Latest news with #KostyaTszyu
The Australian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Tim Tszyu: Career on line in crucial Las Vegas world title fight
Tim Tszyu has vowed to deliver a 'devastating' knockout of Sebastian Fundora and finally conquer America as he outlined his mission to make the Tszyu clan the greatest family in boxing history. The 'Soul Taker' concedes his career is on the line when Tszyu (25-2, 18KO) looks to avenge his blood-stained loss last year to Fundora (21-1-1, 14KO) in Sunday's super welterweight world-title rematch in Las Vegas. It has been 476 days since Tszyu lost his WBO world title to Fundora after a heartbreaking split-decision defeat at T-Mobile Arena marred by a shocking head gash that saw him bravely fight through a fountain of blood for 10 rounds. Tim Tszyu is giving away 22cm in height to Sebastian Fundora. Picture: Supplied Now Tszyu is back in Sin City to atone for his pugilistic sins, this time at MGM's Grand Garden Arena, the very venue where his famous father Kostya destroyed Zab Judah in 2001 to become the undisputed champion of the world at super lightweight. 'The Thunder from Down Under' produced the greatest knockout of his career to ice Judah in two rounds — and Tszyu will tap into his family's menacing history at MGM to maul Fundora. In their first fight, Tszyu was dominating Fundora for the opening two rounds before a savage gash derailed the Australian, but this time, the Sydneysider says, cut-free, the 'Towering Inferno' will go up in flames. 'I will win by knockout,' Tszyu declared ahead of the biggest fight of his career. 'I feel like this is the one. 'I won't just win, but it will be in devastating fashion. 'I just remember feeling Fundora, seeing him, understanding him. I remember what he brings, certain shots. I remember him and I want to feel him in there and be in control the whole time. 'I remember feeling his power and thinking, 'Is that it?' 'A true champion rises to the occasion, gets back up, and I'm ready to get back up. 'I have to control the fight round by round, stay patient, and when the punch does come - and it will come - he will be asleep.' For all the traditional pre-fight hype, hoopla and mind games, the reality is the jury remains out on Tszyu as a global force. The two-time world-champion hopeful has a goal to conquer America _ but he hasn't yet. Tim Tszyu media workout in las Vegas. Picture: Supplied In his last two visits on US soil, he was beaten by Fundora, who holds the WBC world title, before suffering a brutal third-round beatdown in Orlando last October against Bakhram Murtazaliev, the ruthless Russian who sent Tszyu crashing to the canvas four times in eight minutes of mayhem. Now, steeled by his emphatic disposal of American Joey Spencer in April, Tszyu is beginning to pick up the pieces. He won't be satisfied until he puts together the most formidable family jigsaw in world boxing. With Kostya a four-time world champion, Tim eyeing a second world title and younger brother Nikita (10-0) now a world-ranked fighter, the 30-year-old pledged to make the Tszyus boxing's royal family. 'One of my big ambitions is to overtake my dad,' he said. 'My biggest driver is my dad. His aura. I've had to create my own identity and to do that, I have to surpass him. 'Not to disrespect him, but my No.1 goal is to make sure the Tszyu family is the greatest boxing family that has ever lived. 'My goal remains the same: pursue greatness and conquer America, it's simple. 'Vegas is the Mecca ... you make it here, you have made it in the world of boxing.' Tim and Kostya Tszyu catch up after a long absence. Picture: Supplied Fundora, currently the tallest world champion in boxing at 197cm, a staggering 22cm taller than Tszyu, lobbed the first verbal grenade at his rival last week by claiming his blood-affected eyesight was perfectly fine. Tszyu hit back by claiming Fundora hits 'like a cheese stick', but the skyscraper slugger has upped the ante. The American says he is hungrier than Tszyu, and believes he will win more emphatically in the rematch. 'I do think I'll win more easily,' he said. 'I tell my dad the ones I hate are the good ones, and I hate this one. I want it more. 'I want the best version of Tim Tszyu. He is world class, a world champion ... it's just the Towering Inferno is that much better. 'This time I will execute a lot faster. 'I hope everything that he went through in our first fight makes him that much better, so there's no excuses. 