'The bloke doesn't sleep': Tim Tszyu lifts lid on new trainer whose obsession has Aussie primed for second coming

Tim Tszyu says new trainer Pedro Diaz has reignited his love for the sport as he looks to enter the ring by the end of the year.

Speaking to Australian media from Miami in the US on Friday, Tszyu said he's hoping to get back into the ring by the end of 2025, with previous reports stating it could be on December 17.

But it would come as no surprise if Tszyu continued working with Diaz a little longer before implementing changes introduced by his new trainer in 2026.

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A refreshed Tszyu spoke glowingly of his new trainer, who he credits for inspiring a "different type of energy" in him.

Diaz is a boxing lifer, having spent 40 years in the fight game at amateur and professional level.

He began his time with the Cuban Olympic boxing team through five campaigns, before moving to the US and training champions like Miguel Cotto and Filip Hrgović.

Diaz also worked with Imane Khelif during her gold medal campaign in Paris, while leading Algeria's boxing team as head coach.

"I was looking more like a Mike Tyson-Cus D'amato type of relationship, someone that you can look up to," Tszyu said.

"Sometimes when when the fire isn't burning, you can get someone to ignite it back. That's who I got."

Tszyu said his love for the sport had waned in recent years and the change came about at the right time.

"It's made me honestly fall back in love with the sport," he said.

"It reminds me of when I was a 15 year old coming back home from school and watching tapes and just studying the game and it's pulled me back to that mindset. I think I've missed that feeling for such a long time."

After visiting five trainers, all with championship credentials, Tszyu settled on Diaz and admitted the Cuban style of fighting felt more at home for him.

"The Cuban boxing type style, there's a lot of Soviet type of work there as well. It's just refreshing, you know? I'm doing a lot of stuff that I used to do as a child back when I used to watch my dad train.

"A lot of old school stuff. I've growing up with that type of stuff and unfortunately in the last couple of years, I sort of went down a different path, more Western boxing, being tough, aggressive, strong, but it's made me realise the sport's more about skill and intelligence."

Tszyu said Diaz's emphasis on the tactical side of the sport made him an easy pick, and they also had a chat about his loss to Fundora and how that could've been avoided.

"We do a lot of training, man, but everything's very strategic," Tszyu revealed.

"He's got this handbook and and he reads, and he plans it all out and everything's structured. It's crazy, man. This guy is a genius, his energy levels are insane. The bloke doesn't sleep.

"When I feel that type of energy, it's unbelievable, you know? And I'm doing the stuff that I haven't done for such such a long time.

"He said I'm better than Fundora, I just did not have the right tactics, and I think a lot of people can say that.

"Tactically, prepare differently, more strategic, I guess. Think more in there rather than, just rely on my destructiveness, because that can only get you so far in this sport."