- Kostya Tszyu says he wants to be at all his sons’ fights
- Says his sons understand what happened to his life
- Tim Tszyu now wants to become a two-time world champion
Boxing legend Kostya Tszyu has spoken candidly about leaving his Australian family as his eldest son prepares to take on world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev on Sunday.
Tszyu made a surprise and standout appearance after attending the official pre-fight press conference for Tim’s IBF super welterweight showdown, stealing the show from his world title-chasing eldest child, Tim.
Arriving hours later, the 55-year-old Hall of Famer shocked Tim from behind with a signature paternal massage before greeting youngest son Nikita in person with a long, emotional hug for the first time in 11 years.
Tim’s date with fate was only an illusion after Kostya left his family for a new one in his native Russia, some three years after his career was ended by Ricky Hatton in 2005.
“Honestly, I want to be there every time they fight. Unfortunately it’s too far away,” Kostya said News Corp.
‘Secondly, I’m extremely busy. I have a schedule that’s months ahead of me. At the end of the year I only have three days off.’
Kostya is excited to finally be ringside for Tim’s fight on Sunday.
‘Fantastic. Great feeling knowing the reunion will benefit 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 though we haven’t seen each other. They understood what happened in my life and we move on.
‘I’m here for Tim. Nikita is great and can also come for the preparation, but we are there for Tim. We’re standing in the corner. Even though I’ve lived in Russia for years, he always knows I’m in his corner.
‘He always needs to know that I will be there when he wants me to be there. I’m canceling everything.’
Tszyu has not been ringside in any of his boys’ 35 professional matches since Tim’s debut in 2016.
Tim repeatedly recalled a ‘circus’ that night at the SCG, calling his father a ‘pain in the ass’ as he uncontrollably shouted instructions.
All is forgiven as the former unified world champion gets 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 hold back live for the first time in nine years.
Tim Tszyu will fight the Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev on Sunday afternoon in Orlando
Tszyu has not been ringside for any of his boys’ 35 professional matches since Tim’s debut in 2016
“I don’t know how I’m going to be,” he said. ‘I’m doing well now. I’m not nervous right now, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen.
“I’ll try – maybe it’s not right to do that, maybe – but I’ll put extra pressure on that guy (Murtazaliev). “I’m sorry, my friend, but I will.”
Team Tszyu will be hoping there will be no repeat of the Las Vegas fiasco in March when Tim suffered the first defeat of his career, a controversial split-decision loss 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 in that fight,” Tszyu said.
‘The referee is supposed to stop the fight, not the corner. “He’s a referee and the way he was bleeding non-stop, a lot of countries would stop the fight.”