'I am going in there all guns blazing. I'm going in there to hurt him.' Tszyu is in supreme shape ahead of his rematch with Fundora. Picture: Supplied A third loss in 12 months would be catastrophic for Tszyu. It would all-but destroy his plan to be the top dog in the 154-pound division. There is a view a second Fundora loss would be a fatal blow to his American dream. Asked if his career is on the line on Sunday when he walks into the MGM Grand arena his father graced two decades ago, Tszyu said: 'Yep, this is how I am approaching it. 'This is it. I am all in. 'Live by the shield, die by the shield, that's how I see it. 'I need to win and I will win, trust me.' Peter Badel Chief Rugby League Writer Peter Badel is a six-time award winning journalist who began as a sports reporter in 1998. A best-selling author, 'Bomber' has covered five Australian cricket tours and has specialised in rugby league for more than two decades. @badel_cmail Peter Badel
The Australian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Australian
Tim Tszyu primed to emulate his father Kostya's 2001 victory over Zab Judah at MGM Grand ballroom in Las Vegas
It is one of the most iconic images in Australian boxing history that has Tim Tszyu primed to shock the boxing world in his quest to conquer America. Tszyu will look to break Australian boxing's Las Vegas curse when he takes on Sebastian Fundora in their world-title match on Sunday – at the very scene of his father Kostya's greatest knockout. Nearly a quarter of a century has passed since Tszyu Sr clobbered Zad Judah in the second round with a thunderous right hand to become the undisputed super lightweight champion of the world in November 2001. The most lethal and celebrated punch of Kostya's career was unleashed at MGM's Grand Garden Arena, the 17,000-capacity venue which has hosted some of the biggest fights in boxing history. Kostya Tszyu celebrates after he beat Zab Judah at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Picture: John Gurzinski The bouts have included Mike Tyson's first fight with Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya's blockbusters against Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, Deontay Wilder's heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury and, of course, the Tszyu-Judah megafight. Now Tim Tszyu will walk into the arena of the boxing gods, spurred on by the glorious ghosts of Kostya's golden punch and the knowledge his father's boilover of Judah can be the template for his own resurrection against Fundora. Tszyu's manager Glen Jennings was at the MGM Grand when Kostya iced Judah and is back to the same venue on Sunday hoping history repeats as the 'Soul Taker' looks to claim the coveted green WBC world title. 'It was almost 25 years ago that Kostya shocked the world against Zab and there's no doubt it's a great motivator for Tim,' Jennings said. 'Tim remembers his dad's great wins and how can we ever forget that perfect punch from Kostya that put Judah away. Tim Tszyu training in preparation for his rematch with Sebastian Fundora. Picture:'I was in the building that night, it was a special feeling, and I'm excited for Tim to get that same opportunity that Kostya had. 'Tim will be going into the same arena – The Grand Garden – and it will be nice to reminisce when the time comes on (Sunday).' Jennings recalls Kostya Tszyu facing the same adversity that his son Tim now confronts after his world-title loss to Fundora last year at Vegas' T-Mobile Arena, just 1300 metres away from MGM Grand. 'Zab Judah was the next big thing in boxing,' Jennings recalled. 'He was undefeated at the time (27-0) and the top of the tree. 'I remember they arrived in a 52-seat Greyhound bus with an entourage that included Mike Tyson and 50 Cent (American rap legend). 'There were just six of us and we watched as they all came into the lobby of the MGM Grand, it was like a circus. 'Kostya was very much the underdog. 'I s*** myself in the first round because Zab was so quick and I thought, 'My god, how's Kostya going to keep up with him?' Tim and Nikita Tszyu greet Kostya at Sydney Airport after his Las Vegas triumph in 2001. Picture: Brett Costello 'But he was a bit more cautious in the second round and then Kostya cracked him twice, the chicken dance followed, and seconds later we were celebrating one of the greatest wins in history. 'It would be awesome to see Tim do something similar on Sunday and I believe he can.' Tszyu celebrated his seventh birthday in Sydney just 24 hours before Kostya's destruction of Judah. Tim treasures a famous photo of himself and younger brother Nikita running towards their elated dad, his three world-title belts strapped around him, as he cleared customs at Sydney airport. Tszyu ramped-up his preparations with a sharp gym session in 41 degree heat in Vegas on Wednesday. He is in supreme condition at 73kg and revelling in one of the best weight cuts of his career ahead of Saturday's weigh-in, where he must get down to the super welterweight limit of 70kg (154 pounds). The 30-year-old is mindful of Australia's Las Vegas jinx, with 11 of the nation's greatest fighters having lost in Sin City. They include Jeff Fenech, Jeff Horn, Michael Zerafa, Michael Katsidis, Jason and Andrew Moloney and even Tszyu himself. But Tszyu insists the demons of his first Fundora loss, marred by that infamous shocking head gash which required 10 stitches, have been buried. 