Tim Tszyu Talks Spence, Fundora, Charlo & Nurja Ahead of the Fight 🥊🔥

Australian star Tim Tszyu joins The Last Stand with Brian Custer for a must-watch conversation ahead of what was then his upcoming showdown with Denis Nurja. This interview was recorded just days before that fight, which Tszyu went on to win by unanimous decision on April 5, 2026, keeping the spotlight on a possible blockbuster with Errol Spence Jr. later this year.  

In this episode, Tim opens up about the Nurja matchup, the possibility of facing Errol Spence Jr. in the summer, and gives his thoughts on Sebastian Fundora’s win over Keith Thurman. He also talks about the other dangerous names at 154 pounds, including a possible clash with Jermell Charlo.  

Tszyu remains one of boxing’s biggest names at junior middleweight, and after getting past an unbeaten Nurja, the conversation around his next mega fight is only getting louder.  

📅 Premieres Monday, April 6, 2026

⏰ 9:00 AM Eastern

#TheLastStand #BrianCuster #TimTszyu #Boxing #ErrolSpence #JermellCharlo #SebastianFundora

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

You're watching the last stand with Brian Custer. That's right. It is the last stand. I'm Brian Custer. We bring you the biggest names in the sport. Ooh, and joining me today is one of the biggest at 154 pounds. He is the former super welterweight champion of the world. Tim Zoo is back with us on the last stand. Tim, it's been quite a while. Welcome back. How are you doing, my brother?

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Yeah, very well. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 0:31

It is good to see you. And uh hey, it's good to have you back. Uh, I know you're fighting April 4th, uh, back in the wing uh in the ring, taking on an undefeated fighter in Dennis Nersia. Tell us why him.

SPEAKER_00 0:46

Yeah, there's plenty happening. Um, I just want to stay active, want to get my groove back on, get the get the blood flowing again, and uh take another fight. So that's the plan.

SPEAKER_01 0:59

Now, listen, I I was in Vegas here, obviously for Fondora and Thurman, and and talking with everybody at the PBC, Brian's this summer, we've got a deal done. It's Errol Spence, Tim Zoo. Looks like we're gonna probably have it do it in Australia July, August at the latest. And I'm thinking, why is my guy Tim Zoo? If that's the case, why is he fighting some undefeated fighter beforehand who's maybe not a Southpaw, putting himself at risk and fighting a guy who's unbeaten, who's traveled all over the world. So you know he's coming to win, and he's not a southpaw. I can see if he was a southpaw, you oh, okay, maybe he's getting ready for arrows, but this guy's not even a southpaw. So tell us why then.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

Yeah, just to keep again keep the blood flowing. I want to stay active. I feel like inactivity sometimes puts people on a downward spiral. So for me, I want to just get comfortable. Uh look, I've changed camps, I've changed coaches and stuff like that. So I'm able to to work better with my team and be able to put uh put a bit of things that we we work uh in training to action and then move on and then go on to the next one, you know. So yeah, just a bit more experience and and get myself ready.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

Yeah, I mean you you you hit it on something too because you you've you've changed trainers. Obviously, you're with Pedro now, and you were with Igor for a long time. I mean, from basically amateurs to so much of your career, new manager. Why the the the big change from Team Zoo?

SPEAKER_00 2:44

Yeah, I just wanted to, I just wanted a new change, you know. I feel like sometimes you you you do things a certain way and and uh you need a little change up in your in your career. And I feel like this was the right time, you know. After a couple losses, I felt like I just needed something for more for myself, and you know, and everything's been going according to plan right now.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

Talk to me about Pedro and what what what is he when you when you talk about trainers? Um what has he done and and added to your toolbox that maybe wasn't there or refined something that you know that you already had?

SPEAKER_00 3:21

Yeah, I think I've always sort of had the defense and stuff like that. I just uh sometimes was just uh didn't pay too much attention on it, you know, being able to to learn more the art of boxing, uh rather than using my sluggish and and powerful style to just just go head on, you know, like a like a full drive ti out of high lux, just go straight at it, you know, and a bit more a bit more movement and stuff like that. So yeah, uh I think that's been the biggest uh difference.

