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Kostya Tszyu: 'Tim has his own destiny'

Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu wants undefeated son Tim’s boxing abilities to stand on their own

By Anthony Cocks

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Tszyu-Camilleri.jpg photo by Louie Abigail/Rockfingrz.
Tszyu-Camilleri.jpg photo by Louie Abigail/Rockfingrz.

Boxing history is littered with the names of father-son combinations.

 

Some have been more successful than others.

 

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr has been unable to reach the lofty heights of his famous namesake. Ditto Jorge Paez Jr. Hector Camacho Jr was once ranked in the top 10 in the world but failed to land a championship fight.

 

Marvis Frazier beat some quality contenders but ultimately wilted in the shadow of Smokin’ Joe.

 

Others have exceeded all expectations. Think Floyd Mayweather Jr, who retired undefeated after becoming the most successful boxer of the modern era. Cory Spinks, the son of heavyweight Leon Spinks, who once defeated an aging Muhammad Ali, won the undisputed welterweight championship of the world.

 

Buster Douglas was the most famous man in the world for a minute after he leveled ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson in 10, the sort of feat his father, middleweight contender William Douglas, failed to achieve.

 

The weight of expectation can place an unbearable burden on any fighter.

 

It’s not surprising then that undefeated junior middleweight prospect Tim Tszyu 14-0 (10) faces constant comparisons with his famous father Kostya Tszyu, who was enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame at Canastota in the Class of 2011.

 

It’s something that doesn’t sit well with the former undisputed junior welterweight champion of the world.

 

“I don’t want to compare anything,” Tszyu said in an exclusive interview with Maxboxing ahead of the announcement that his son would face Cronulla brawler Jack Brubaker in his 15th pro bout in Sydney on December 6.

 

“He is having his 15th fight… I was world champion in my 14th.”

 

It’s understandable that Tszyu doesn’t want his son’s achievements compared to his own illustrious career. Both Tszyus have taken very different paths to the punch-for-pay ranks.

 

As an amateur Kostya was known as much for his smart boxing as his explosive power, running up a record of 259-11 and winning gold at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Sydney in 1991 with a masterclass performance against future world champion Vernon Forrest.

 

In just his 14th pro fight Tszyu was matched with the dangerous and durable Jake ‘The Snake’ Rodriguez for the IBF junior welterweight title in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

Tszyu dropped Rodriguez in the opening seconds of the bout and a further four times in the sixth and ultimately final round.

 

And just like that, his legend was born.

 

By contrast Tim only competed in a handful of amateur bouts but has been moved cleverly as a pro. Earlier this year he outpointed the experienced Joel Camilleri to claim the national crown and backed up that performance with a points win over world-rated Dwight Ritchie.

 

The back-to-back 10-round wins have only helped to season Tszyu as a fighter.

 

The 24-year-old has already laid out plans for his future, calling out both Jeff Horn and Michael Zerafa.

 

But Kostya insists there is no need to rush his boy.

 

“No rush. I don’t want him to rush obviously. I want him to go step by step. He’s got a different agenda in his life. I spent all my life in boxing. He started a bit later than me,” Tszyu said.

 

“I became world champion at 25…He has more to achieve.”

 

As for the pressure that comes with having a famous last name, Tszyu says his son has already learnt to handle it.

 

“I think he learns to get rid of this pressure. He doesn’t have this pressure, I think, from what I see,” Tszyu said.

 

“Because he doesn’t need to learn not to be stressed by the media because all the pressure comes from you guys. Your expectation, you want to expect something from him.”

 

The younger Tszyu does possess some of the same traits as his famous father – notably his poise, patience and shot selection in the ring – but Kostya dismisses any similarities.

 

“Not really. Please don’t ever compare my career to his career. He has got his own legacy, to achieve his own destiny,” he said.

 

That’s not to say Tszyu senior doesn’t think his son won’t win a world title, just that he will go about it in his own way.

 

“Step by step. Do fight by fight. He will reach the world title fight. When it will be, next two, three fights or a year, we don’t know,” Tszyu said.

 

“I call this destiny and he has his own destiny. How he is going to do it, everything up to him.

 

“I don’t want him to rush anywhere.”

 

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