'There's no doubts,' Tszyu said. 'I'm at the stage now where I've done the hard grind and I'll perfect the right game plan come fight night. 'I think I am more explosive than him (Fundora) and it's not just that, but I have the brains, too. 'He is naturally gifted with what he's got, but IQ wise, I'm a bit sharper.' Peter Badel Chief Rugby League Writer Peter Badel is a six-time award winning journalist who began as a sports reporter in 1998. A best-selling author, 'Bomber' has covered five Australian cricket tours and has specialised in rugby league for more than two decades. @badel_cmail Peter Badel
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sad detail about mum as Tim Tszyu makes staggering statement about father Kostya
Tim Tszyu's mother has revealed she won't be in attendance for his fight against Sebastian Fundora on Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday Australian time). And it means neither of his parents are likely to watch his world title rematch in person. Tszyu doesn't like having famous father Kostya at his fights due to the unfamiliarity it brings, and has opted against having him as part of his preparation for his last few bouts. Tim's mother Natalia has flown to Las Vegas to be by her son's side, but won't even be watching the bout on TV let alone attending in person. 'As proud as I am, being the mother of boxing sons can be the loneliest place in the world," she told .'People see the knockouts, the belts, the bright lights. They don't see the early mornings, the tears I've wiped in silence, the prayers whispered into the night when no one's looking. I carry their pain. I celebrate their victories. But I never stop being their mother first.' Natalia has previously attended fights involving sons Tim and Nikita, but doesn't want to watch what will transpire against Fundora - win or lose. The matriarch of the Tszyu family said she's seen her sons spill enough blood, including when Tim was hampered by a nasty cut on his head the last time he fought Fundora. Kostya Tszyu unlikely to be in attendance Speaking earlier this week, Tszyu spoke of a burning desire to surpass his legendary father's career accomplishments. But Kostya is unlikely to witness it in person if or when he does. Kostya hasn't been a big part of Tim's life after the former light-middleweight world champion left his wife and children to return to his native Russia in 2012. Kostya started a new life in Russia and has two children with second wife Tatiana Averina. As a result, Kostya's relationship with Tim isn't as strong as it could be, but he still helps train him whenever he's in Australia. But his presence has proven too overbearing in the past, and Tim suffered the worst loss of his career in Florida last October after Kostya flew from Moscow to watch him live. The 30-year-old found having his father present - after a decade-long absence from his life - an alien-like experience, and he was pummelled by unbeaten Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev. He didn't let the same thing happen against Joey Spencer in Newcastle in April after effectively 'banning' Kostya from being ring-side for the victory. "It wasn't a distraction. It was unfamiliar. I'm just not used to him being there," Tim told AAP at the time. "I appreciate my dad and it was great to see him in Orlando and stuff, but I have my own schedule. No one's really telling me how it should be done. Even though he's close and he's my dad, I'm not used to my dad, especially throughout my whole 20's of growing up. I never really got to experience him there." Tim Tszyu wants to surpass famous father Kostya Tim can join his Hall of Famer father Kostya - a former unified super-lightweight champion - as a multiple world title winner with victory over Fundora in their WBC super-welterweight bout. A victory for Tim would elevate the Tszyus to arguably the greatest father-son duo in boxing history. Julio Cesar Chevas Sr and Jr are the only biological father-son pairing to have both claimed multiple world titles. "One of my desires is to just overtake my dad," Tszyu told AAP after a training session in Vegas on Tuesday. "Not in a disrespectful way but in a way that, if I'm