Kostya Tszyu
Encyclopedia
Konstantin Borisovich Tszyu (born 19 September 1969) is a semi-retired Russian-Australian boxer
of mixed Russian, Korean
and Mongol
descent. He holds both Russian and Australian citizenship and is a four-time world Junior Welterweight champion, including a period of time as the Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion.
As the son of his Korean and Mongol descent father, a fitter in a metal factory, and his Russian mother, a nurse, Tszyu was born in Serov, a town near the Ural Mountains
, in the former Soviet Union. Tszyu was the first champion to unify the junior welterweight division in over 30 years. He is considered by many in Australia to be a national sports hero. On 7 December 2010, he was inducted in the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame
for the Class of 2011.
. At the Cuba
n world championship tournament in 1987, he came in second place, and at the Seoul Olympic games
, he lost in the third round.
Tszyu was a member of the Soviet military too, but since he was selected as an elite athlete, he was not required to participate in combat. He fought at the world championships once again, in Moscow in 1989, where he came in third place.
In 1991, he went again to the amateur world championships, this time held in Sydney. This was a trip that would change his life forever. Not only was the third time his charm, but he felt enchanted with the sights of Sydney and its people, and decided he wanted to live in Australia. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1992, Tszyu emigrated to Australia with his girlfriend, where they married in 1993 and became Australian citizens, settling in Rockdale
, Sydney. Before marrying her, though, Tszyu had already turned professional, beating Darrell Hiles by a knockout
in one round on 1 March 1992, at Melbourne
.
Featherweight
champion of the world Juan Laporte
, decisioning him over ten rounds. In his sixth bout, he beat contender Sammy Fuentes
by a knockout in the first. Fuentes would go onto win a world title years after being handily beaten by Tszyu in 1993, Steve Larrimore, Larry La Crousiere and Robert Rivera, went to Australia to fight Tszyu, and none lasted more than two rounds. The only man to last more than two rounds with Tszyu in 1993 was Livingstone Bramble
, a former world Lightweight champion, who lost by decision to Tszyu at Newcastle, New South Wales
.
In 1994, Héctor López
, Angel Hernandez
(who had just come off of a loss after challenging Julio César Chávez
for the WBC belt), and Pedro Chinito Sanchez from the Dominican Republic
tried to beat Tszyu, but Tszyu beat Lopez by a decision in ten, Hernandez by a knockout in seven, and Sanchez by a knockout in four. After the win against Sanchez, Tszyu was ranked number one in the Light Welterweights.
light welterweight
Champion Jake Rodríguez
at Las Vegas, Nevada
. Tszyu became world champion by knocking Rodriguez out in the sixth round, and then defended the world title, beating former super featherweight
and light welterweight world champion Roger Mayweather
by a decision in 12, Hugo Pineda by a knockout in 11, Cory Johnson
by a knockout in four and Jan Bergman by a knockout in six. After this string of defences, Tszyu became a highly touted world Champion by many boxing magazines, and many articles about him appeared on The Ring
, KO Magazine
, and other American boxing publications.
decided to declare it a no contest instead. For his next bout, however, Tszyu wasn't as lucky, and he lost for the first time, losing by a knockout in ten rounds to Vince Phillips
, who also took with that, Tzsyu's world championship.
After beating former world champions Calvin Grove
(KO1) and Rafael Ruelas
(KO9), Tszyu was given another world title try, when the WBC's belt became vacant in 1998 following Oscar De La Hoya
's move to the Welterweight
division, and Tszyu found himself twice on the canvas in round one of his fight for the interim belt against Diosbelys Hurtado
, but recuperated to beat Hurtado by a knockout in five. He become world champion once again in 1999 by knocking out former world champion Miguel Ángel González
in ten, and twice retained it in 2000, beating Arizona
's fringe contender Ahmed Santos in eight, and a 38 year old Mexican legend Julio César Chávez
, the former world champion, in six at Phoenix, Arizona
.
title holder Sharmba Mitchell
, taking the belt by a TKO after seven rounds (Mitchell suffered a knee injury in training, and during the bout). His next fight was against the German Turk, Oktay Urkal
. Tszyu finished 2001 by recovering his IBF belt in a unification bout with the current champion Zab Judah
, by a knockout in the second round. A small melee inside the ring followed that fight when Judah attacked referee Jay Nady for what he felt was a premature stoppage, reacting by throwing his corner's seat at the referee, and even trying to choke Nady with his glove at one point. However, replays clearly show Judah walking on wobbly legs. As a result, Tszyu became the first man in 30 years to unify the belts in the Junior Welterweight division.
