Tszyu shapes up to dad’s reputation
WITH every fight, every training session, every punch thrown, Tim Tszyu is shedding more of expectation’s weight.
Not so much in his own mind as that of the observers who see his father in his face and ring potential.
It was 20 years ago this week that Kostya Tszyu drilled Zab Judah in round two to join Lionel Rose as Australia’s second unified boxing world champion.
His eldest son marked the anniversary by sparring 13 rounds in a steamy inner-Sydney gym; adding one extra to his usual 12 because in the sweet science there are no unlucky numbers, just exposure for shortcuts.
“No offence to Dad, but we’ll see where we can go,” Tszyu said.
Approaching his 20th pro fight, and already ranked No.1 by the WBO in the super-welterweight division, Tszyu (19-0, 15KO) is on the verge of matching his father’s feat.
It’s expected that WBA, WBC and IBF champion Jermell Charlo will have a rematch with WBO champion Brian Castano for the unified titles next February, after they drew in their first clash.
With Tszyu being a mandatory challenger – and provided there are no slip-ups against Japanese rival Takeshi Inoue (17-1-1, 10KO) on November 17 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena – he would be in prime position to challenge the Charlo-Castano winner for all four belts next year.
What a story it would be for son to emulate father as unified world champion, as rare in boxing as unified scorecards.
“I never really compared myself to Dad, I’ve always done it for myself,” Tszyu said. “But I find it exciting that it‘s so close.
“I’m proud of what Dad did, he is a legend and always will be.
“But you know what? The momentum is changing. People won’t be saying, ‘You’re Kostya’s son’. They’ll be coming up to him saying, ‘You’re Tim Tszyu’s dad’. That’s my goal.” Tszyu turned 27 this week, but clearly remembers watching from his Sydney lounge room as his dad became king of the light-welterweight division.
“I was in year 1,” he said.