able to do that, we can create the greatest Tszyu legacy, the greatest fighting family that's ever lived - and that's my goal. Two-time world champion's got a good ring to it, doesn't it? Timmy two-time sounds alright to me and that's what I intend to do. "But the goal is always to move on. Two times sounds good, but then we move on to the next. The grind and the continuation and the pursuit of greatness never stops." Tszyu held the title before relinquishing it to Fundora in March of 2024. The Aussie won the opening two rounds before walking into the elbow of the 'Towering Inferno', which opened up a savage gash on the top of his head. Despite fighting for 10 more rounds while half-blinded by the blood on his face, Tszyu was awarded the fight by one of the three judges but lost on split-decision. What time are Tim Tszyu and Manny Pacquiao fights? Tszyu and Fundora are the co-headline act alongside Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao taking on Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight belt. Coverage of the preliminary card starts at 7.30am AEST on Fox Sports, while the pay-per-view main card begins at 10am on Main Event. Tszyu and Fundora are slated to begin around midday, before Pacquiao and Barrios at approximately 1pm. Preliminary card (from 7.30am): Gary Russell Jr v Hugo Castaneda - lightweight David Picasso v Kyonosuke Komeda - super bantamweight Mark Magsayo v Jorge Mata Cuellar - super featherweight Main card (from 10am) Mario Barrios v Manny Pacquiao - WBC welterweight title fight Sebastian Fundora v Tim Tszyu - WBC super welterweight title fight Isaac Cruz v Angel Fierro - super lightweight Brandon Figueroa v Joet Gonzalez - featherweight with AAP
News.com.au
19-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Tim Tszyu has vowed to knockout Sebastian Fundora in their rematch and make his family the greatest in boxing history
Tim Tszyu has vowed to deliver a 'devastating' knockout of Sebastian Fundora and finally conquer America as he outlined his mission to make the Tszyu clan the greatest family in boxing history. The 'Soul Taker' concedes his career is on the line when Tszyu (25-2, 18KO) looks to avenge his blood-stained loss last year to Fundora (21-1-1, 14KO) in Sunday's super welterweight world-title rematch in Las Vegas. It has been 476 days since Tszyu lost his WBO world title to Fundora after a heartbreaking split-decision defeat at T-Mobile Arena marred by a shocking head gash that saw him bravely fight through a fountain of blood for 10 rounds. Now Tszyu is back in Sin City to atone for his pugilistic sins, this time at MGM's Grand Garden Arena, the very venue where his famous father Kostya destroyed Zab Judah in 2001 to become the undisputed champion of the world at super lightweight. 'The Thunder from Down Under' produced the greatest knockout of his career to ice Judah in two rounds — and Tszyu will tap into his family's menacing history at MGM to maul Fundora. In their first fight, Tszyu was dominating Fundora for the opening two rounds before a savage gash derailed the Australian, but this time, the Sydneysider says, cut-free, the 'Towering Inferno' will go up in flames. 'I will win by knockout,' Tszyu declared ahead of the biggest fight of his career. 'I feel like this is the one. 'I won't just win, but it will be in devastating fashion. 'I just remember feeling Fundora, seeing him, understanding him. I remember what he brings, certain shots. I remember him and I want to feel him in there and be in control the whole time. 'I remember feeling his power and thinking, 'Is that it?' 'A true champion rises to the occasion, gets back up, and I'm ready to get back up. 'I have to control the fight round by round, stay patient, and when the punch does come - and it will come - he will be asleep.' For all the traditional pre-fight hype, hoopla and mind games, the reality is the jury remains out on Tszyu as a global force. The two-time world-champion hopeful has a goal to conquer America _ but he hasn't yet. In his last two visits on US soil, he was beaten by Fundora, who holds the WBC world title, before suffering a brutal third-round beatdown in Orlando last October against Bakhram Murtazaliev, the ruthless Russian who sent Tszyu crashing to the canvas four times in eight minutes of mayhem. Now, steeled by his emphatic disposal of American Joey Spencer in April, Tszyu is beginning to pick up the pieces. He won't be satisfied until he puts together the most formidable family jigsaw in world boxing. With Kostya a four-time world champion, Tim eyeing a second world title and younger brother Nikita (10-0) now a world-ranked fighter, the 30-year-old pledged to make the Tszyus boxing's royal family. 