kostya talks about retiring

[Gandalf]

By Peter Badel, townsvillebulletin.news.com.au
23apr06

THE glittering career of Kostya Tszyu appears over, with the Russian-born slugger candidly admitting he lacks the desire to fight.

As debate rages over whether he should fight on after being floored by Britain's Ricky Hatton last June, Tszyu confessed he might never enter the ring again.

Tszyu, who turns 37 in September, also revealed he would almost certainly not return to boxing without the approval of long-time trainer Johnny Lewis.

Last month, Lewis said he would not support any comeback plan from Tszyu.

"Right now I do not have the desire, honestly, to give everything," said Tszyu in an interview to be aired today on Sydney radio station Triple M's Wash Up program. "In a few months from now, if something inside me changes, I might consider it.

"But the people who do not like me as a boxer, the people who like me as a person, my family and friends, do not want me to fight again. They've seen the good stuff, the bad stuff, the pain.

"Their honest opinion is that I should not fight again and I need to respect that."

A fortnight ago, it was revealed the International Boxing Federation wanted Tszyu to fight for his old junior welterweight world title. It is the title he lost to Hatton, who is giving up the belt to chase the WBA world welterweight crown in Boston on May 13.

But Tszyu, who has 32 wins from 34 bouts, said he had no fear about life without boxing. He did, however, admit to having lost his motivation twice before - including before his shock loss to Vince Phillips in 1997 - only to regain the fire.

"Against Phillips, I didn't have the desire, but I found it again," Tszyu said.

"Then after the second fight against Sharmba Mitchell [in 2004], at some stage I didn't have the desire to do it but I decided I wanted to fight again and I came back.

"I'm not concerned [about life after boxing]. I don't have a fear. I did ask myself this question and that's another reason why, when I announce I'm finished, I'll never come back. I will never return.

"It's nearly one year since my last fight and I enjoy my life. I'm extremely busy, but I'm relaxed.

"I'm spending time with my family. I know where my destiny will take me."

Asked if he needed Lewis in his corner should he decide on a comeback, Tszyu replied: "Yes, of course. No doubt. If I decide I want to continue, I need him in my corner and I need to prove to him I have the desire."

[Gandalf]

kostya has nothing left to prove and approaching the age of 37 I think retirement is a very healthy option....the guy doesnt seem lost without boxing, retirement is a sensible option...

[SalTheButcher]

unless he wants to be KOd by judah there is noone left for him to fight

[Gandalf]

unless he wants to be KOd by judah there is noone left for him to fight

sal, why oh why do you need to go there?

kostya beat pretty much everyone worth beating, thats why he should feel fine in retiring. there was no shame in losing to a rising ricky hatton.

i really see no indication as to why kostya would bother to return just to fight a guy he destroyed years ago...

retirement is good for kostya...

[SalTheButcher]

thats the one fight i think he would take, cuz he probably thinks he could win it, i dont think he thinks hed beat hatton, and i dont think he thiks anyone else besides mayweather would be a worthy last opponent, but zab wants him and i think he would fight judah if he was offered the fight at the right time

[Gandalf]

thats the one fight i think he would take, cuz he probably thinks he could win it, i dont think he thinks hed beat hatton, and i dont think he thiks anyone else besides mayweather would be a worthy last opponent, but zab wants him and i think he would fight judah if he was offered the fight at the right time

but kostya is approaching 37 years of age. he doesnt need the money and he doesnt have any real desire to keep fighting...its a fight zab needs more than kostya and to be honest i dont think kostya will want any part of zab.

[chamiley]

kostya has beaten whoever was willing to fight him, never ducked anyone. was the undisputed jr welterwight champ, he defied odds as a foreign fighter to make such a huge name in a sport dominated by the north americans.

[chamiley]

he has nothung left to prove and his legacy is in tact.

he should retire.

one matchup boxing truly miss would have been prime oscar vs prime tszyu

[sillent killer]

I would love to see him give Zab rematch but I respect man if he doesn't have anymore in him and he is getting old is not shame retiring,he was great boxer and i wish him good luck

[BrooklyniteQueen]

Kostya beat who besides Zab Judah and Sharmba Mitchell? An old Cesar Chavez?

[chamiley]

Kostya beat who besides Zab Judah and Sharmba Mitchell? An old Cesar Chavez?

james leija, diobleys hurtado, roger mayweather, ben tackie

[sillent killer]

Kostya beat who besides Zab Judah and Sharmba Mitchell? An old Cesar Chavez?

james leija, diobleys hurtado, roger mayweather, ben tackie

TY i don't know why she hate Kostya too much i respect him he is great boxer and i wish him good luck whatever he decided to do

[BrooklyniteQueen]

Leija gave him trouble and was past his prime.

Ok Hurtado was good and that was a good war.

Roger Mayweather was WAY past his prime.

Ben Tackie....Ben Tackie.

Kostya beat who besides Zab Judah and Sharmba Mitchell? An old Cesar Chavez?

james leija, diobleys hurtado, roger mayweather, ben tackie

TY i don't know why she hate Kostya too much i respect him he is great boxer and i wish him good luck whatever he decided to do

I do like Kostya Tszyu. I was just asking who he beat. I would like him more if he'd fought Phillips again.

[chamiley]

thats like saying who has julio cesar chavez fought coz there isn't one legend on his resume but he is still one of the best fighters ever.

[SalTheButcher]

its true about ben tackie, hes hard to beat... but he tends to loose