Tim Tszyu’s legendary father Kostya finally breaks his silence on his son’s attempt to follow in his footsteps and win a world title – and names the best weapon in the young Aussie’s arsenal
- Kostya and son Tim have not been close for years
- Legend was only ringside for Tim’s first pro fight
- Has now spoken out about Tim’s world title chances
Hall of Fame boxer Kostya Tszyu hasn’t been to one of his son Tim’s fights since he made his professional debut in 2016 – but he has just taken the rare step of speaking out about his boy’s career on the eve of his world title fight.
The 28-year-old recently opened up about the rift between him and his father, revealing his legendary dad was ‘never there’ for him and younger brother Nikita after he called it quits on his incredible career in 2005.
Kostya was supposed to be ringside for his son’s planned bout against undisputed super-welterweight champion Jermell Charlo, but that fight fell through and he is still in Russia ahead of Tim’s title clash in Sydney on Sunday.
The former super lightweight world champion is very confident his boy will emulate him by becoming a world champion.
Kostya (pictured with Tim on a visit to Sydney in 2019) is very confident his son will become world champion – but acknowledges the Tony Harrison fight is a risk
The Hall of Fame legend prided himself on his body punching – and says his son’s ability in that area is one of his biggest strengths
‘Tim has improved a lot as a boxer. He is much wiser. He now has good experience fighting against good opponents,’ he told News Ltd.
‘I believe he will produce a special fight against Harrison. He is at the right time of his career.’
However, Kostya acknowledged that the American is likely to be a step up from his son’s previous fights.
‘It’s a big test, he is fighting a great opponent,’ he said.
‘Is it a risk? Look, if he wants to be a world champion like I was, he cannot be afraid and Tim has to challenge anybody.’
The Sydneysider is known for his prodigious power in the ring, like his father, who singled out one aspect of his arsenal for special praise.
‘He has a great body shot, that was one of my key punches,’ he explained.
The younger Tszyu recently revealed he ‘never had a father’s day breakfast’ with his dad
Tszyu’s bout with Tony Harrison (pictured during the staredown at Saturday’s weigh-in) represents a big step up in class for the Aussie
Tim recently revealed how his father moving back to Russia and splitting from his mother affected him.
‘Every year at school there was a father’s day camp. I never had one father’s day camp. Never had a father’s day breakfast,’ he told the Howie Games podcast.
‘He was never there for us. Now looking back to it, I understand where he came from because to get to where he got to, there’s a lot of sacrifice.
‘It was tough because you always think your parents, it’s like a fairytale, they love each other. Then all of a sudden it’s completely gone.’
He also delved into the extreme culture shock he and brother Nikita – who fights on the undercard on Sunday – experienced when they joined their father to live in Russia as youngsters.
‘We didn’t have any friends. The weather was completely crap. You don’t see the sun, you live in apartment complexes. The life is not something we’re used to,’ Tim recalled.
He and Nikita were given special treatment at school and had their own driver on call ’24/7′ but couldn’t wait to return to Australia.
‘I told my mum we can’t go back. We wanted to be normal,’ he said.
