Remembering Kostya.

[GAME]

I don't think we ever saw the best of Kostya Tszyu, he had some injuries to contend with and in reality he had a 3 year period where he was unstoppable from 1999-2001. He never got his chance of a mega fight against DLH or Mosley and boxing as well as Tszyu was the loser there. He would have caused both those guys major grief if those fights had of happened. His people were pushing for a fight with Chavez as early as 1994 after his win against Laporte in only his 4th fight! My guess is Chavez knew exactly who Tszyu was and wanted no part of him then. Both DLH and Mosley knew of him from their amateur days and i won't say ducked him but they certainly sidestepped out of Tszyu's way to go onto other big fights well away from 140lb. I rank Tszyu alongside Pryor and Chavez as the greatest 140lb champion ever. Hatton got him at the right time, pushing 36yrs, inactive and injury riddled.

Although its an easy excuse to use that Tszyu was washed up when Hatton got to him , I do have to say that Tszyu wasnt the monster he was by the time Ricky got to him. That night Hatton was prepared to walk through walls

Tszyu was probably at his best in the late 90's. Inactivity and injuries perhaps deprived us of some potential huge fights with Oscar and Shane and even an up and coming FMJ. All 3 would be winnable fights for Tszyu as he was that good. He was a master at controlling distance. He may sometimes seem crude by lining you up with his left then taking you out with the right but a great deal of defensive skills was displayed in his post Phillips fights so he was the complete fighter IMO.