Tim Tszyu says he is sick of the "bullshit" excuses and is ready to end "loud-mouth" opponent Michael Zerafa's boxing career in Newcastle next week.
But whether he gets that chance could hinge on whether Zerafa and his team even bother to turn up for the fight.
There are fears the bout may not go ahead with the Zerafa camp threatening to pull out of the much-hyped showdown at the 'Tszyucastle' Entertainment Centre next Wednesday [July 7] because of COVID concerns.
Zerafa is refusing to commit to travelling from his home base in Melbourne to Newcastle due to lockdown fears if the COVID situation in NSW worsens.
But in announcing the fight will be going ahead, albeit with a reduced 50 percent crowd capacity at the indoor arena, promoter George Rose believes Zerafa's motivation for wanting to pull out is more about fear of what he will face in the ring rather than anything to do with the virus.
"Fear makes a man do strange things," Rose said. "When you make a lot of claims, when you get to the crunch, you've got to back that up."
Rose says the excuses from the Zerafa camp started almost immediately after the fighters came face-to-face for an interview two weeks ago.
"One of the worst things we did was have Michael travel up to Sydney the other week - he had to look Tim in the eye and see what Tim's going to bring to this fight," Rose said.
"Since then, there's been a lot of excuses coming out. I really hope they're not going to be using an excuse and not try to make their way up to Newcastle for this fight.
"I question the legitimacy of some of the excuses. Every time something has been brought up, I make sure I squash it. There's no reason for some of the issues they've been throwing out - we're following everything to a tee.
"I feel like it is fear that is bringing on these questions from them."
Tszyu, who has spent more than a week in Newcastle with his team to prepare, has clearly run out of patience with his opponent.
"It's a bit of nonsense and honestly, I'm sick and tired of it - get this kid here," Tszyu said.
"He's talked too much crap, he's said enough. I've trained enough and dedicated myself time away from home. I just want to get him in the ring in Newcastle.
"The fact is he's been talking it up and been chasing me and following me around for the last three years, couldn't get my name out of his mouth and it [the fight] has finally come and they are making up all this random bullshit. Just get him here, that's all I can say."
Tszyu admitted victory over Zerafa will taste even better than usual given the build-up and will not hear of the fight not going ahead.
"This one is going to be sweet just for the fact that this guy is a loud mouth and he's not liked here in Australia, that's for sure," he said. "This is not just for myself but for everyone in Australia that dislikes this man."
Asked about the crowd reduction with the sellout reduced to 50 percent capacity, Tszyu said it will make little difference.
"It doesn't matter how many people - put me and him right here [outside his Newcastle hotel], right now without anyone, with no cameras - same outcome," he said.
Tszyu is not the slightest bit perturbed his family from Sydney won't be permitted to travel to Newcastle for the fight.
"It doesn't matter - I couldn't care less," he said. "I'm here for business. This isn't a holiday. Spending time with family, we can do that later on in life. I'm here for one purpose and that's to bash Michael Zerafa."
Despite assurances from health officials the fight can go ahead, the Zerafa camp say they don't want to leave Melbourne in case the Greater Sydney lockdown spreads to Newcastle.
Rose says Zerafa should not be running scared and offered him some advice.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, it's just a fight," he said. "If you lose to Tim Tszyu, he's one of the best fighters that we're going to have out of this country ever, so there's no shame in losing to Tim Tszyu.
"Don't let that hold you back from coming to Tszyucastle."
Rose is adamant every safety measure has been taken and has been assured that Zerafa will be given an exemption to travel to Newcastle.
"Newcastle is safe, Newcastle is operating under the Covid-safe guidelines of NSW Health, the city is following the right protocols," he said.
"We'll do the same at the Tszyucastle Entertainment Centre, it's going to be a Covid-safe event, NSW Health approved, NSW Combat Sports Authority approved, Victorian Covid Safe Response Team, they're across everything," Rose said.
Tszyu questioned whether Zerafa was calling the shots or members of his support staff.
"I don't know if it's Michael or his managers or his trainers," he said. "The guy's got a new trainer, manager, a new team each week - it keeps changing.
"I think there are too many people in his ear telling him different things.
"Look Michael, if you're watching [the press conference], just listen to yourself bro. Just come here and lets get it on."
