Hi everyone, and welcome to Off the Record, the sports podcast of breaking news, hard opinion and a little bit of gibber.

I'm Andrew Webster from The Australian and I'm joined by my partner in crime, Phil Rothfield from the Telegraph.

High Buzz, We've got a special guest today, Buzz.

The Great Nikita Zoo would make his long awaited return to the ring after a year when he fights lulsom is a Mally.

Yes, did I get that right?

I won't call myself the great yet yet, Well you.

Are in my mind.

He fights in Sydney August twenty at the ic C.

It's on main event Ko Fox Sports and he joins us in the studio again, Naquita, thank you for having me, No, thank you for coming in Buzz far away.

Well, I'm going to start with non boxing questions.

I'm fascinated how your wife got the same name as you to Nikita Zoo's.

Yeah, it's and that's kind of how we what brought us together really the see my warding just but we yeah, it's it kind of was kind of like the glue that brought us together.

And she was originally from Brisbane and that's how we.

Made it online.

So did you meet online or.

Well, there's a very deep story behind that.

I don't think we have the time, no, But essentially when we initially met it was in Thailand.

We're both going there for different reasons and we just our uh, we didn't plan anything else.

Turned out we staying in the same place, same area, and we just spent the first week together.

It was beautiful.

It's pretty emotional, mate, does she does?

She mean she been that profound on your your career in life.

Yeah, she's that's crazy.

It's beautiful.

She's got a big, big impact in my life.

Yeah, in what way?

I don't even know why I'm getting emotional.

It does have that effect on that's special.

Beautiful Ticly a big blugger right here who gets in ambashis people?

Then you tear up aa you love you know she's crazy.

She's the light in my life.

Yeah.

Well do you get the wrong mouth for each other?

Though?

The wrong do you just.

To say to your parking to go to her?

Yes, I should order some stuff and I look at the mouths in the kida zoom.

I'm like.

Some baby stuff.

Interesting And it.

Was a whirl wind romance, right, How long you got married and it was a very private waiting to write.

Very private.

How long was it since we met?

It took us eight months or so, Yeah, to tie the knight.

She was she used to come down and visit from Brisbane every few months or so.

We spend a look like a weekend together.

Amazing.

Our bond just was just there from the very start.

And then we just wanted a very nice, quiet wedding with just our father's.

My father was the first time he's been in Australia since like ten years ago.

Her dad came down to visit over Christmas holidays and at the at that point there was the marriage officer or the courts.

They were kind of closed, so we had to wait till the sixth of January until we actually get anything approved.

We got organized in two days and then cost us forty nine dollars the whole wedding, the bare minimum and just the two fathers, just the two fathers waiting.

You got brandy, but you had a badge.

No, it's not even about that.

We just want simple.

We wanted as simple as possible.

We wanted it to be a night for a day for us, like we're usually with weddings.

There's a lot of family commitments you have to put into it.

Who not to invite your mom and Tim didn't get upset when we didn't care.

We didn't care, we wanted this was a day for us.

We took the power of it.

The wedding was finished by eleven o'clock, went to the local sailing club for lunch and worered having a nap by one o'clock in the afternoon at home.

Great, and you've had a little baby.

Curiosity.

That's a curious name, very curious.

Where'd you come up with?

Curiosity?

That was actually her, her her origins.

She's known the name since she was thirteen years old.

It's she I think she literally told me it was.

She was watching documentary on the NASA Mars Rover Curiosity.

She's like, I want to name my daughter after that.

And when she told oh, she didn't actually tell me.

She was actually giving me some hints for what the name is.

Because I initially didn't want to know.

I wanted her to tell me once she comes out, but she was telling me, no, no, no, you need to You need to know beforehand because it's going to take you by shock.

What the name is because it is quite unusual, but then the actual meaning behind it is very very powerful.

I kind of figured it out.

She was doing like little hints, giving me hints here and there, and she put on a couple of days before I found out a documentary about the mars Rov.

I just guessed it and somehow she was blown away.

I was going to ask you about Makita's thoughts on you fightingh Sorry.

You said thoughts, Yeah, your wife's thoughts already.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, well what is your wife?

You're so in love there and she's a publishly mutual thing.

Does she worry?

No, she loves it.

She loves it.

She's never going to be part of the fights.

She's never going to be the part.

No, she'll never be at any of the fights.

She will always be at home.

She's there as my like, my support.

But she says that when she looks at me in the ring, you can just see me being a man.

Yeah.

Well, it's an extraordinary side of youka.

My first podcast, and I'm just crying.