'One of my big ambitions is to overtake my dad,' he said. 'My biggest driver is my dad. His aura. I've had to create my own identity and to do that, I have to surpass him. 'Not to disrespect him, but my No.1 goal is to make sure the Tszyu family is the greatest boxing family that has ever lived. 'My goal remains the same: pursue greatness and conquer America, it's simple. 'Vegas is the Mecca ... you make it here, you have made it in the world of boxing.' Fundora, currently the tallest world champion in boxing at 197cm, a staggering 22cm taller than Tszyu, lobbed the first verbal grenade at his rival last week by claiming his blood-affected eyesight was perfectly fine. Tszyu hit back by claiming Fundora hits 'like a cheese stick', but the skyscraper slugger has upped the ante. The American says he is hungrier than Tszyu, and believes he will win more emphatically in the rematch. 'I do think I'll win more easily,' he said. 'I tell my dad the ones I hate are the good ones, and I hate this one. I want it more. 'I want the best version of Tim Tszyu. He is world class, a world champion ... it's just the Towering Inferno is that much better. 'This time I will execute a lot faster. 'I hope everything that he went through in our first fight makes him that much better, so there's no excuses. 'I am going in there all guns blazing. I'm going in there to hurt him.' A third loss in 12 months would be catastrophic for Tszyu. It would all-but destroy his plan to be the top dog in the 154-pound division. There is a view a second Fundora loss would be a fatal blow to his American dream. Asked if his career is on the line on Sunday when he walks into the MGM Grand arena his father graced two decades ago, Tszyu said: 'Yep, this is how I am approaching it. 'This is it. I am all in. 'Live by the shield, die by the shield, that's how I see it. 'I need to win and I will win, trust me.'
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Dumb arse accusations': dreamy Tszyu lashes Fundora
Tim Tszyu has lit the fuse for an explosive world title rematch with "dumb arse" Sebastian Fundora and revealed a burning desire to surpass his legendary father's career accomplishments. Tszyu can join his Hall of Famer dad Kostya, a former unified super-lightweight champion, as a multiple world title winner with victory over Fundora in their WBC super-welterweight stoush in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday AEST). Success would elevate the Tszyus to arguably the greatest father-son duo in boxing history. Julio Cesar Chevas Sr and Jr are the only biological father-son pair ever to have both claimed multiple world titles. The 30-year-old Tszyu is well aware of what is at stake at the MGM Grand in boxing's spiritual mecca. "One of my desires is to just overtake my dad," Tszyu told AAP after a training session in Vegas on Tuesday. "Not in a disrespectful way but in a way that, if I'm able to do that, we can create the greatest Tszyu legacy, the greatest fighting family that's ever lived - and that's my goal. "Two-time world champion's got a good ring to it, doesn't it? Timmy two-time sounds alright to me and that's what I intend to do. "But the goal is always to move on. Two times sounds good, but then we move on to the next. "The grind and the continuation and the pursuit of greatness never stops." Tszyu held the WBO strap before relinquishing it in a bloodied loss to Fundora in Sin City in March of 2024. The American sportingly offered the Sydney slayer a rematch and the chance to capture the WBC belt after Fundora won a split decision last time around. Tszyu won the opening two rounds before walking into the so-called Towering Inferno's elbow and opening up a savage gash on the top of his head. Despite fighting for 10 more rounds half blinded by the tsunami of blood, Tszyu was awarded the fight by one of the three judges. But Fundora last week claimed Tszyu was not affected at all. "It doesn't piss me off. If 100 people got the same question, I guarantee you 99 per cent of people will say that it affected me," Tszyu said. "A dumb arse accusation." Tszyu, though, does have a plan in place to hopefully avoid a repeat of the incident that derailed his hopes of unifying the division last time against 197cm tall Fundora. "It's a bit hard," the Australian said. "It's not the elbow. It's when you work out orthodox and southpaw, our legs always clash. "So someone's legs are going to clash and that's what it was. My legs clashed onto him, I fell over from that and I walked into his his elbow. "I'll stay away but it's just about positioning and throwing punches not from certain positions." This AAP article was made possible by support from No Limit Boxing.
