An Australian Tale of Two Tszyu
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Super Lightweight Kostya Tszyu, A Russian living in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, also known as the Thunder From Down Under’, fought from 1992 to 2005, compiling a record of 31 wins, two losses, and one no contest, with 26 knockouts. Tzsyu figured into 20 World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation world title bouts (18) and titular eliminators (two).
Do father and son boxers work as a concept? From Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. to Marcos Geraldo, from Chris Eubank Jr. to Guty Espadas Jr., from Jesse Hart to Victor Dario Galindez, from Ronald Hearns to Gerardo Pipino Cuevas Jr., others have tried it, with mixed success. Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali, is a sparkling example of father and daughter ring success, given professional boxing is not as highly competitive among females as it is with males.
Now along comes Tim Tszyu, a super welterweight from Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia, 13-0 with ten knockouts, who currently holds the Australian Super Welterweight title, who also holds the World Boxing Council Asian Boxing Council Continental Super Welterweight title. After stopping an 8-0 opponent, Tim Tszyu’s last five opponents have a combined 115 wins, so Tszyu has graduated to a solid ability to defeat the ’B’ level fighters, having moved from scheduled six rounders, to ten and twelve rounders without with eight-round bouts.
Junior middleweight and middleweight, Tszyu’s 153 pound to 159-pound fighting range, is higher than his fathers, and is highly competitive. To date, Tim has not been seen fighting outside of his native Australia. Les Darcy, the late middleweight champion, never fought off the Australian continent. Daniel Geale, an Australian world middleweight titleholder, perished at the hands of Darren Barker, Gennady Golovkin and Miguel Cotto in championship bouts on the road. IBF World super featherweight champion Billy Dib won only two of eight bouts outside of Australia on the road.
Tszyu has established a relationship with the WBC, like his father. However, Tszyu is an unknown commodity outside of his native Australia. His father, Kostya Tszyu, was a world champion in international circles. Tim Tszyu is only 24 years old. His father Kostya was 25 years old when he won his first world title (IBF). Boxing sons attempting to follow in their father’s championship footsteps may find it a tough act to follow.
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