Extraordinary the way she looks at her.

She doesn't she don't care if I've winn lose.

She sees me just being like the violent man that I really am.

She she loves seeing that animalistic side of me, just being like that, the old ancestral kind of fighter.

Yeah.

Tell me, are you in the fight game to win belts and be another great champion in the family or you there for the cash and to get out and look after your family.

Why do you fight the belts?

They have never really like fascinated me, to be honest, I'm in it because I'm young.

I have a desire to to hurt people.

It's pleasurable for me, and I'm doing it as well for the money to feed my family.

I'm not going to I'm looking to bullshit thought.

But it's also just feeling like being a warrior, living that kind of life.

And then once my time is up, once the age hits to the point where I can't fight properly anymore, then I'll retire up in the mountains and live a humble life as a farmer.

Yeah.

Well, why do you like hurting people?

I don't know.

It's something that's just been in me and always I've always had like a little bit of a dark side.

The dark prince.

Yeah.

I think there's like a side of my dad that was like filtered into me where there's just a little bit of evil in there, and I've just learned to embrace it.

Well, you're with like I was around your age when your dad was really probably maybe younger, when your dad was really become a national icon in this country.

Are you aware of just the gravity that he hurd he like in Australia, like like we wasn't a buzz You were covered him like it was huge, you know, and we you know, we were all behind him so much.

Do you are you aware of that legacy of your father?

I'm aware of it.

I remember seeing how many people were always just interested in him, even just like walking down the street, people would be asking for photos.

Is something though we've just grown up with as kids.

He's he's special and I only dreamed to be even a fraction of what he's to make.

It was really interesting because I've heard Costin I think Tim sorry speak with a little bit of frustration, probably in previous years about him being known as Costa's son and not just Tim Tim the champion.

So you're another step.

So do you get annoyed your team's brother?

And yeah, I fully understand why people think that way.

I don't care it's my it's my legacy.

I if anything, I'm proud of it.

I'm proud that I kind of came from my dad.

I'm proud that I'm leading after my brother.

It's it's honorable having this history behind us and being able to recognize that these are the ones that came before me.

Do you talk to him?

To talk to Costure before this fire?

We get his thoughts on it.

I haven't really spoken to him in a bit, but we're still pretty close.

Maybe we'll have a little phone call beforehand.

I'm not really much of a talker on the phone.

He's actually learned the hard way now.

He's figured out that the only way to contact me is through my wife phone number.

And they're the ones in contact with each other.

What about Tim mate his obviously he'll be around your corner.

Do you spar with him?

Are you allowed to?

You'd probably built the shit out of each other, wouldn't you.

Well, last time we sparred it ended up a little bit bad.

It was at the start of last year or so, and there were two sparring sessions, one where I got the better of him and on the first one and then he came back a couple of days later and belted the ship out of me and I capt the concussion lost my memory for a couple of hours.

I just remember just so did someone have to stop it?

Is it your uncle.

Sparring?

Just when as normal?

Finished normally?

But then all of a sudden, I remember just like waking up punching the bag and I'm like, well where am I?

And I was like second castle.

I was meant to go have do some other rounds afterwards.

I was like I started off with Tim, then Tim finished off with some other guys, and I was meant to finish off with those other guys.

And I came up to my uncle like I don't know how I got here, and I told him, yeah, I think a concussion.

I had the rest for a couple of weeks.

All the time, Yeah, I remember.

There's so many moments where we just literally be like fist fighting over like stupid stuff.

He's actually chipped this tooth four or three or four times?

What's the age?

Four years?

And what's it like saying what's happened with Tim's career the last few fights, no knowing how much he puts into it, knowing what as a box of what goes into it.

It's hard.

But the way my brain thinks is that losses are meant to happen in this sport.

Like there's no there's no dishonor in a loss like you.

The main thing is that he's putting in the work, he's working his ass off, he's done everything right in the lead up.

Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win.

There's no shame in it.

It's it's hard the boxing world, though, everyone just bashes you if you lose and it's over with one loss.

Sport.

Yeah, Hey, I was going to ask you.

You've got this is a big fight coming up Wednesday, your first overseas import.

He's unbeaten.

And I spoke to you outside and I asked you, do you get frightened because you look like a big cup and you're whack.

People are hard and you know, I want to ask you about fear and like that last sixty seconds you're getting what do.

You feel like?

There's a lot of like tingles going through the body.

Fears a it's a big thing that happens a lot of I think a lot of fighters pretend that they don't feel it, or they try disguise as something else.

But I definitely feel fear.