SPEAKER_01 3:50

So obviously, all the talk, man, in in Vegas was uh about you, about Errol Spence. Tell me why uh Errol Spence.

SPEAKER_00 4:03

I think it's uh the right time, you know, the right timing for heath. That's the thing. He feels like I've he's got the right timing for me, and I feel like I've got the right timing for him, you know. Like it's a very intriguing type fight because we've both got that star that we're gonna both come in, you know, head on. It's gonna be like this. It's not gonna be like uh tap, tap, tap, tap, no, no, it's gonna be let's let's go, you know. So I think that's that's the the most interesting part about it.

SPEAKER_01 4:32

Uh and and and is it a fight that you you had to have in Australia? Like, did you was when they said, hey, why don't we do it in the states and do it in Texas, where was it like nah, nah, nah, we gotta have it in Australia.

SPEAKER_00 4:48

No, no, I'm I'm I'm down for anywhere in the world, it doesn't bother me, you know. Like if it's go if it's like I don't think it's confirmed for Australia. Okay, if it's gonna be Texas, then let's go Texas. It's I'm I'm I'm not a stranger to traveling, so it's all good.

SPEAKER_01 5:05

Okay, I like that. I like it now. You know, you know the deal, man. Uh, this is a business. And generally, when you have somebody of Errol Spence's ilk and he's coming back from what three years off or whatever, they they want him back, and generally he wants to come back in a big fight, but you they want somebody who they think is has a big name, dangerous, but maybe not as perceived as dangerous as you know what, I still think that Arrow would get him.

SPEAKER_00 5:39

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:40

And so that's all I kept hearing. We're like, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's Tim Zoo, yeah, yeah, yeah. But you know what? Tim Zoo then had a couple losses, man. This is good for Arrow to make him look good. You know the deal. That's what they've been saying about you. Uh, your thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_00 5:55

Yeah, I feel like uh underestimating, you know, like when you look back on my uh my losses, it's against Fondora, who's a six foot six giant, and look what he did to Furman. Thurman couldn't even last, uh, he couldn't even do what, like win five seconds of any round, you know. Um, and I went toe-to-toe, and yeah, I was getting hit, but I was still punching on, and then unfortunately, the loss to to Murzala, it was just an look, I got hit and that was it, you know. It was uh one punch and it was a sitting duck the whole time. So yeah, I don't really look back at the losses, but they don't look at all the other stuff that you sort of did before that. So yeah, I think it's good. Uh I think it's good that they're coming in with that type of mentality because uh when you get hit with the first shot, it's all gonna change, right? I like it.

SPEAKER_01 6:47

I like it. Uh, what'd you think? What'd you think about uh Fondora and Thurman that fight? Because it's interesting, it's a guy that you fought twice and against another guy who you were supposed to fight until he got into the the week of. What would you think?

SPEAKER_00 7:02

I thought it was uh annihilation, you know. I don't I felt like Thurman never really had uh any answer to anything, you know, like he tried to a certain extent, like he was swinging again, he was swinging into air, you know, he was shadow boxing with himself, basically. Fondora's a nightmare to fight, you know. He's just hard, he's got these physical attributes that he uses very well, and his ability to just keep punching, uh, his consistency, it it's it's annoying, you know, and that's what sets him apart from other fighters, and he uses it to it to his advantage. So um he's gonna be a nightmare to fight, but you've got to be able to be ready to bang on. With him, with Fondora, it's not it's never gonna be an easy fight. It's not gonna be technical, and you're gonna move and you're gonna box him. Nah, it's not like that. You're gonna be expected, all right, we're gonna go like this to war, and either one of us is going down, so that's how you've got to come in. And I think Thurman didn't come with that mentality. He was trying to box a little bit, move and stuff like that. But it wasn't working. The guy's got arms the size of a gorilla, wasn't gonna land, you know? It's gonna get they're gonna just keep going.

SPEAKER_01 8:21

That is really funny. Um what do you what did you think about Thurman saying afterwards, the fight shouldn't have stopped? That ref should never do another main event. I was just getting in the grind, I was just getting warm. Everybody was looking at his face like Keith, bro, he saved you.

