by - Kostya Tszyu says he wants to be there for all of his sons’ fights
- Says his sons understand what happened to his life
- Tim Tszyu is now aiming to become a two-time world champion
Boxing legend Kostya Tszyu has spoken openly about leaving his Australian family as his eldest son prepares to face world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev on Sunday.
Tszyu was a surprising and eye-catching presence after derailing the official pre-fight press conference for Tim’s IBF super welterweight showdown, stealing the show from his eldest son Tim, who was in the hunt for the world title.
It wasn’t until hours later that the 55-year-old Hall of Famer greeted Tim from behind with a familiar fatherly massage and then greeted his younger son Nikita in the flesh for the first time in 11 years with a long, emotional hug.
Tim’s date with Destiny was just a pipe dream after Kostya left his family to start a new one in his native Russia, some three years after he suffered a career-ending beating from Ricky Hatton in 2005.
“Honestly, I want to be there every time they fight. “Unfortunately it’s too far away,” Kostya told News Corp.
“Secondly, I’m very busy. I have a schedule that is months ahead of me. “At the end of the year I only have three days off.”
Kostya is happy to finally be at the ringside for Tim’s fight on Sunday.
“Terrific. “It’s a great feeling to know that the reunion will be good for him,” he said.
Boxing legend Kostya Tszyu says his sons both understand what happened in his life
Kostya says he will always make time for his sons when they need him
“Great, even if we haven’t met yet.” They understood what was happening in my life and we move on.
“I’m here because of Tim.” Nikita is great and can also come to prepare, but we are here because of Tim. We’re in the corner. Even though I have lived in Russia for many years, he always knows that I am in his corner.
“He should always know that I will always be there when he wants me to be there. ‘I will cancel everything.’
Tszyu has not been at the ring for any of his boys’ 35 professional fights since Tim’s debut in 2016.
Tim repeatedly recalled that evening at the SCG as a “circus” and branded his father an “annoying guy” for shouting instructions uncontrollably.
All was forgiven as the former unified world champion was given a front row seat for Tim’s date with destiny at the Caribe Royale Orlando Resort.
However, Tszyu cannot promise that he will be able to perform live for the first time in nine years.
Tim Tszyu fights Russia’s Bakhram Murtazaliev on Sunday afternoon in Orlando
Tszyu has not been at the ring for any of his boys’ 35 professional fights since Tim’s debut in 2016
“I don’t know how I’m going to feel,” he said. “I’m fine now. I’m not nervous now, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen.
“I’ll try – maybe it’s not right, maybe – but I’ll put extra pressure on this guy (Murtazaliev).” “I’m sorry, my friend, but I’ll do it.”
Team Tszyu will be hoping there is no repeat of the fiasco in Las Vegas in March, when Tim suffered the first defeat of his career, a controversial split decision defeat after an accidental elbow from Sebastian Fundora left the Sydneysider with a gaping head wound.
“Thank God I wasn’t there because I don’t know what I would do during that fight,” Tszyu said.
“The referee is supposed to stop the fight, not the corner.” “It’s a referee and the way he was bleeding nonstop, many countries would stop the fight.”
