THE SON ALSO RISES
On his way to announcing himself as an overnight success, 24-year-old Tim Tszyu has gone the distance. Going to print, he boasts 14 fights – and wins – as a professional. He has flown around the globe countless times. Moscow, Russia every other year to visit his father Kostya’s side of the family. Manilla, the Philippines only a few months ago to share a sparring ring with Manny Pacquiao. He has fought indoors at the Sydney Cricket Ground, he has fought outdoors on the field at Adelaide Oval. He has travelled all this way, to the top of Australia’s welterweight division and to the precipice of a world title shot, to get to one place. “The big stage,” Tszyu tells Inside Sport. “Where the whole world is watching.” Sure, people already know his name. But Tszyu is yet to truly live up to his branding. “I definitely want to be the best in the world,” he says. “To be world champion. That’s the goal.”
His ascent has been hard to miss. That’s because his talent has largely spanned generations. His appearance on the undercard of the Anthony Mundine and Danny Green