SPEAKER_00 8:36

Yeah, yeah. Well, look, but I think that's what concussion does, you know, it makes it think in in different ways. You think of the reality, it's not that's not the reality, you know. So he look, it could have gone a bit longer, but it would have just been more damage to him, you know. It was it was only what going down one path. You could just say from from the opening belt, Fondora Lenza first left hook, and then that was it. That was that was already game over, in my eyes.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

I saw that 154 division that you're in is so hot right now. It's probably one of the best in boxing. In your opinion, where did where does Sebastian Fondora? Do you see him at the top? I know Xander Zias has both the belts. Everybody's talking about boots, everybody's talking about Virgil Ortiz. Uh, who is who is at the top, in your opinion, right now at 154?

SPEAKER_00 9:32

Oh, right now for me, I think uh Fondora. I think he's he's sort of pruding himself against uh the elite. Um his belt was stripped, you know. It wasn't it was and then they fought for the bacon title, so I think that's uh a bit different than winning it from the champ, um, from Zayas. So yeah, I feel like Fandora right now is at the top of the 54.

SPEAKER_01 10:00

Uh obviously, Xander Zayas, Jerome Boots Innis has is a fight that will go down in June. What do you think about that fight?

SPEAKER_00 10:08

Yeah, interesting. Interesting. I think um I think Boots has probably got it, natural ability, but I think uh he's never really fought anyone as big as Zayas, he's never fought anyone as skilled as Zayas. So it'll be an interesting matchup, but I'm leaning towards uh Boots.

SPEAKER_01 10:26

This division is so good. Where where is your goals at 154? Is it still to be champ considering? I mean, you know, I know Zias has got both of the belts. Fondor's got a belt, Josh Kelly's got a belt. Is it still to be a champ at 154, or do you just want big fights at 154?

SPEAKER_00 10:46

Yeah, a bit of both, you know. I definitely want to want to go more for the big fights, um, whatever's really presented. But I'm all about taking the biggest and and baddest challenges out there, you know. So if that requires fighting world champions and and fighting for the belts, then yeah, I bring it on with both hands.

SPEAKER_01 11:04

Let me let me uh talk to you about uh the latest fight that I got to see you because I got the chance to call that Murch of Zalia fight that you fought. And I think in this, and here's my opinion. I I think it was the first time I think your father was there. I think there was a lot, I kind of felt like there was a some pressure on Tim Zoo to really go out and perform. Perform for Pops, who's there, sitting front row for the first time. Let me go out here and just show him, yo, I'm that guy. And you just went, like you said, balls to the wall with this guy who was, you know, had a lot of motivation. Um, and like you said, you took that one punch and it was like, yo, is he gonna move his head at all? And I think how much pressure was on you because dad was there, you wanted to show dad all the goods there in Vegas, things of that nature.

SPEAKER_00 12:00

Yeah, possibly. I think maybe that played a little bit of a part, but not not too much. Um it was a 16-week, 16-week training camp, you know, and I felt like maybe I was uh busted up too much before coming into the fight, you know. Like um, the more you you're in the sport, you understand that sometimes the more isn't the better, you know, like going through that much sparring and stuff like that. It was just yeah, I came into the fight completely exhausted. I think that was that was the biggest thing. Was that when I did get hit, it was like I it was early in round what round two? And I never recovered from that, man. Never recovered. I sort of went after the fight, I had a I had concussion and I was I was vomiting. Um so it was it was it wasn't a good time, you know. It wasn't a good time, and I felt I felt the effects of it. So yeah, it was just about adapting and becoming smarter in there and not rushing into things, you know. I should have uh implemented that type of tactic maybe in round seven, eight, nine. But you know, like boxing, you gotta start, you gotta start slow, and sometimes you gotta know when to pick it up, you know. What would your father say to you after that fight? Don't remember. Don't remember he said, go get married. That's what I'll do.

SPEAKER_01 13:23

That's the true you know. Here's the here's the one thing I I I think I love about you that I wish some other fighters had in you, man. What you just said, I like to stay busy. I I know I got this major fight coming and it's already been agreed to, but you know what? Instead of sitting around and just training and training, I'm gonna I'm gonna take on this unbeaten guy who's dangerous because I want to get what is it about you and the type of fighter that you are that maybe we don't see anymore these days out of other fighters now?

