- Follow in the footsteps of the famous father
- Says Kostya hasn’t been back to Australia for 20 years
- Wants to build his reputation off of his last name
Tim Tszyu carries the surname of boxing royalty, but the Austrian fighter will take advice from former undisputed world lightweight champion Kostya ahead of his title defense on Sunday.
Kostya Tszyu, born Konstantin Borisovich Tszyu, became a household name in the 1990s on Thunder from Down Under, but these days he spends most of his time in Russia.
He will remain on the other side of the world on Sunday when his son Tim (23-0, 17 KOs) defends his WBO super-bantamweight belt against American Brian Mendoza on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
Mendoza is expected to be a stepping stone to bigger things for Tim, with Jermell Charlo still firmly on his side, despite the American previously pulling the trigger on their fight.
Tim knows his phone will ring with a Facetime call from his famous dad, but told the Hello Sport podcast he will take that advice with a grain of salt.
Tim Tszyu wants to build his reputation in boxing and not ride on his famous last name
Tim’s father Kostya Tszyu was a household name in Australia during the 1990s and was the undisputed champion for years.
While Kostya Tszyu enjoyed tremendous success in the ring, Tim says it’s a different era and he wants to do things his way
Tim admitted he was getting a little bored with the advice from his famous dad.
‘Especially the older you get.’ he said.
“Dad sometimes forgets. I respect what he’s done of course, but we’re in a different era now. We do things differently.
“He says one thing and I say, ‘No, I’m not doing that, I’m going to do it my way.’ He’s like, ‘Nah man, you can’t do it that way,’ and I’m like, ‘Man, I’m doing it my way.’
“You haven’t lived here for 20 years dad, everything is fine, I understand, don’t worry about it.
“Of course I respect his opinion, what he has been through and what he has done. He hasn’t been back for a long time.’
Tim Tszyu signs autographs for young fans using his WBO super lightweight world title belt ahead of his fight against Brian Mendoza
Tim’s brother Nikita is a talented boxer in his own right and Tim wants him to make his own way in the sport as well.
Tim will certainly take his advice when it comes to his younger brother Nikitia.
He has removed most references to Kostya in their gym and limits his advice to Nikita to allow him to develop his career.
“I try to give him some (advice), but basically I don’t want to be like my dad,” Tim said.
‘So I always keep that in mind. I always just say, ‘You gotta do this man.’ I usually say, ‘This is how I feel best, this is what I do. See how you feel’.
While Tim’s attitude suggests a broken relationship with his father, he insists he still respects Kostya.
“I think dad’s success was an example for us — where we wanted to be and what we wanted to do,” Tim told Sporting News.
“It’s everything to have the support of the grandfather. He has never missed any of my fights, even amateur ones.
“I only need people who are true to themselves and people who are loyal to me and I’m loyal to them.”
(tagsTranslate) daily mail(s) sport(s) boxing(s) Gold Coast(s) Russia