1992 Olympics
Kostya
Tszyu was the only Soviet boxer to win a gold medal at the 1991 World
Championships in Sydney. Immediately at the Championships he was approached
by local boxing promoters, and he has decided to pass up the 1992
Summer Olympics in favor of a professional career. A week later he
had signed with Australian promoter Bill Mordey as his manager and
Johnny Lewis as his trainer in Sydney. Tszyu finished his amateur
career with 270 fights, 259 wins, 11 losses, no stoppages and no draws.
His professional debut was scheduled to take place in January 1992.
Mordey described Tszyu as the best boxer he had seen in the past decade.
Potential
comeback
On 30 January 2007 rumors spread of a Kostya Tszyu comeback.
However, there was no confirmation. In April 2010, rumors about a
possible comeback of Tszyu spread again. He continued to train and
stays in shape since his 2005 loss to Ricky Hatton. On 19 April 2010,
Tszyu appeared on Long Lunch Today, an Australian TV program. During
the show he denied his retirement and said he would return if a fight
with Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr. could be
made.
Personal life
Tszyu married Natasha Anikina on 24 September
1993. He has three children; Anastaia, Kikita and Tim. Nikita and
Tim are both boxers. Tszyu initially moved with his family to Moscow
in 2008, but they returned to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
In September 2012, Tszyu left his family in Australia while he moved
full-time to live in Russia. Tszyu is now married to Tatiana Averina,
with whom he has two children, and runs a restaurant in Moscow.
Tszyu
is an animal lover who owns several pets including Viking, a rottweiler
who has been Tszyu's companion since he arrived in Australia; Jake,
his pet diamond python; canaries and fish. Tszyu appeared with the
animals on the pet show Harry's Practice in 2002.
Legal disputes
Tszyu
has been in several court battles with his managers. Most recently,
his ex-manager Susie Bennell took him to court, alleging Tszyu owed
her money. Tszyu was also ordered to repay $3.5 million to his former
manager Bill Mordey in an unrelated civil suit. In journalist Paul
Kent's biography of long time trainer Johnny Lewis, allegations were
made that Tszyu had underpaid Lewis for his services. The dispute
was settled out of court.