SPEAKER_00 14:02

Yeah, I think I get like shaky hands. I get shaky hands. I'm like, all right, I need to I need to start working on something, I need a date, I need to be able to like have a target, have someone in mind that I want to take out, you know, and that's that's been a big part about me is to take on all the challenges at all times, no matter what. Like uh we can rest when we're retired from the sport. For now, when we're young and and ready to grind, we're gonna smash it out and and fight as many possible fights as we possibly can.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Yeah, I like that. Um it's almost to there's two things that I heard over in Vegas. It was the number one about you facing Arrow and the reason why they think that that uh they're choosing Tim Zoo. The other thing is they I kept hearing, well, look, you know, Zoo had this reputation of being this monster, but you know what? Things have changed once he gets over here to the states and starts fighting more guys from the states and guys from over here because he's been beating up on all these Aussie guys and guys from over there. It's just different over here, and that's when you're gonna he's gonna see this is where all the best elite fighters are. I guess how can what's your message to people who and fighters who who keep saying that? Like, yeah, you see what happens when he comes over here, now he's fighting the elite guys over here. It's a different story. Give me your message to those guys.

SPEAKER_00 15:32

Yeah, uh, look, uh to a certain extent I agree, you know. Like I was always fighting brawlers and and people that are just uh not as skillful, but I realize in this in this sport, especially in America, it's it's really the one percent, you know. Like you make one mistake and then that's it, it's game over. These boys can can lights out straight away. So you gotta stay on board at all times, be focused. And um, like I've sparred a lot in America, I've trained a lot in America. It's it is where I'm I'm at now, you know. So I've I've been a lot with the boys and I and I understand, and that's what that is what it that's what it's all about for me. Um and it's about making little tweak changes, making a little bit of a difference in each fight, and then uh improving on those one percents and make sure making sure those things don't happen again.

SPEAKER_01 16:20

I like it. If you had your druthers and you said, okay, you know what? I got Errol Spence coming up, but these are the couple of fights that I've just been fiending for. These are the ones I really want. What are what are those? Give me a give me a couple of guys or a couple of fights that you really have been fiending for.

SPEAKER_00 16:37

Charlo for sure. Yeah, Mel Charlo. Um, I think just because he's been he never lost to to get the title back. Uh the title to like to a certain extent, he's still the king of the 154 division in my eyes, you know. Like he sort of went on his uh honeymoon, say. Um, and uh he sort of gave up the division, you know. Um, he never really forfeited from it. So I feel like Charla would be uh definitely on the bucket list. And then uh yeah, Errol Spence and who else, who else is there? There's a couple guys. Um I'd definitely move up to 160 as well and see what see the opportunities out there as well. So yeah, I'm I'm I'm open for a lot of things.

SPEAKER_01 17:27

That that that's that's fantastic. It's funny you you said that because you know Charlo was at the fight. Oh man, and he held court afterwards. He just went crazy because he he said, Look, I'm still I'm the guy, I've been begging to get back. Uh, I would have I wanted this. You F this guy, F this guy, F this guy. They took away my belts. I'm still the king guy, you know, and he just held court, and that's it. I remember at one point there was talk about you and and Charlo getting it on, and so that seems like that's still a fight you want badly.

SPEAKER_00 18:01

Oh, 100%, 100%. Look, it's uh it's one of the toughest challenges out there, you know. So why not?

SPEAKER_01 18:08

Oh, this is this is this is great stuff, man. I I I can't get uh get get let you go without giving give me the Tim Zoo message. Now listen, I know you got Nerdia, and absolutely you can't take him lightly, but you know everybody is just so fiending to see you and Errol Spence. And I guess give it give give us the message to fight fans, uh, even maybe even Errol Spence on what he's he should expect when he gets in the ring with Tim Zoom.

SPEAKER_00 18:42

Yeah, like if you if you look at uh different generations, look what um look what happened with Thurman. And uh for me Errol Spence is sort of in that generation, and that's what I want to do and expect to do against him um coming to this next generation of fighters. So yeah, that's let's bring the new with the old now.

