W
hen your father is one of
the greatest boxers ever to
have represented Australia,
you’re going to have a lot to prove when
pursuing a career in the same sport.
Just ask Tim Tszyu, the 24-year-old
son of Russian-born Australian former
light welterweight champion Kostya.
While he’s in the enviable position of
being able to capitalise on his famous
surname, he’s intent on forging his own
path on the boxing circuit.
Hot off the back of claiming his first
Australian title with a unanimous points
win against super welterweight champ
Joel Camilleri in May, Tszyu has his sights
on the second step in his well-publicised
four-fight plan of world domination.
Come August 14, the world number 14
will go toe-to-toe with 10th-ranked Dwight
Ritchie, with a win for either potentially
allowing them to crack the top five. True
to form, Tszyu is not-so-quietly confident.
“[The Camilleri fight is] already the past
for me. I won the Australian title, so my
next focus is on this guy [Ritchie],” Tszyu
tells Foxtel magazine. “I think this fight
will be a bit different, stylistically, because
Joel was a tough boy and he just makes
it awkward for you. Dwight’s more suited
to my style. I think Dwight’s a better boxer
[than Camilleri], but he will be easier to
read, that’s for sure. I’m super excited,
super psyched. I’m always confident in
my ability. I’m not going to lose.”
While he currently ranks higher than
his opponent, Shepparton boy Ritchie is
all too aware that Tszyu is going into their
bout as the favourite – not that he’s fazed.
“I’m okay with that,” he assures us. “I’m
used to being the underdog. Tim has a lot
of people behind him who believe
in him, but come down to Victoria
and you’ll see how many people
are behind me and believe in me,
so it’s a really good 50/50 fight and
it’s good for Australia.”
Perhaps Ritchie should be at least
a little worried. For the past couple
of months, Tszyu has been in the
Philippines and the US, training with
former eight-division world champion
Manny Pacquiao.
“It was unreal,” Tszyu enthuses of the
experience. “There were a bit of nerves
at first, to get into the ring with him, but
as soon as I stepped in the ring I felt so
much more comfortable. It was very cool.”
Along with improving his technique,
Tszyu says that watching Pacquiao in
action has influenced his approach
to training for a big fight.
“It’s crazy how he does things,
how he relaxes in the ring. He
comes in with all these flurries.
I’m sure I’m going to take a lot
from sparring with him,” Tszyu
explains. “As I’ve sparred with
Manny and trained with Manny
now, [I’ve learnt that] there’s
no need to overtrain. You
have to know your body and
everything has to be like a true
professional. I can see how he
does things and it’s worked
for him, so I’m sure I’m going
to go that way as well.”
“I’M NOT
GOING
TO LOSE”
Tim Tszyu talks tactics,
technique and training with
the legendary Manny Pacquiao
TIM TSZYU vs DWIGHT
RITCHIE LIVE Wednesday
August 14 at 7pm (AEST)
on MAIN EVENTő [521]
FOUR WAYS
TO ORDER
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52 Foxtel AUGUST