Tszyu in 2002 had only one bout, beating the top-ranked contender of all three of his belts, Ben Tackie
of Ghana
by a decision in twelve rounds. Tszyu lost only one round on only one of the judges scorecards in a masterful display of boxing.
On 19 January 2003, Tszyu began the year by retaining his title against former world Champion Jesse James Leija
by a knockout in six. After the fight, held in Melbourne, Tszyu announced that fight could be his last in Australia, due to pressure from promoters to fight in the United States. (The win against Leija came on the birthday of Tszyu's son.)
His first fight in 2004 was supposed to have been held on 7 February in a rematch against Sharmba Mitchell. It would have been Tszyu's first fight as a professional in Moscow, but Tszyu injured his shoulder during training. He had successful surgery to correct the problem, but the injury further extended his absence from the ring. On 6 November, he and Mitchell finally had their rematch
, with Tszyu knocking Mitchell out once again, this time in three rounds. Tszyu was voted comeback fighter of the year by Ring magazine. The bout which was aired on American cable giant, Showtime, actually made the end of year highlight reel on rival cable provider, HBO. This was unprecedented.
, Tszyu lost this fight, and his world title, by TKO after retiring on his stool at the end of the 11th round. He was also behind on all three cards (by 1, 3 and 5 points).
On April 2010, rumors about a possible comeback of Tszyu spread again. He still continues to train and stays in shape since his 2005 loss to Ricky Hatton. On 19 April 2010, Tszyu appeared on Long Lunch Today, an Australian TV program, and during the show he denied his retirement. The former champion also said that he would return if a fight with either Shane Mosley
, Manny Pacquiao
or Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is on the table. This great champion should not be written off on any account. Kostya's style would bounce in and out of range like an angry elastic band, whilst delivering devastating full torso-twisting body-blows. Many fans and critics believe he still has what it takes. From the moment he stunned the Richmond Boxing Club into silence before he had the title, it was clear to all present including his 3 unfortunate sparring partners that Kostya Tszyu would be the world champion. It would be a brave critic who claimed "I stake my academic/professional reputation that Kostya Tszyu will (ever in his life) lose a(ny nominate or predicted boxing match."
, alongside Chávez
and heavyweight champion Mike Tyson
.
Tszyu is an animal lover who owns several pets including Viking, a rottweiler
who has been Tszyu's companion since he arrived in Australia; Jake, his pet diamond python; canaries
and fish
. Tszyu appeared with the animals on the pet show Harry's Practice
in 2002.
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
of mixed Russian, Korean
Korean people
The Korean people are an ethnic group originating in the Korean peninsula and Manchuria. Koreans are one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogeneous groups in the world.-Names:...
and Mongol
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
descent. He holds both Russian and Australian citizenship and is a four-time world Junior Welterweight champion, including a period of time as the Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion.
As the son of his Korean and Mongol descent father, a fitter in a metal factory, and his Russian mother, a nurse, Tszyu was born in Serov, a town near the Ural Mountains
Ural Mountains
The Ural Mountains , or simply the Urals, are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the Ural River and northwestern Kazakhstan. Their eastern side is usually considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia...
, in the former Soviet Union. Tszyu was the first champion to unify the junior welterweight division in over 30 years. He is considered by many in Australia to be a national sports hero. On 7 December 2010, he was inducted in the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
for the Class of 2011.
Early years
Hyperactive as a child, his father decided to take him to a boxing gym, where he would channel that energy by fighting older boys. He impressed Russia's amateur team coaches and he was sent to the Soviet Union's amateur boxing travelling training camps, where he was able to visit more than 30 countries while training and fighting in tournaments. He trained with that group 250 days a year, and won various tournaments, such as amateur boxing's world championships. He also participated in the 1988 Olympic Games1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
. At the Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n world championship tournament in 1987, he came in second place, and at the Seoul Olympic games
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, he lost in the third round.
