Kostya Tszyu

[Mattyhitman]

If he could have got a fight with one of the big names (DLH, Mosley, Floyd) around 2000-2003 and won or even done well it would be easier to judge just how good he was. I believe on his day he was a match for any fighter at 140, but he never had that career defining fight.

He did... he fought Hatton.... and lost

Na seriously tho, I rated him highly, and still do, as ya say eagle real shame he didnt get it on with Floyd. The only top American he got in there with was Judah, and look what happended to him

Dont get me started on the Dave Parris.... sorry i mean Hatton fight..... He did a lot better against slick fighters than he did pressure men. He chased the money in the Hatton fight and it effectively ended his career cos he got beat badly.

Actually I should take back what I said cos he battered an on form Sharmba Mitchell before the Hatton fight.
I remember at the time, talk was of Ricky fighting Mitchell and KT got to him first.
I really feared for Ricks health leading upto the fight, I thought once KT landed that straight shot flush on Ricks chin he would be out, but to his credit he took them, same could not be said of Mitchell and Zab tho

Ricky's rushing and holding didnt really allow KT to set himself and throw. Was a good gameplan helped by a lenient ref. Don't know if Tszyu got him flush in the fight. Cant believe it was 6 years ago!

From what I remember he caught him a couple of times, Rick said himself he caught by a few when moving in, just think it was the adrenaline and the moment that kept him going more than anything else.
6yrs... shit.... still remember clear as day the whole weekend in manchester, the walk to the MEN, and all the Tszyu Crew outside the Arena chanting and singing, good bunch of fans, even after the fight when drinking in the pub's they were all good natured !