By Kostya Tszyu: I returned home to Sydney last week after spending a week in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with my wife Natasha and three children. It is the 70th anniversary of large immigration from Korea to live in these two countries and as I have Korean heritage through my father Boris Tszyu’s family, I was invited to go to this special celebration. We met relatives from my father’s side who I have never seen before and I enjoyed myself..
In August and September 2007, I spent six weeks in Ukraine and Russia filming my first role in a Russian movie. I enjoyed being an actor. People who know me well know how organised I like to be in anything I do. That is something that is not always possible when you are making a movie, but I enjoyed my many new experiences. I had some good people around me and I make special mention of the great Russian actor Alexander Abdulov who I was working with. He became sick during filming and I send my very best wishes to him.
This movie is based on a popular Russian book and the remainder of filming will be completed at the end of October and it will be released in 2008. Learning the script is hard, but there were some action scenes for me, which I enjoyed. The character I am playing is a good guy, but he is unique in that he can’t be burned. They even had to set fire to me for real as a stunt, which was a rather hot experience!
I have been keeping my eye on boxing around the world and I am really looking forward to the December 8 fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Ricky Hatton. It is a very interesting match. I have double feelings on who will win. I can see how Mayweather can win and I can see how Hatton can win. The reason why is that I never felt that Ricky could beat me, but it happened. I remember a time when Roy Jones Jr. felt he was unbeatable, the same way I felt. But everyone can be beaten. This is life.
I can see Floyd losing his focus on boxing. Having appeared on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ myself here in Australia, I know how much work is involved. It is a full time job to prepare properly. To get ready for a fight with Ricky Hatton and concentrate on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ will be very hard. This is why I am saying Floyd is losing his focus. There is no doubt that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a boxing freak, just as Roy Jones Jr. was a boxing freak. They are very special talents. But anyone can still lose. Maybe Floyd will not be on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ for that many weeks. I, like millions of others around the world, will be watching the outcome closely. It will be a great fight.
This week on Tuesday October 9, I will commence a signing tour for the new book “Something Worth Fighting For”, written by boxing journalist Paul Upham and published by ABC Books. It is on sale now in bookstores in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in my on-line store at KostyaTszyu.com.
The book is a biography of me over the last two years, beginning with my last fight against Ricky Hatton. I think Paul has done a good job and many people, especially the Tszyu Crew, are going to really enjoy reading this new book. There are lots of interesting stories in this book from the last two years of my life. Looking back, it is hard to believe that I have accomplished so many different things. I am getting many phone calls of interest about this book already, which is a good sign.
You can meet me at the following locations in Australia over the next two weeks.
Tuesday 9th October 2007 – 12:30pm
Angus and Robertson Book Shop Sydney City
Imperial Arcade
168-174 Pitt Street Mall
Sydney, New South Wales
Australia
Tuesday 9th October 2007 – 3:00pm
ABC Shop Campbelltown
Shop C029, Level 1, Macarthur Square
Campbelltown, New South Wales
Australia
Wednesday 10th October 2007 – 11:30am
ABC Shop Newcastle
Shop 205, Charlestown Shopping Square
Charlestown, New South Wales
Australia
Wednesday 10th October 2007 – 3:00pm
ABC Shop Erina
Shop T253, The Parallel Mall, Erina Fair
Erina, New South Wales
Australia
Thursday 11th October 2007 – 12:30pm
Angus and Robertson Book Shop Brisbane City
Shop 1-5, Post Office Square, Adelaide Street
Brisbane, Queensland
Australia
Thursday 11th October 2007 – 6:00pm
ABC Shop Indooroopilly
Shop 3017, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
Indooroopilly, Queensland
Australia
Friday 12th October 2007 – 12:30pm
Angus and Robertson Book Shop Melbourne City
360 Bourke Street
Melbourne, Victoria
Australia
Friday 12th October 2007 – 6:00pm
ABC Shop Preston
Shop K28, Northlands Shopping Centre
Preston, Victoria
Australia
Saturday 13th October 2007 – 12:00pm
Dymocks Book Shop Glen Waverley
The Glen Shopping Centre
Glen Waverley, Victoria
Australia
Saturday 13th October 2007 – 2:30pm
ABC Shop Maribyrnong
Shop 2072, Highpoint Shopping Centre
Maribyrnong, Victoria
Australia
Wednesday 17th October 2007 – 7:00pm
The Steyne Hotel Manly
Corner The Corso and Ocean Beach
Manly, New South Wales
Australia
Note: book signing and live interview – ticket event
Saturday 20th October 2007 – 10:00am
ABC Shop Hornsby
Shop 3033/34, Westfield Shoppingtown
Hornsby, New South Wales
Australia
Saturday 20th October 2007 – 12:00pm
ABC Shop Castle Hill
Shop 28, Castle Towers Shopping Centre
Castle Hill, New South Wales
Australia
Saturday 20th October 2007 – 3:00pm
ABC Shop Penrith
Shop 150, Level 1, Westfield Shoppingtown
Penrith, New South Wales
Australia
I am going to be very busy and the best part of that is that I will get to see many of you again in person during this book tour.
Keep checking my website www.KostyaTszyu.com for updates on television and radio appearances that I will be making each day. We will also have lots of photo galleries of me with the Tszyu Crew.
I am training every day and staying in shape. Running is no problem, skipping is no problem, weights is no problem. I am fit, healthy and enjoying my life.
Remember the Tszyu Crew rules forever!