Tszyu was a member of the Soviet military too, but since he was selected as an elite athlete, he was not required to participate in combat. He fought at the world championships once again, in Moscow in 1989, where he came in third place.
In 1991, he went again to the amateur world championships, this time held in Sydney. This was a trip that would change his life forever. Not only was the third time his charm, but he felt enchanted with the sights of Sydney and its people, and decided he wanted to live in Australia. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, in 1992, Tszyu emigrated to Australia with his girlfriend, where they married in 1993 and became Australian citizens, settling in Rockdale
Rockdale, New South Wales
Rockdale is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rockdale is located 13 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area...
, Sydney. Before marrying her, though, Tszyu had already turned professional, beating Darrell Hiles by a knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in one round on 1 March 1992, at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Amateur highlights
- Junior European Featherweight Champion 1986 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
- 2nd place at the Junior World Championships 1987 in Havanna, Cuba as a Lightweight. Results were:
- Defeated D. Boyev (Bulgaria) RSC-3
- Defeated Eduardo Rivas (Panama) KO-2
- Lost to Juan HernándezJuan HernándezJuan Bautista Hernández Pérez is a retired boxer from Cuba, who won the golden medal in the Bantamweight division at age seventeen at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow...
(Cuba) 1-4
- Represented the Soviet Union as a Lightweight at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Results were:
- Defeated Leopoldo CantancioLeopoldo CantancioLeopoldo Cantancio is a retired boxer from the Philippines, who competed for his native country at two Summer Olympics: 1984 and 1988. His best result was a fifth place tie at the 1984 Summer Olympics in the Men's Lightweight division. He won a bronze medal at the 1990 Asian Games.-References:*...
(Philippines) KO 1 - Defeated Sean Knight (Barbados) TKO 1
- Lost to Andreas ZülowAndreas ZülowAndreas Zülow was a boxer from East Germany who won a Lightweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games...
(East Germany) 2-3
- Defeated Leopoldo Cantancio
- Won the 1989 European Championships in Athens, Greece. Results were:
- Defeated Andreas ZülowAndreas ZülowAndreas Zülow was a boxer from East Germany who won a Lightweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games...
(East Germany) PTS - Defeated Daniel DumitrescuDaniel DumitrescuDaniel Dumitrescu is a Romanian boxer, who won the silver medal in the men's featherweight category at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul...
(Romania) PTS
- Defeated Andreas Zülow
- competed at the World Championships 1989 in Moscow, Soviet Union. Results were:
- Defeated Mark Ramsey (Great Britain) 22-3
- Defeated Bo Espensen (Denmark) RSCH-3
- Lost to Andreas ZülowAndreas ZülowAndreas Zülow was a boxer from East Germany who won a Lightweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games...
(East Germany) 14-17
- Won gold medal for the Soviet Union at 63.5 KG at the 1990 Goodwill Games
- Drew Bye in first round
- Decisioned (USA) Terron MillettTerron MillettTerron Millett was a professional boxer in the Welterweight division and former IBF Light Welterweight Champion.-Amateur career:Millett was the 1991 National Golden Gloves Light welterweight champion.-Pro career:...
5-0 - Decisioned (USSR) Aleksandr Banin 5-0
- Won the 1991 European Championships in Göteborg, Sweden. Results were:
- Defeated Jim Pender (Great Britain) PTS
- Defeated Andreas ZülowAndreas ZülowAndreas Zülow was a boxer from East Germany who won a Lightweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games...
(Germany) PTS
- Won gold medal for the Soviet Union at Light Welterweight in the 1991 World Championships in Sydney, Australia.
- Defeated Albertano Caballero (Mexico) RSC-3
- Defeated Aníbal AcevedoAníbal Santiago AcevedoAníbal Santiago Acevedo is a Puerto Rican boxer, who won a bronze medal in the welterweight division at the 1992 Summer Olympics...