I think fear is the thing that makes me tune in to myself, makes me zoned in.

If I if I didn't feel the fear, if I didn't speak, if I wasn't scared, then I wouldn't take it as seriously.

I look into that ring and I'm like, that's a place where I could die.

Possibly.

I'm going in there.

This is a this is a real fight.

No matter who it is, there's a chance.

Boxing is one of those sports where at any second, one punch can land and the fight is over.

That's what I'm going to ask you, because I reckon you could make more money as an architect at this stage.

You correct, definitely, you're trying to architect.

Yeah, there are, yeah, but not everything's about coin.

Buzz No, but I know about the coin.

But maybe it's a bit more to him than just said.

He's about to walk in the ring knowing there's a slight possibility.

Could frigg and die.

But now, it's not the most pleasant way to earn money.

It's it's definitely not, but it is.

It does feel honorable for me.

I'll tell you what I'll pay you if you build buzz.

Can I tell you, I was going to tell you at the start, be very very careful with this man and Johnny Lewis used to do the pads for it.

Open accidentally was shadow boxing and turned and hit Johnny.

I think that's going to be one of the most brutal shadow boxings.

He's waked o man, I ran, I ran.

You haven't fought in a year, right, you did the tendants in your hand, yeah, my knuckle and knuckles.

So it was a bit.

There was a whole mess of stuff.

There was tendons, ligament issues.

There was a bit of a bone issue, right, how how.

Is it now?

Need?

It's okay.

It's something you've got to manage that.

Injuries.

He's got to sometimes manage them.

Yeah, tens are tendon's are tricky though they're painful.

Yeah, and all of us like it, just like gets inflamed all of a sudden.

Injuries happen with sports.

Sometimes you just have to maintain them.

I'll figure it out.

I've got time.

Before we before we get to you.

You fight, you say you've got time, How long will you.

Keep fighting for?

I don't want to be in the sport later than my mid thirties, So you got a way to go there twenty seven, twenty seven.

Now, so.

Before we get to next next week's opponent, Michael's a raffa.

You said you wanted this week.

I just read the flight two days.

You want to crush every bone in his body?

Is that?

Is that boxing talk?

Or is that true?

There seems to be a real issue obviously between the raf and the Zoo family.

Where's this animosity come from?

And and is it?

Is it real?

I think think when my body starts cutting weight, I become a different person.

The Usually I'm quite relaxed, quite happy, but when the fight mode kicks in, when the weight is coming off, there's a different level of like hormones going through the body.

And that's just how my brain sometimes thinks in this moment.

But there's there's history.

Good answer, good answer, I think, But would you like to fight?

Of course for me, it's a ticket to a very higher level.

He's world ranked, and yeah, it's a great opportunity for me to really take a few steps up.

It's gonna it's a hard fight for me, so I'm definitely the underdog in it.

But in order to progress in the sport, you've got to take Risks got to take those chances.

He's just been bad blood.

Then Nikita he was.

It was around COVID and he was to fight Tim and Newcastle.

Remember we pulled out at the last minute, and of course all sorts of drama, we pay per view, and we had to bring in a replacement the last minute.

And so I think the whole family'd like to see your belt him.

Boxing needs a villain.

It's good for the sport, I think.

Of course, you know, rivalries make the sport more interesting.

Unfortunately, two people acting like mister nice guy isn't very interesting to sell.

There's something to hatred two people that people just want to tune into.

What do you think of the gall and sunny Bill build up.

I didn't really watch too much of it.

I did a few little bits of the what do you think?

I mean if it's if it sells, it sells.

It's a really pleasant to watch.

Like in terms of like a box, you're not gonna I'm not gonna watch it to learn things.

You do?

You are you know?

Are you a student of the history of boxing?

A little bit?

Is any form of boxes or legendary boxes that you warmed to.

I'm a Roberto Duran man.

I was just about to say, ROBERTA.

Recently, I've been watching some Roberto Duran.

I really like James Tony Roy Jones.

I'm a big fan of the way they used to do it in the old school ways, the even just like the chopping of the wood, just the I don't know, I'm drawn to the old school life.

And do you have any old school methods yourself for training?

And are you in the modern sports science?

And I've recently just started chopping wood.

That's very rocky for.

I've been.

A movie or no.

I figured it out myself.

I've known fighters you do that for a while.

And I did a little bit of carpentry in my architectural days, and I got a bunch of access at home, so I know what it's like to chop wood with it and how hard it is.

So I got a special one that was a little bit heavier, meant for felling felling trees.

And now I got my own.

