With 14 heartfelt words, the great Kostya Tszyu has buried the myth that he has been estranged from his sons for more than a decade as Australian boxing’s royal family finally came together in Florida.
Tszyu was a surprising and conspicuous presence after gatecrashing the official pre-fight press conference for Tim’s IBF super-welterweight showdown on Sunday with Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev, stealing the show from his world title-chasing eldest child.
Not expected in until hours later, the 55-year-old Hall of Famer shocked Tim from behind with a familiar fatherly massage, then greeted younger son Nikita in the flesh for the first time in 11 years with a long, emotional embrace.
“They are in my heart every second. They are in my thoughts every second,” said Tszyu, who left Australia some 15 years ago and returned to his native Russia, starting a new life and new family.
“I’ve seen them regularly, nearly on the phone every day. But of course, it’s not the same.
“I’m sure we’ll have a great, great time here together.”
Tszyu hasn’t been ringside for any of his boys’ combined 35 professional bouts since Tim’s debut in 2016.
Tim has repeatedly recalled that night at the SCG a “circus”, branding his father a “pain in the arse” as he screamed out instructions uncontrollably.
All has been forgiven, with the former unified world champ given a front-row seat for Tim’s date with destiny at the Caribe Royale Orlando resort.
Tszyu, though, cannot promise he will be able to contain himself watching on live for the first time in nine years.
“I don’t know how I will be,” he said.
“I’m alright now. I’m not nervous now but I’m not sure what’s going to happen tomorrow.
“I will try – maybe it’s not right to do, maybe – but I’ll put extra pressure on that guy (Murtazaliev).
Surprise surprise! @KostyaTszyu arrives early to be there for @Tim_Tszyu‘s world title press conference in Orlando. #TszyuMurtazaliev pic.twitter.com/atQkeRaIsb
— No Limit Boxing (@NoLimit_Boxing) October 17, 2024
“I’m sorry, my friend, but I’ll do it.”
Team Tszyu will be hoping there is no repeat of the fiasco in Las Vegas in March when Tim suffered the first defeat of his career, a controversial split-decision loss after an accidental elbow from Sebastian Fundora left the Sydneysider with a gaping head wound.
“Thank God I wasn’t there because I don’t know what would I do during that fight,” Tszyu said.
“The referee is supposed to stop the fight, not (the) corner.
“It’s a referee and the way he was bleeding non-stop, many countries would stop the fight.”
The outcome of this fight could send Tim Tszyu to either the top or the bottom of the boxing world.
Tim said his father told him two hours earlier that he would not be at Friday’s press conference.
“It was typical, man. I’m sort of used to it now,” the 29-year-old said of Tszyu’s unexpected appearance.
“I’m sitting down on my couch and he just grabbed me from my back and got my traps pretty good.
“I knew straight away it was him.
“But yeah, it was good to see him. Still good to see him. He’s buzzing now.
“We just hugged it out for a bit,” Nikita said.
“Said a few little words – ‘happy to see you finally’.
“We don’t need to say much. We’re not very talkative people but all we need is a hug and a little murmur of silence.
“I haven’t seen him in over a decade so it’s good to see him like not on a screen.
“I’m not a fan of talking on Skype or through phones so these personal interactions are something that I much prefer.”