(PUR) 29-10 - Defeated James Moses (Nigeria) 25-4
- Defeated Vernon ForrestVernon ForrestVernon Forrest, nicknamed "The Viper", was an American professional boxer who became a world champion in the welterweight and light middleweight divisions and noted for his two victories over Shane Mosley and upset losses to Ricardo Mayorga.- Early years and amateur career :Forrest began boxing at...
(USA) 32-9
Light Welterweight
Tszyu started raising his quality of opposition almost immediately. In his fourth professional bout, he met the former WBCWorld Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
champion of the world Juan Laporte
Juan Laporte
Juan Laporte is a former boxer who was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico.-Amateur career:Juan Laporte won the 1976 112 lb New York Golden Gloves Sub-Novice Championship. He defeated Long Island's Ricky Brown in the finals. Laporte was defeated by Joseph Nieto of the Police Athletic Leagues Lynch...
, decisioning him over ten rounds. In his sixth bout, he beat contender Sammy Fuentes
Sammy Fuentes
Sammy Fuentes is a retired Puerto Rican boxer. On February 20, 1995, he defeated Fidel Avendano to win the WBO Light Welterweight title. Fuentes defended the title once against Hector Lopez before losing it to Giovanni Parisi. He retired with a record of 34 wins , 18 loses, and 2 draws.-External...
by a knockout in the first. Fuentes would go onto win a world title years after being handily beaten by Tszyu in 1993, Steve Larrimore, Larry La Crousiere and Robert Rivera, went to Australia to fight Tszyu, and none lasted more than two rounds. The only man to last more than two rounds with Tszyu in 1993 was Livingstone Bramble
Livingstone Bramble
Ras-I Alujah Bramble is a boxer. However, Bramble was raised on Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He became the first world champion from Saint Kitts and Nevis. As of 2005, Bramble is still active in professional boxing...
, a former world Lightweight champion, who lost by decision to Tszyu at Newcastle, New South Wales
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
.
In 1994, Héctor López
Héctor López (boxer)
Héctor López Colín was a Mexican boxer who was the NABF and WBO NABO Light Welterweight Champion. He also won an Olympic Silver medal for Mexico in the Bantamweight division.-Amateur career:...
, Angel Hernandez
Angel Hernandez (boxer)
Angel Hernandez Angel Hernandez Angel Hernandez (born September 17, 1975 in (San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosí, Mexico) is a Mexican middleweight boxer. Hernandez has fought many noted fighters. He has held the NABA, NABF and International Boxing Association Americas light middleweight titles...
(who had just come off of a loss after challenging Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
for the WBC belt), and Pedro Chinito Sanchez from the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
tried to beat Tszyu, but Tszyu beat Lopez by a decision in ten, Hernandez by a knockout in seven, and Sanchez by a knockout in four. After the win against Sanchez, Tszyu was ranked number one in the Light Welterweights.
First title
In 1995, he received his first world title shot when he fought IBFInternational Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
light welterweight
Light welterweight
-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...
Champion Jake Rodríguez
Jake Rodriguez
Evaristo Rodriguez, better known as Jake Rodriguez was a Puerto Rican boxer at light welterweight.- Professional career :...
at Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Tszyu became world champion by knocking Rodriguez out in the sixth round, and then defended the world title, beating former super featherweight
Super Featherweight
Super featherweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 130 pounds or 59 kilograms....
and light welterweight world champion Roger Mayweather
Roger Mayweather
Roger Mayweather is a retired professional boxer. He won two major world titles in two different weight classes. Throughout his career, Mayweather fought against many other boxing champions of the 1980s and 1990s. He is a part of the Mayweather boxing family; his brothers are former welterweight...
by a decision in 12, Hugo Pineda by a knockout in 11, Cory Johnson
Cory Johnson
Cory Johnson is an American journalist. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the hip-hop basketball magazine SLAM. He later became an editor of Vibe magazine before helping found TheStreet.com as a reporter and eventual West Coast bureau chief....
by a knockout in four and Jan Bergman by a knockout in six. After this string of defences, Tszyu became a highly touted world Champion by many boxing magazines, and many articles about him appeared on The Ring
The Ring (magazine)
The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, The Ring shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing oriented publication...
