Kostya

[Matt]

Is it true that Kostya Tszyu is defending all three of his world titles in Melbourne?

?

[remy]

At the telstra dome January 19 against Jesse James Leija.

[paul c]

wow,
Outstanding. I didn't think we'd ever see Kostya fighting in Aus again.

I've got to get permission to shoot this one.
Probably the biggest fight I'll ever get the chance to shoot if it eventuates.

hmm, I might have to forge some sort of press pass to get in.

[madjack]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/imagedata/0,5001,212763,00.jpg

[madjack]

Tszyu brings bout home

By PETER KRUPKA

09oct02

The Australian

KOSTYA TSZYU's career will reach its crescendo under the roof of Melbourne's Telstra Dome in January, but he wants the encore to be played out in his birthplace, Russia.
The 33-year-old father of three is keen to tidy up the loose ends of a brilliant career which he said has lasted longer than he expected when he settled in Australia in 1992.

One of his remaining dreams is to fight at home as undisputed world champion, which he will do against American Jesse James Leija in January.

Another is to ply his craft in his birthplace, where he has not fought for more than 10 years.

"We gave it consideration this time but the winter time in Russia, I don't want to go," Tszyu said yesterday.

"In the summer I would love to. I still have a great following there and it's still an important part in my life."

Tszyu is one of only three undisputed world champions, having unified the super-lightweight division with a second-round TKO of Zab Judah in Las Vegas last November.

His only fight this year was a onesided victory over Ben Tackie in May.

A decade ago the shy Tszyu made his Australian debut on the undercard of the classic Azumah Nelson-Jeff Fenech super-featherweight bout in Melbourne.

Tszyu's fight lasted 70 seconds, knocking out Darrell Hiles to begin a professional career which has seen him win and then lose the IBF title and claim all three belts in the super-lightweight class.

His defence of all three against 35-year-old Texan Leija, a two-time world champion boasting 43 wins in his 50-fight career, on January 19 will be the biggest bout in Australia since Nelson beat Fenech at Princes Park in 1992.

It will be Tszyu's first fight in Australia since 1998.

His decision to put all three belts on the line is to keep pressure on himself but also to avoid offending any of the three leading boxing organisations -- the WBC, WBA and IBF..

"When you're putting everything on the line, you are putting extra pressure on yourself," he said.

"That pressure will make me fight better, train harder and show the world all my ability.

"I never thought I would fight to this age, but I'm still here and feel great."

The decision to fight in Australia came after big-money offers from Leija's hometown of San Antonio and New York were overlooked.

"I just desperately wanted to fight here," he said.

"Five years ago was the last time I fought in this country and fighting as undisputed world champion in front of my people is a great, great feeling."

[hercules]

who cares madjack about boxing this is a kb site so get a f@$*^n life, loser

[remy]

Many care, the sports are related. Keep it coming Madjack

[royce]

Nice one madjack Tszyu is an awesome fighter mate thanks for the info . Briggsy would have to be close to the second best boxer now behind Tszyu in Australia what do you guys think?

[madjack]

Thanks Remy & Royce. Hey Herc blow me!

[krama]

Hey Hercules - you're a ****head - we know its a KB site, but we also respect great sportsmen like Kosta - who would easily put you into a three month coma with one punch.
I also recomend you change your name to Fagules -

[remy]

Tickets are on sale through ticketmaster7, and range from $60, $120, $180, $250 and $500. Show starts 11.30am.

[Matt]

There are some really good things going for this site. The diversity of topics and opinions really enhances my enjoyment of kickboxing and ring sports in general. I also think that the knowledge and respect shown by the people using this site is a credit to the sport of kickboxing that so often gets a bad wrap.

Hercules, if there is a topic in this forum that you are not interested in, dont waste your time reading it and everybody else's by leaving pathetic statements on here that dont offer any insite or value to this site or to the sport in general. Cheers.

?

[Axekick157]

Thanks for the great information Madjack!

I have just purchased my tickets for this event.

Should be a excellent night of boxing

<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

[madjack]

Tszyu fight may set record
November 8, 2002

KOSTYA TSZYU's world title fight at Telstra Dome in January is set to outdraw the 1992 Jeff Fenech-Azumah Nelson bout.

Seating arrangements for the fight have been finalised this week, with promoter Glenn Wheatley saying just over 35,000 seats would be available.

The famous Fenech-Nelson II world title showdown at Melbourne's Princes Park in March, 1992, drew an estimated 35,000 spectators.

Wheatley said more than 12,000 tickets had been sold already for Tszyu's world super-lightweight title fight against American "Jesse" James Leija on January 19.

More tickets will be released next week following talks with television producers over camera placement and how best to accommodate the temporary grandstand which will be built on the ground.

Better known as a rock music promoter and manager, Wheatley said strong early ticket sales made him confident the fight would sell out.

Tszyu visited Telstra Dome today and was buoyed by the news his fight was set to outdraw Fenech-Nelson II.

The 33-year-old's first professional fight was on the Fenech-Nelson undercard.

"Imagine 35,000 people in here, screaming, cheering, having a good time. It's going to be an atmosphere much stronger than the football with the closed roof," Tszyu said.

"I know football is big here, but the excitement is going to be much higher than the football."

Tszyu goes into a two-week intensive training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport on Monday.

"You stay in there. No driving. Just walking to the gym," Tszyu said.

"Eat, sleep and train, nothing else. Four, five, six hours a day training, no interruptions, no family."

Tszyu will put all three of his world titles on the line against Leija, the former World Boxing Council (WBC) title-holder.

The Russian-born Australian holds the WBC, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association belts.