Look at you, you're saying before we came on air that you don't drink he gave it away.

Why is that maybe give us a different version to what you're told to send.

So I just I don't feel the need to be intoxicated.

I want to keep my mind clear.

I enjoy the feeling of being in control.

Like sometimes I still go out with my friends.

Would go out, get some food, that go get some drinks.

I'd be sitting there sober, and I feel just the control in my head.

I could still be fun.

Yeah.

If anything, I feel like I'm even better because I can go drive home afterwards.

That's right.

I always find this interesting, like professional boxes when they're round about.

Does that do anyone try to pick Does anyone try to pick you?

Well, I've got a bit of an innocent looking face.

I was quite young for my age, so I think people used to underrest me, especially when I had like the longish hair that just lever looking hair.

People used to definitely underestimate me.

Well, you look like a bit of an x murder with that.

Talk about if you've got an array of axes.

My mum told me I look like a criminal at the moment, I should stop shaving my head, I said, I like it.

Eventually, look a buzzer.

The looks going to catch on.

Tell tell us about your opponent next week?

What do you?

What do you?

What?

Kept?

Tell us you know what you know about him and what you're expecting from him.

I am expecting from his previous fights studying his tape there he goes backwards a lot and he's more of a counterpuncher, So I am expecting him to kind of do the same thing.

I have to bring the fight to him.

He's going to be setting traps and trying to catch me as I'm coming in and I've just got a belt in beforehand.

That patients also thinking in multiple attacks, attacking once, expecting account and then attacking again.

Yeah.

Wow, his fifteen Neil, his records can hold his clubs up.

Yeah, he's yeah, undefeated opponents of the ones that we've been going for.

Yeah, and Nada.

This is a big part.

Then maybe the rap pio all goes well.

But what a American meant you?

What does it mean to think I'm going to get to Vegas?

Yeah?

Is that?

Yeah?

It's the it's the pinnacle where it is.

It's like the it's like the top of the mountain.

It's and you've got that drive and ambition.

Co h.

I'd love to experience the things that my father experienced fighting in front of the Las Vegas crowd.

Just in particular, it's there's some something beautiful about it.

It's not I don't love the city.

I don't love the city at all.

It doesn't love me.

But there's something about the atmosphere there, the boxing fanatics that come to watch, it's it's yeah, it's the pinnacle of what the sport is.

So I feel like everyone aspires to get to the point and.

Just quickly before we want your downtime right after this fight, what will you do like your professional boxer?

Do you do any architecture at all?

Or do you just kind of disappear with your wife and the baby.

My plan is, well, we maybe go out somewhere for some camping.

But I've got camping.

Yeah, we've been in the Blue Mountains down down South coast.

In the town.

What camping is.

Well, a lot of people taken lamping and it's funny.

Yeah, you love roughing.

It like a lot of great boxes love glamour.

They love five star hotel rooms, they like casinos, they like flash women and cars and you know, really interesting.

You know, well, to use one of the great quotes about Roberto Duran in between, we are Latino.

We like to fuck it, We like to drink.

I am.

This may be over sharing a little bit, but even at home middle of the night and you go for a piss, I'll go outside and just piss in the grass.

I don't know against toilets.

I don't want a flush, wake up the family.

It's nice just stepping outside, butt naked, just pissing, looking at the moon.

I'm drawn to the natural world.

I like the dirty like I've got stains on my shirt.

Doesn't really bother me.

When you get a bottle, you'll be like budd You will just be pissing in your nappy.

Listen, You're never going to be the flash closed gy.

And what car do you drop?

I drive a jeep.

It's a jeep wrangler, roughed up.

I've got bumps everywhere.

I don't really care.

I got it so I can be rough with it.

Sometimes I park and like get the curb.

I don't care whatever.

Your wife gets the parking ticket.

You know, we gotta we gotta start sharing them.

I've got too many of them.

The mirror points very good.

Hey, listen, Nikita, thanks so much for joining us.

Mate.

Good luck next week.

You fight Luls.

I can't.

I think Luls is Mali I just do you want to give it a go?

No, I don't the Macedonian German who's undefeated.

But Ni Keida Zoo, you fight the I s C next Wednesday main event will get tickets.

Yeah, Kyo or Fox still main event.

And can I just say this, You're a fascinating guy and it's been a it's been an absolute pleasure having you here.

And I'll be there Wednesday night to give you a trip.

Thanks so much, Tekeda.

Having it's nice to open up about some things.

Sorry for crying emotion, Yeah, my wife's spot in my heart.

Never never apologize for being emotional.

Thanks Niketa,