- Kostya Tszyu has shown off his boxing skills
- The former champion retired 19 years ago
- He has reunited with his son, Tim
Kostya Tszyu has demonstrated his exceptional boxing talent, despite having retired 19 years ago.
Australian sporting hero Tszyu, 54, last fought in 2005 when he lost his world title to Britain’s Ricky Hatton in Manchester, England.
Since then, he has lived away from the spotlight while his sons, Tim and Nikita, have forged their own pugilistic pathways.
Tim has a complicated relationship with Kostya, who left Australia to start a second family in Russia over a decade ago.
But the pair were reunited in Thailand over the weekend as Tim prepares to take on Vergil Ortiz, having lost his world title to Sebastian Fundora earlier this year.
Kostya Tszyu showed off his boxing skills on social media recently
And Tim posted footage of his dad having a go at a reflex ball headband, with Kostya showing off his famously fast hands on Instagram.
‘Once a fighter. Always a fighter,’ Tim captioned the video.
While he is very proud of his dad’s achievements, Tim has been clear that he wants to carve his own name out in the sport of boxing.
Kostya planned to be at Tim’s recent blockbuster bout with Fundora in Las Vegas, but logistics made the trip impossible.
On Monday morning, Tim announced that the pair had finally reunited with a clip posted on social media showing the pair embracing.
‘Long time in the making,’ Tim captioned the video clip.
Tim later posted a photo with Kostya to X, with both father and son looking very happy to see each other.
‘Reunited,’ Tim captioned the photo.
‘Time for the old man to teach the young buck some new tricks.
‘I am coming into this camp with a whole new mindset. Kill or be Killed. Back to old school. The roots I grew up in.’
Tszyu retired 19 years ago and is widely regarded as one of Australia’s greatest boxers
The former champion was reunited with son Tim in Thailand ahead of his next fight
The former champion has already lined up his next opponent, taking on undefeated knockout artist Ortiz Jr in August.
The pair will square off on a blockbuster card topped by boxing superstar Terence Crawford, who takes on WBA super welterweight champ Israil Madrimov.
Ortiz recently sent a blunt message to Tszyu after finishing his opponent Thomas Dulorme with a savage Round 1 body shot.
‘Hey Tim man, I know you’re watching this fight right now. I’m ready for you, man,’ Ortiz said.
‘We’re ready. Let’s get ready for World War Three.’
Ortiz’s promoter, boxing icon Oscar de la Hoya, is predicting fireworks when his fighter meets Tszyu.
‘With Tim Tszyu, it’s going to be a war,’ De la Hoya said.
‘I’m a thousand per cent confident in my guy, but you can’t sleep on Tim Tszyu.
‘I love his style, his aggression, and his power. This fight will be a clash of the titans.
‘Vergil Ortiz stopping this fight in one round will give him the confidence to go back to the gym and I promise you, he will knock Tim Tszyu out.’