, KO Magazine
KO Magazine
KO Magazine is a popular United States boxing magazine. It was first published in 1979, to compete with The Ring.During the 1980s, KO Magazine, nicknamed "The knockout boxing magazine", ran some popular features, such as a round-by-round section where the most important fights were described punch...
, and other American boxing publications.
Title defences
1997 began for Tszyu when his defense against Leonardo Moro Mas was declared a no contest because Mas' camp protested that the blow that finished their fighter in the first round was actually thrown after referee Joe Cortez had called for a break. Undecided whether it was or was not after Cortez called for a break, the IBF and the Nevada Athletic CommissionNevada Athletic Commission
The Nevada Athletic Commission regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of Nevada, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, kickboxers, mixed martial arts fighters, seconds, ring officials, managers, and matchmakers...
decided to declare it a no contest instead. For his next bout, however, Tszyu wasn't as lucky, and he lost for the first time, losing by a knockout in ten rounds to Vince Phillips
Vince Phillips
Vincent Edwards Phillips Sr. is an American boxer best known for upsetting and beating then undefeated Kostya Tszyu for the junior welterweight title.- Early life :...
, who also took with that, Tzsyu's world championship.
After beating former world champions Calvin Grove
Calvin Grove
Calvin Grove was a boxer in the Featherweight division. Grove turned pro in 1982 and in 1988 captured the IBF featherweight title with a TKO over Antonio Rivera. He defended the belt once before losing it to Jorge Páez later that same year...
(KO1) and Rafael Ruelas
Rafael Ruelas
Rafael Ruelas is a former professional boxer. Ruelas was a very popular Mexican fighter, best known for his devastating knockout loss to Oscar De La Hoya; a loss which left Oscar somewhat scorned by the Mexican community due to his ruthless destruction of a hero.Shortly after a TKO in 10 over the...
(KO9), Tszyu was given another world title try, when the WBC's belt became vacant in 1998 following Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar de la Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
's move to the Welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
division, and Tszyu found himself twice on the canvas in round one of his fight for the interim belt against Diosbelys Hurtado
Diosbelys Hurtado
Diosbelys Hurtado is a Cuban-Spanish boxer.-Amateur career:Amateur Record: 221-20*1990 Represented Cuba at the World Junior Championships in Lima, Peru as a Featherweight. His results were:...
, but recuperated to beat Hurtado by a knockout in five. He become world champion once again in 1999 by knocking out former world champion Miguel Ángel González
Miguel Ángel González
Miguel Ángel González Suárez , known as Miguel Ángel, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
in ten, and twice retained it in 2000, beating Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
's fringe contender Ahmed Santos in eight, and a 38 year old Mexican legend Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
, the former world champion, in six at Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
Unifying the belts
Tszyu then began pursuing his wish to unify all the belts. In 2001, he began by facing WBAWorld Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
title holder Sharmba Mitchell
Sharmba Mitchell
Sharmba David Mitchell , known professionally as Sharmba Mitchell, is a boxer who was WBA light welterweight champion.Mitchell, nicknamed "Little Big Man", is a native of Takoma Park, Maryland, but a resident of Washington, D.C.....
, taking the belt by a TKO after seven rounds (Mitchell suffered a knee injury in training, and during the bout). His next fight was against the German Turk, Oktay Urkal
Oktay Urkal
Oktay Urkal is a Turkish-German former professional welterweight.-Amateur career:As an amateur, Urkal won the silver medal in the light welterweight division at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia...
. Tszyu finished 2001 by recovering his IBF belt in a unification bout with the current champion Zab Judah
Zab Judah
Zabdiel Judah is an American professional boxer. Judah has won five world titles between the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions, and is a former undisputed welterweight champion....
, by a knockout in the second round. A small melee inside the ring followed that fight when Judah attacked referee Jay Nady for what he felt was a premature stoppage, reacting by throwing his corner's seat at the referee, and even trying to choke Nady with his glove at one point. However, replays clearly show Judah walking on wobbly legs. As a result, Tszyu became the first man in 30 years to unify the belts in the Junior Welterweight division.
