Johnny Lewis is aware of an aspect or two approximately boxing. The legendary Australian teacher labored with Jeff Fenech, Jeff Harding, and Kostya Tszyu — all of whom received world titles beneath his tutelage.
And it is the Tszyu call — especially Tim Tszyu, the son of the Australian legend and former undisputed international champion, Kostya Tszyu — that’s caught the attention of Lewis over again.
Like father, like son?
Tim Tszyu is aware of all too nicely the stress of wearing one of the kingdom’s maximum famous boxing names. It’s unavoidable as he trains underneath the watchful eye of his uncle Igor Goloubev at the Tszyu Boxing Academy in Rockdale, in Sydney’s south, surrounded via large posters promoting his father’s bouts. “I became introduced up in this gym … humans say there may be an odor approximately this area. I cannot odor something due to the fact I’m so that used to it. I’m so proof against it,” Tszyu stated. “I bear in mind back in college holidays humans would be at the Easter Show or the seaside, I changed into caught here in this gym, and I turned into introduced up with this.”
He’s also a dead ringer for his dad.
“More human beings start recognizing you — there is a piece of more stress; however you realize what, it certainly would not trouble me due to the fact I’m representing my closing call with honor,” Tszyu said. My dad put it to that level wherein he is considered the greatest Aussie boxer of all time, and you realize I intend to lower back it up; it really is for sure. So ways, so precise: The 24-yr-vintage’s professional profession is off to a great 12-0 (10 using knockout) winning begin.
But the newest Tszyu on the combat scene wishes to be his personal guy — he wants to create his own legacy — and the fantastic welterweight’s next fight, against Victorian Joel Camilleri, is for an Australian name. And even though he is nevertheless honing his craft in the ring, Tszyu’s already grasped the artwork of pugilistic advertising. [Camilleri’s] got the revel in, he’s were given the age, he’s got a bigger mouth, he’s got a broken nostril. I intend to make the nose the other manner around,” said Tszyu with a grin. Boxing journalist Paul Upham, who wrote an e-book on Kostya Tszyu, has seen the similarities between the previous global champion and his son.
“Tim has a number of the traits of Kostya, manifestly following his father’s profession, looking videos of him, getting guidance from his father, so there may usually be going to be that comparable sort of favor,” stated Upham. “Tim’s a thinking fighter; you could sincerely see the manner he operates. He virtually thinks approximately the science of boxing.” ‘Cutting his personal direction’ With Lewis in his corner, Kostya Tszyu completed with a career document of 31 wins from 34 fights between 1995 and 2005. And the boxing aficionado stated Tim had inherited his father’s expertise and dedication.