Kostya Tszyu

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Kostya Tszyu BoxingInsider.com Exclusive Biofile Published by Scoop Malinowski Last Updated on April 10th, 2008

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STATUS: WBC & WBA Junior Welterweight Champion.

HT: 5-6 WT: 140

BORN ON: Sept 19, 1969 IN: Serov, Russia

CHILDHOOD HEROES: Muhammad Ali. For everything he did. I remember before the 1980 Olympics he came to Russia for exhibitions with some Russians. I was young. He was popular in Russia. Saw him on TV. Liked him instantly, of course. How be boxed, because he’s got that big heart. Sometimes he took so much punishment and still kept fighting. He fought so well without having a strong punch. You don’t need to really have a hard punch. You should know how to punch and where to punch. He knew. HOBBIES/INTERESTS: Reading and fishing. The first time I went fishing I was three years old. My father took me. I just liked it. It’s interesting to be there – not just to catch the fish. I like meeting new people. When I meet people, I try to find something, learn something. Try to improve myself.

PRE-FIGHT FEELING: Very comfortable. Relaxing. I always sleep before the fight. Very relaxing. Getting ready to go to the ring, I concentrate, get focused. Think of what I will do, like a plan. Yes, I look at my opponent. I’ve got a special power in my eye. I don’t know what. It’s like a fire. I can see how he feels, how he’s nervous, how he feels inside. I can tell. I can tell by eye if my opponent is a good or bad person.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: Lots of dreams when I was a child. Lots of ideas. But it’s just being a kid. I don’t remember now.

FAVORITE BOXERS TO WATCH: I like smart boxers like Ray Robinson, Ray Leonard, Pernell Whitaker, Roy Jones, Lennox Lewis and Chris Byrd.

EARLIEST BOXING MEMORY: My father (Boris) took me to the gym when I was six. Boxing being the national sport of Russia. I was not really interested. Everyone else there was older. Three years later I went back. Now everyone was the same age. Then it was more interesting. I was happy to be there. Of my first 100 fights, I won 99.

PRE-FIGHT MEAL: Not much at all. I always like to be hungry. Hungry and angry [smiles].

MUSICAL TASTES: Everything Russian and Pink Floyd.

FIRST JOB: Never had any job.

FIRST CAR: 1994 white Toyota Camry.

FAVORITE MEAL: Everything. I eat everything. I eat just one meal a day – dinner. I’m comfortable with that. I train twice a day. I like to be hungry when I’m training as well.

EARLY BOXING MEMORY: Lots of memories. First one of the good memories was when I won the national championship (’86). I think I was featherweight. I felt incredible. Nobody understands the feeling. Going home and bringing the gold medal to the parents. Parents are so proud. I gave the medal to my father. Very, very proud. I was young (age 16). Competition was so difficult, much older than me. I was very happy and proud of myself to have come through.

GREATEST SPORTS MOMENT: I think, so far, when I won that national amateur championship. After that there were much bigger championships – the Europeans and the Worlds. But the 1986 event, no one thought I would win. It’s the most important because it opened doors for me, for my career. Of course, winning my first world title (IBF Junior Welterweight over Jake Rodriguez in Las Vegas in ’96) was very special too.

PEOPLE MOST ADMIRED: Professionals. People who do things professional, very classy. Because I like to see everything. If it’s ballet or a drawing, it should be very professional, without mistakes. I don’t like mistakes. There are not many good professionals. I try to be the best.

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