Tszyu in 2002 had only one bout, beating the top-ranked contender of all three of his belts, Ben Tackie
Ben Tackie
Benjamin Wonder Tackie, , is a professional boxer. Tackie is known for his chin and his ability to throw a high volume of punches. All of his losses have come via decision.-Professional career:...
of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
by a decision in twelve rounds. Tszyu lost only one round on only one of the judges scorecards in a masterful display of boxing.
On 19 January 2003, Tszyu began the year by retaining his title against former world Champion Jesse James Leija
Jesse James Leija
James Leija , is a retired professional boxer from Texas.-Amateur career:Leija had an amateur career that spanned three years, going 23-5 during this time. He won the San Antonio Golden Gloves in 1988...
by a knockout in six. After the fight, held in Melbourne, Tszyu announced that fight could be his last in Australia, due to pressure from promoters to fight in the United States. (The win against Leija came on the birthday of Tszyu's son.)
His first fight in 2004 was supposed to have been held on 7 February in a rematch against Sharmba Mitchell. It would have been Tszyu's first fight as a professional in Moscow, but Tszyu injured his shoulder during training. He had successful surgery to correct the problem, but the injury further extended his absence from the ring. On 6 November, he and Mitchell finally had their rematch
Tszyu vs. Mitchell II
Tszyu vs. Mitchell II was a boxing fight that took place on November 6, 2004 at the Glendale Arena, in Glendale, Arizona. It pitted world Jr. Welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu versus former world champion Sharmba Mitchell. Because of the peculiar circumstances of how their first fight ended, a...
, with Tszyu knocking Mitchell out once again, this time in three rounds. Tszyu was voted comeback fighter of the year by Ring magazine. The bout which was aired on American cable giant, Showtime, actually made the end of year highlight reel on rival cable provider, HBO. This was unprecedented.
Dethroned by Hatton
He next fought on 5 June 2005, against British boxer Ricky HattonRicky Hatton
Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, , is a former British professional boxer, and currently a promoter....
, Tszyu lost this fight, and his world title, by TKO after retiring on his stool at the end of the 11th round. He was also behind on all three cards (by 1, 3 and 5 points).
Potential Comeback
On 30 January 2007 rumours spread of a Tszyu comeback. However, there was no confirmation.On April 2010, rumors about a possible comeback of Tszyu spread again. He still continues to train and stays in shape since his 2005 loss to Ricky Hatton. On 19 April 2010, Tszyu appeared on Long Lunch Today, an Australian TV program, and during the show he denied his retirement. The former champion also said that he would return if a fight with either Shane Mosley
Shane Mosley
“Sugar” Shane Mosley is an American professional boxer from Pomona, California who has held world titles in three weight divisions.-Amateur career:Mosley was an amateur standout, capturing various amateur titles, including:...
, Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao
Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao, PLH is a Filipino professional boxer and politician. He is the first eight-division world champion; having won six world titles, as well as the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He was named "Fighter of the Decade" for the...
or Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is on the table. This great champion should not be written off on any account. Kostya's style would bounce in and out of range like an angry elastic band, whilst delivering devastating full torso-twisting body-blows. Many fans and critics believe he still has what it takes. From the moment he stunned the Richmond Boxing Club into silence before he had the title, it was clear to all present including his 3 unfortunate sparring partners that Kostya Tszyu would be the world champion. It would be a brave critic who claimed "I stake my academic/professional reputation that Kostya Tszyu will (ever in his life) lose a(ny nominate or predicted boxing match."
