11.04.05 – By Kostya Tszyu: Sometimes I feel like the November Sharmba Mitchell rematch was just like yesterday. But at other times I think about what I have already done this year and it feels a long time ago. I had a great time with my family over Christmas and then did some touring around Australia. I met many more of the Tszyu Crew and this is always very inspirational for me. I took part in the celebrity race at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and now I am back to business in the gym. I have just returned home from Canberra where I spent the last two weeks training at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
I always think it is my last trip to the AIS, but there I was back again. I have completed my normal routine, training three times a day for two weeks. This is where I build my fitness foundation before I commence my sparring.. I am building and working every muscle in my body, as well as working on my stamina and endurance. I am running ahead in the morning and the young kids still can’t catch me. I am feeling really great!
There is a big challenge in front of me for this fight with Ricky Hatton on 5th June 2005 at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester, England. It is what is driving me on and making me train hard. I want to make sure that there are not going to be any excuses for myself. You can’t step in the same river twice. What I did against Sharmba in my last fight means nothing for this preparation. This fight is different and I don’t want to feel exactly the same. I know I can still improve. There is no question about this. My last fight was close to my perfect performance. Very close, but I can still improve in different ways. Hatton’s is a different style and I have to work on different movements and tactically the fight will be different. Ricky Hatton has never been defeated and that is always a great challenge. He is fighting in his territory in front of his fans and all the circumstances are against me.
I am definitely going to miss the training and preparations for my fights. My life will never be the same once I decide to retire. That is the reason I am training so hard. I want to enjoy every minute and be at my best. I know I will have many interesting things in my life once my career as a boxer has ended. There will be many new things to excite me and there will be many new challenges in life. But right now, I am only thinking about Ricky Hatton.
This coming Friday 15th April 2005, I will be holding a special open air sparring and training session in Martin Place in the centre of Sydney, Australia. After warming up in First Fleet Park, Circular Quay from 11:30am, I will run along Pitt Street at midday to the Martin Place Ampitheatre. From 12:15pm I will be sparring with IBF No.1 middleweight “King” Sam Soliman. If you are in Sydney City on Friday, I invite you, your friends and fellow workmates to watch me in action. It is something that I can give back to you and I am looking forward to it.
The “Official Tszyu Crew Tour” for the Hatton fight is again being managed by Kerry Phillips and the “Great Events” team and no matter what part of the world you are travelling from, they can put together a package deal that will see you among what will be a sell-out crowd of over 22,000 people when I defend my undisputed world champion title. This is a great, great offer and I know that we have Tszyu Crew travelling from Russia and Australia. If you have ever wanted to attend one of my fights live in person, the very best tour is the “Official Tszyu Crew Tour”. Further information is available at this link – http://www.greatevents.com.au/kostya.htm . Places are limited and if you are interested in being there in Manchester, please contact them today.
Mr Kerry Phillips – “GREAT EVENTS”
110a Belford St (PO Box 4)
Broadmeadow NSW 2292
AUSTRALIA
Phone: 61 2 4961 0800
Fax: 61 2 4961 0855
web: www.greatevents.com.au
e-mail: TSZYUCREW@greatevents.com.au
In a special offer to the Tszyu Crew, www.KostyaTszyu.com can now give you the opportunity to purchase “THE GREATEST” memorabilia piece, which is a world-wide limited edition of only 200. The beautifully hand-framed replica back page of The Daily Telegraph newspaper from 8th November 2004 has each been personally signed by me. There are only 100 left of “THE GREATEST” and at A$299 each they will sell out very quickly. You can see and order the piece at this link
There is only eight weeks to the fight now and this time will really fly for me. For those people there live in the M.E.N Arena, it will be a very exciting fight. For me, I will be in my zone where nothing will interrupt me. I am hoping many of you will be there in Manchester supporting me. Of course, if you can’t be there, the fight will be televised live around the world in the USA on SHOWTIME, in Russia, Australia and many other countries.
Remember the Tszyu Crew rules always!
Your champion,
Kostya Tszyu
Undisputed Super Lightweight Champion of the World