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 Kostya Tszyu |
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Our Pick: Kostya Tszyu
Kostya Tszyu is a showman. A Russian who fights out of Australia, he has one of those short-but-solid Siberian bodies that makes him a formidable super-welterweight. He has the fastest hands in his division, and holds those hands low in the ring. With his left hand down around his waist, he lures opponents in with his seeming lack of defense.
Going inside against Tszyu is a mistake. He has, pound-for-pound, one of the hardest right hands in boxing. Way back in 1995 Roger Mayweather traveled to Australia and felt the power in that right hand, losing in 12 rounds while Tszyu defended his new IBF junior lightweight title.
The one person who figured out how to fight Tszyu was Vince Phillips, who beat him in a 10-round knockout in 1997 to take the IBF title. Phillips, a fast and slippery boxer, mostly evaded Tszyu's power, and showed that Tszyu's style is hard to sustain over a long bout. Following this single defeat, Tszyu beat Raphael Ruelas in El Paso, captured the WBC super lightweight title against Diobelys Hurtado, and pummelled Miguel Angel Gonzales last August in Miami.
Tszyu now fights a legend: Julio Cesar Chavez. Chavez has been in decline since his questionable draw with Sweet Pea Whitaker in 1993. Since then, he looked convincing in beating Meldrick Taylor, but of late has seemed an old, tired boxer, trading on his fame to earn the money to pay his back taxes in Mexico. Oscar de la Hoya beat Chavez to a bloody pulp in 1998, and last October he looked lost and unprepared in a 10-round loss to unknown Willy Wise.
Arizona boxing officials have sanctioned this bout but put Chavez on notice that he must prepare better than he did for his last bout. They are also watching his weight and may call off the bout if it appears Chavez's is overweight and out of shape.
This will be a difficult fight to watch, as Chavez was once one of the best there ever was. But Tszyu should demonstrate to an audience on Showtime what they've been missing.