Professional record
| Result | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss |  Ricky HattonRicky Hatton Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, , is a former British professional boxer, and currently a promoter.... |
RTD Ricky Hatton vs. Kostya Tszyu Ricky Hatton vs. Kostya Tszyu was a boxing Light Welterweight fight on June 4, 2005 between Ricky Hatton and Kostya Tszyu at the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England... |
11 | 2005-06-04 | M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, United Kingdom |
|
| Win |  Sharmba MitchellSharmba Mitchell Sharmba David Mitchell , known professionally as Sharmba Mitchell, is a boxer who was WBA light welterweight champion.Mitchell, nicknamed "Little Big Man", is a native of Takoma Park, Maryland, but a resident of Washington, D.C..... |
TKO | 3 | 2004-11-06 | Glendale Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
|
| Win | Jesse James Leija Jesse James Leija James Leija , is a retired professional boxer from Texas.-Amateur career:Leija had an amateur career that spanned three years, going 23-5 during this time. He won the San Antonio Golden Gloves in 1988... |
TKO | 6 | 2003-01-19 |  Telstra Superdome, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
| Win |  Ben TackieBen Tackie Benjamin Wonder Tackie, , is a professional boxer. Tackie is known for his chin and his ability to throw a high volume of punches. All of his losses have come via decision.-Professional career:... |
UD | 12 | 2002-05-18 | Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
|
| Win | Zab Judah Zab Judah Zabdiel Judah is an American professional boxer. Judah has won five world titles between the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions, and is a former undisputed welterweight champion.... |
TKO | 2 | 2001-11-03 | MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win |  Oktay UrkalOktay Urkal Oktay Urkal is a Turkish-German former professional welterweight.-Amateur career:As an amateur, Urkal won the silver medal in the light welterweight division at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia... |
UD | 12 | 2001-06-23 | Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States |
|
| Win | Sharmba Mitchell Sharmba Mitchell Sharmba David Mitchell , known professionally as Sharmba Mitchell, is a boxer who was WBA light welterweight champion.Mitchell, nicknamed "Little Big Man", is a native of Takoma Park, Maryland, but a resident of Washington, D.C..... |
RTD | 7 | 2001-02-03 | Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
|
| Win |  Julio Cesar ChavezJulio César Chávez Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world... |
TKO | 6 | 2000-07-29 | Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
|
| Win | Ahmed Santos |
TKO | 8 | 2000-02-12 | Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States |
|
| Win | Miguel Angel Gonzalez |
TKO | 10 | 1999-08-21 | Miccosukee Indian Gaming Resort, Miami, Florida, United States |
|
| Win |  Diosbelys HurtadoDiosbelys Hurtado Diosbelys Hurtado is a Cuban-Spanish boxer.-Amateur career:Amateur Record: 221-20*1990 Represented Cuba at the World Junior Championships in Lima, Peru as a Featherweight. His results were:... |
TKO | 5 | 1998-11-28 | Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States |
|
| Win | Rafael Ruelas Rafael Ruelas Rafael Ruelas is a former professional boxer. Ruelas was a very popular Mexican fighter, best known for his devastating knockout loss to Oscar De La Hoya; a loss which left Oscar somewhat scorned by the Mexican community due to his ruthless destruction of a hero.Shortly after a TKO in 10 over the... |
TKO | 9 | 1998-08-15 | County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, United States |
|
| Win | Calvin Grove Calvin Grove Calvin Grove was a boxer in the Featherweight division. Grove turned pro in 1982 and in 1988 captured the IBF featherweight title with a TKO over Antonio Rivera. He defended the belt once before losing it to Jorge Páez later that same year... |
KO | 1 | 1998-04-05 | Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win |  Ismael Armando Chaves |
TKO | 3 | 1997-12-06 | Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Loss | Vince Phillips Vince Phillips Vincent Edwards Phillips Sr. is an American boxer best known for upsetting and beating then undefeated Kostya Tszyu for the junior welterweight title.- Early life :... |
TKO | 10 | 1997-05-31 | Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
|
| NC |  Leonardo MasLeonardo Mas Leonardo Óscar Mas is an Argentine footballer, who currently plays midfielder for Chilean club Municipal Iquique.... |
NC | 1 | 1997-01-18 | Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win |  Jan Piet Bergman |
KO | 6 | 1996-09-14 | Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win | Corey Johnson Corey Johnson Corey Johnson is an American actor largely active in the United Kingdom. Johnson was born John Johnson in New Orleans, Louisiana.... |
KO | 4 | 1996-05-24 | Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win |  Hugo Pineda |
