Before Australian super welterweight Tim Tszyu arrived stateside in Las Vegas for training camp to prepare to take on unbeaten IBF world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, the former WBO 154-pound champion held his customary pre-camp in Thailand where he was joined for the first time in years by his father, International Boxing Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu.
“It was a good bonding experience,” said Tim Tszyu. “Straight after my last fight I asked him to get some work in, and I didn’t think he’d actually say yes, but he did. We reconnected and it was a good experience that was years in the making. It was good to connect as father and son, and as a fighter.”
The 29-year-old Tszyu has carved out his own lane separate from his 55-year-old father’s by displaying an all-action style and taking on the toughest competition again and again as he nears an opportunity to become a two-time world champion against Murtazaliev on Saturday, October 19 in the main event of PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
On fight night, Kostya will be ringside in Orlando to watch his son compete in-person for the first time since Tim’s pro debut, taking on the spectator role, with Tim’s uncle and career-long coach Igor Golubev leading the corner. When describing the recent training with his father, Tim explained what his father learned about his son from those sessions.
“I’m unbreakable and I’m hungry,” said Tim Tszyu. “He was trying to break me. I was like, ‘alright, if you want to go down that path, let’s do it.’ It was good fun. He told me stories of what he used to do in his training and I wanted to try my best as well.”
The main event bout headlines a three-fight card beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT exclusively on Prime Video for all Prime members in the United States and select countries.
So, how come Kostya has only been to one of Tim’s fights (pro debut)?
He split up from Tims mum and now lives back in Russia.
I read an article where these two had an estrange relationship. Something about Kostya Tszyu leaving Tim’s mom and the family in Australia and moving to Russia. With his dad in attendance I’m sure he’s going to be extra motivated to destroy his opponent. I don’t see how Kostya is not at more of his son’s fights. What’s wrong with this dude?
Yea kinda sad. I wouldn’t miss anything of my son’s due to his mom.
When Tim was just starting out first couple of Pro bouts Kostya was ringside but got a noisy, frustrated Tim a bit so he watches from Russia but they make up for it at times when Tims training So good see him coming to this fight it will be a tough one.
I would never, under any circumstances, move away from my children.
I was happy to read about the reunion while realizing that I have no right to judge Kostya. Maybe there were circumstances that made it the only right thing to do.
I hope they both can continue to have a good time together and if possible I look forward to the fight even more now with this knowledge.
I would’ve liked to have heard a few of those stories about their training camp challenges.
I met Tim in Vegas; nice guy!
Johnny Lewis was in Kostyas corner during his professional career, great trainer and human being,I’d like to see him in Tim’s corner as well as a decent cut man.
As a father it is good for Kostya to support his son in training now that he’s racing yet another world champion.
Though I wonder whether he can get Tim to use a more measured, power counter-punching style we saw during Kostya’s peak rather than this reckless all-action approach we currently see from Tim.