SPEAKER_01 19:08

And and do you see yourself with the strap at 154, let's say, in a year's time?

SPEAKER_00 19:16

Yeah, for sure. Of course, I'm I'm still heading towards that that that spot. Like I need a little rejuvenation, I understand. Um, by beating someone like Carol Spencer through like uh it's bigger than any strap, let's just say that.

SPEAKER_01 19:32

I like that. I like that. How how how is it uh from a mental standpoint to suffer when you've had so much success, a defeat? Maybe uh like Fandora compared to Murtazalev. How how difficult was that trying to mentally process that and and snap back from it?

SPEAKER_00 19:57

Um yeah, it's tough. It's tough, it's it's not a good feeling, it's a bad feeling, and you don't want to do it again. That's why you keep preparing the next one more even more harder and stuff like that. But mentally you don't get down, don't get too low in your losses, don't get too high on your wins, you know. So you just keep keep life lasting simple and stable.

SPEAKER_01 20:20

And how how good is Sebastian Fandora? Because you hear this win, people are like, Whoa, okay. Now, some people said, Well, Keith Thurman, he he just looked 37, he looked inactive, and that's what happened. But I thought look watching Fondora fight, I'm like, yo, he fought like he fought Tim Zoo the second time, used his range, didn't want to bang it in with him at all. He just kept him at his range, and then bam, bam, bam. How good is Sebastian Fondora?

SPEAKER_00 20:53

Well, I think in terms of skill level, I don't think he's like the highest up there. I think his physical attributes of what he's got and what he possesses. Uh, he's much higher than anyone. It's just he's a difficult task, you know. Like again, you wanna when you fight Fondora, you're gonna expect to be in the hardest fight of your life. So that's what I that's that's all that's what it is for him. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:19

And and talk to me about Tim Zoo. Uh when you when you get in a fight with Tim Zoo, what should you expect?

SPEAKER_00 21:29

It's gonna be bang on, you know, Samus Fondoro, you're gonna be in a in a hard fight, you know, and um I'm not gonna be tip tapping all the time. I'm gonna be coming in and and banging on.

SPEAKER_01 21:44

Do you believe uh after fighting Errol Spence that people will be saying, you know what?

SPEAKER_00 21:51

He's not he's back.

SPEAKER_01 21:58

I like I like I I was gonna say he's back in Arrow Spencer. What's stay away? Going back to it I got it. I got it. Uh last but not least, let the people know uh what's gonna happen on April 4th.

SPEAKER_00 22:13

Yeah, it's gonna be one hell of a fight, you know. Um, and then we move on to the next. So let's get it on.

SPEAKER_01 22:19

Yeah, I like it. Tim Zoom, man. Hey, look, throwback fighters like you, we need them in the sport, man.

SPEAKER_00 22:26

I wish, man. I wish there was more of us, you know.

SPEAKER_01 22:29

I I I look, everybody who I talk to says they love your attitude, love the way you fight. Because it's like this dude stays active and he doesn't he don't duck nobody. And that's where every everybody's like, hey, let me fight him. Yes. It's like Tim Zoo's like, okay, whatever.

SPEAKER_00 22:49

Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:52

Uh love it, man. I appreciate it. Look, that's what we do here on the last stand. We bring you the biggest names in the sport, and at 154, look, the guy right there, he's former, he's the former champ at 154, and he says he's coming back to get the strap. Tim Zoo, my brother. I always appreciate you, man. I appreciate your time. Appreciate it, man. Yeah, thanks, Bron. Absolutely. That's what we do here on the last stand. Best of luck to Tim Zoo. Thanks for watching, everybody. We'll see you again next week. That's right. I am Brian Custer. This is The Last Stand. We certainly appreciate your support. Not only listening, watching the show. Make sure you go to YouTube, subscribe to the channel, hit that like button, and don't forget to hit the notification bell as well because you don't want to miss the next episode of The Last Stand. You can also listen to the podcast. You can download it, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Podcast Attic, Deezer, or whatever platform you get your podcast on, you can hear The Last Stand. We certainly appreciate the support. Don't forget, download, share it with your friends, and just listen to The Last Stand.