TKO | 11 | 1996-01-20 | Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win | Roger Mayweather Roger Mayweather Roger Mayweather is a retired professional boxer. He won two major world titles in two different weight classes. Throughout his career, Mayweather fought against many other boxing champions of the 1980s and 1990s. He is a part of the Mayweather boxing family; his brothers are former welterweight... |
UD | 12 | 1995-06-25 | Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win | Jake Rodriguez Jake Rodriguez Evaristo Rodriguez, better known as Jake Rodriguez was a Puerto Rican boxer at light welterweight.- Professional career :... |
TKO | 6 | 1995-01-28 | MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
|
| Win |  Pedro Sanchez |
TKO | 4 | 1994-08-29 | National Tennis Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
| Win | Angel Hernandez |
TKO | 7 | 1994-05-02 | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win | Hector Lopez Héctor López (boxer) Héctor López Colín was a Mexican boxer who was the NABF and WBO NABO Light Welterweight Champion. He also won an Olympic Silver medal for Mexico in the Bantamweight division.-Amateur career:... |
UD | 10 | 1994-01-11 | Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Florida, United States |
|
| Win |  Livingstone BrambleLivingstone Bramble Ras-I Alujah Bramble is a boxer. However, Bramble was raised on Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He became the first world champion from Saint Kitts and Nevis. As of 2005, Bramble is still active in professional boxing... |
UD | 10 | 1993-08-23 | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win | Robert Rivera |
KO | 1 | 1993-06-18 | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win | Larry LaCoursiere |
TKO | 1 | 1993-05-14 | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win |  Steve Larrimore |
TKO | 2 | 1993-01-30 | The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
|
| Win | Sammy Fuentes Sammy Fuentes Sammy Fuentes is a retired Puerto Rican boxer. On February 20, 1995, he defeated Fidel Avendano to win the WBO Light Welterweight title. Fuentes defended the title once against Hector Lopez before losing it to Giovanni Parisi. He retired with a record of 34 wins , 18 loses, and 2 draws.-External... |
TKO | 1 | 1992-11-13 | Festival Hall, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
| Win | Daniel Ricardo Cusato |
TKO | 7 | 1992-09-11 | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win | Juan La Porte |
UD | 10 | 1992-07-23 | Darling Harbour Convention Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win | Tony Jones |
TKO | 2 | 1992-05-07 | Darling Harbour Convention Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win |  Nedrick Simmons |
KO | 1 | 1992-04-02 | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
|
| Win | Darrell Hiles |
TKO | 1 | 1992-03-01 | Princes Park Football Ground, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
|
Induction to the IBHOF
On 7 December 2010, Tszyu was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of FameInternational Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
, alongside Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
and heavyweight champion Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
.
Records
Tszyu's record currently stands at 31 professional wins (25 by knockout), two losses and one no contest.Personal life
Tszyu married Natasha Anikina on 24 September 1993. He has three children. The family live in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Tszyu's oldest son Tim, who attends Newington College, started fighting in junior amateur boxing tournaments at the age of 14 and has been very successful.Tszyu is an animal lover who owns several pets including Viking, a rottweiler
Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a medium to large size breed of domestic dog that originated in Rottweil, Germany. The dogs were known as "Rottweil butchers' dogs" because they were used to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered meat and other products to market...
who has been Tszyu's companion since he arrived in Australia; Jake, his pet diamond python; canaries
Domestic Canary
The Domestic Canary, often simply known as the canary, is a domesticated form of the wild Canary, a small songbird in the finch family originating from the Macaronesian Islands ....
and fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
. Tszyu appeared with the animals on the pet show Harry's Practice
Harry's Practice
Harry's Practice was an Australian lifestyle television program that broadcast on the Seven Network between 1997 and 2003. It is currently repeating on 7TWO at 7pm week nights. The show was hosted by vet Dr Harry Cooper, who provided advice for pet care. The show also featured Dr Katrina Warren and...
in 2002.
Legal troubles
Kostya has been in several court battles with his managers. Most recently, his ex-manager, Susie Bennell, took him to court, alleging Kostya owed her money. Tszyu was also ordered to repay 3.5 million dollars to his former manager Bill Mordey in an unrelated civil suit.See also
- List of WBC world champions
- List of undisputed boxing champions
- Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time
External links
|-|-
|-
|-
|-
|-