.

That, and the reason for why, all around you now, is nothing but noise.

“Carried dad’s Ring belt too,” Tszyu grins, kicking back now after training and recounting that afternoon he brandished one of four straps dad would go retain against America’s Jesse James Leija.

And in a performance where Australia’s fighting megastar would prove so dominant through six rounds, Leija eventually retired on his stool — beaten and with a perforated right eardrum.

Although the finish, you should know, isn’t what Tim Tszyu remembers.

Nor even the fight.

No, what ‘The Soul Taker’ holds tightest from that afternoon 22 years ago?

It’s the memory of a boy walking alongside his father.

“Because while dad had always said we were different,” the now 30-year-old recounts, “that’s the moment I really understood it”.

All of which makes said walk something of a catalyst for everything since.

And, again, what is now being threatened.

Understanding that while it has rarely been rarely discussed in Tszyu yarns over the past two years – what with all his Las Vegas hype, headlines, blood, towels, title fights, upsets and box office records – Australia’s fighting favourite still owns one of the nation’s greatest sporting streaks.

Or more specifically, his family does.

Alongside Hall of Fame father Kostya, and younger brother Nikita, the Tszyus have spent over 30 years fighting on home soil without ever tasting defeat.

Not once.

All up, the family’s record currently reads 50-zip.

A run which, starting with Kostya’s professional debut way back in 1992, saw ‘The Thunder From Down Under’ win 18 times on Australian soil – including seven in Newcastle – before Tim would then himself rise up to win 22 straight and, then finally, Nikita open his own career with 10 consecutive wins.

Which isn’t so much a swirl of numbers as it is memories including – but is no way limited to — Jeff Horn being dropped and stopped, Tony Harrison put on tilt, Roger Mayweather bested, South Africa’s Jan Piet Bergman pummeled, The Butcher rising from the canvas to claim a national title, Carlos Ocampo gone in 87 seconds and Leija retiring on his stool with that busted eardrum.

As a far streaks go, this one is up there with those St George Dragons of the 1960s.

Or Australia’s cricketers of the late 90s.

Yet now, hyped American prospect Joey Spencer is looking to bring it all undone.

And in no less than ‘Tszyucastle’ – where the family have also fought, and won, a dozen times.

Despite knowing nothing of said streak until told by Fox Sports Australia this week, Spencer is gunning to end it all when he faces Tszyu inside Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Sunday, April 6.

Not for anything personal, mind.

No, Spencer wants to win simply because this story, well, he feels it belongs to him.

And has done since long before being asked to fight on the undercard of Tim Tszyu’s hyped American debut three years back; or decades earlier watching Kostya Tszyu fights on TV in his tiny hometown of Linden.

Indeed, while he may be a betting outsider for the upcoming headliner against Tszyu, this hyped US prospect is also facing a rival now coming off not one, but two, world title losses – the last of which saw Tszyu brutally finished by IBF champ Bakhram Murtazaliev.

Before that, the eldest Tszyu sibling also lost his WBO title, and the chance to unify, in a bloody split decision war against Sebastian Fundora – who like Murtazaliev, and now Spencer, also went into the bout as a heavy underdog.

“Which is why odds don’t matter,” stressed Spencer, a 24-year-old who, you should know, also boasts nine US titles, has been talked up as an opponent for Fundora, and owns only the sole loss against Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr.

So as for the famed Tszyu streak?

“I’m definitely aware of his father,” the Michigan fighter continued of Kostya. “I grew up watching a ton of fights from that generation …”

Same as Spencer says Tim Tszyu has been on his radar since shortly after first learning of his existence, when given that undercard placement on the Australian’s US debut against Terrell Gausha.

“I’ve always believed I’d fight the division’s top guys,” Spencer continues. “And ever since watching that fight I’ve thought Tim would be up there.

“That’s why I’ve foreseen us fighting for a while.

“Because I believe that about myself too.

“And now, here we are.”

Already, Tszyu has left no doubt regarding the enormity of everything coming against Spencer, labelling the fight as the most important of his career.

Crucially, the new headline act of Australia’s first fighting family also has the chance to add to that incredible unbeaten streak – and in ‘Tszyucastle’, the scene for so many inedible family memories.

Asked for a favourite moment from the old man’s own hometown run, and Tszyu goes straight to that ‘03 win over Leija – which would double as Kostya’s last ever bout on Australian soil.

Quizzed on that moment he entered the cavernous arena alongside his father, and with Ring belt in both hands, Tim laughs: “That’s when I understood, for us, things weren’t exactly normal”.

Yet as for what really stood out?

“Looking back now, I can’t remember the fight,” Tszyu continues. “But I remember walking out with that belt.

“The feeling, it was incredible.

“I can still remember thinking ‘oh, geez, dad really is famous’.”

All of which still matters.

Indeed, while Tszyu may be at something of a career crossroads – with a loss against Spencer set to prove dire – he readily admits defending the family’s famed Australian streak is something motivating him.

“In all honesty, it means a lot,” he says of the unbeaten run.

“Because this is a family legacy we’re creating.

“A legacy that eventually gets carried by your children, by your grandchildren … it’s incredibly special.”

Crucially, Tszyu also admits to feeling undeniably stronger when fighting at home.

“It’s a different feeling, definitely,” he insists.

“Like when I fought Murtazaliev in Orlando, I didn’t enjoy the build up at all.

“Las Vegas, obviously, had a vibe but the last fight, I disliked everything.

“It was just different … (laughs) and definitely no Newcastle.

“But now coming back here, when I fight it’s a celebration, with so many Australians gathering together to watch.

“I love that feeling.

“That, and the legacy we’re creating here.

“It’s special.”