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 !

[generalbulldog]

For a long while I thought Tszyu came out of Korea. He looked like one of those Koreans that ran one of those liquor stores in L.A.

[Master]

Kostya was a beast with his right hand and had incredible timing. He had a brilliant amateur pedigree and his demolition of Gonzales, who was a very good fighter was brilliant to watch. He destroyed a prime Judah, like no other fighter has ever done. He was also gracious in his defeat against Hatton and gave a good speech at the end.

[marbleheadmaui]

The best fighters to come out of Australia in at least some sense have been Bob Fitzsimmons and Young Griffo.

The thing about Kostya is almost his whole career starting with Laporte was at a high level.

Good fighter, great champion.

When I think of the HOF? I think Kostya is the marginal guy if induction is to mean anything. By that I mean you shouild have to be more accomplished than Kostya to get in. Less accomplished? You don't.

[generalbulldog]

The best fighters to come out of Australia in at least some sense have been Bob Fitzsimmons and Young Griffo.

The thing about Kostya is almost his whole career starting with Laporte was at a high level.

Good fighter, great champion.

When I think of the HOF? I think Kostya is the marginal guy if induction is to mean anything. By that I mean you shouild have to be more accomplished than Kostya to get in. Less accomplished? You don't.

Barry McGuigan is in, so the bar is already set pretty low.

[marbleheadmaui]

The best fighters to come out of Australia in at least some sense have been Bob Fitzsimmons and Young Griffo.

The thing about Kostya is almost his whole career starting with Laporte was at a high level.

Good fighter, great champion.

When I think of the HOF? I think Kostya is the marginal guy if induction is to mean anything. By that I mean you shouild have to be more accomplished than Kostya to get in. Less accomplished? You don't.

Barry McGuigan is in, so the bar is already set pretty low.

One mistake shouldn't be used to justify another

Sorry guys, you gotta get OUT! Barry, Ingo, Norris, Papp (I feel bad about that one). Mitchell, Canizales, Graham and I'm leaving someone off the list I think.

[Andre]

He was great for the sport an ambassador for it really and drew many fans to it.

I think he was a very good boxer one of the best there was but chose to test himself and others out in slug matches because thats what people came to see and he was there to give the crowd what they wanted.

I know he could box and move better than he ever did in the pros, I was hoping he may of combined the two styles eventually but he became a heavier moving distance measurer for timing heavy hits, instead of being an on the toes evasive counter fighter he once was and a solid footed finisher second.