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Tszyu: “No rematch in February”

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By Paul Upham: Undisputed junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu returned home to Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday morning where he was greeted by thousands of fans, media and family at Sydney Airport. After destroying Zab Judah at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last Saturday night, Tszyu made it perfectly clear that there would be no rematch in February.
“They already announced the fight for February. I’m sure in February, I’m going to be somewhere else,” said Tszyu, 28-1-1 (23). “I had three fights this year, I won two belts this year, I became undisputed champion of the world this year. I had nine months of preparation already this year. I haven’t seen my family. My son’s birthday was when I was overseas. Sometimes I feel it is not fair. I don’t live for one thing, just to do sport.”

The champion added: “Now my attention is to spend time with my family and friends, educate my kids a bit because they haven’t had time with their father around. Maybe spoil them a bit. Go fishing and enjoy myself.”

Tszyu says that he has no idea who his next fight will be against or when, and wants to make it perfectly clear to everyone that now is his time to rest.

“No idea, don’t know nothing about it,” said Tszyu, when asked who his next opponent will be. “Vlad (Warton) tried to talk to me about it, I said, ‘Don’t even think about it’. Right now is my time.”

Regardless of what you may hear from Main Events, Showtime or Zab Judah, there is no way he will be fighting in February 2002 says Tszyu, who may not return to the ring until April.

“I’m telling you there is no rematch in February. Until January at least, I will be having a rest. They cannot force me to do it and they can’t strip me because all mandatories are done.”

After having his last eight fights in the USA, Tszyu is keen to defend his undisputed title in Australia. “I hope to bring this next fight to Australia. I really want to. I believe now is the time where I can say something to these people and say, ‘Look guys, this fight needs to come to Australia,” said Tszyu.

“I believe that we can make a super-fight here with a super undercard. Everywhere we can go we can have a full stadium. With the support I have here, it is great and I believe before my retirement we will have one fight here.”

Does Zab Judah deserve a rematch?

“No, he does not,” said Tszyu.

“A rematch can happen, but he does not deserve it. By the way he spoke, by the way he conducted himself, by the way he put himself before the fight, he does not deserve it. He does not deserve to come near me now.”

Team Tszyu Manager Glenn Jennings says that Judah’s promoter Main Events has made it very clear that they will be doing everything possible to force a rematch.

“Obviously Main Events is absolutely filthy that Kostya has taken away another opportunity for them. Gary Shaw made it very clear at the press conference after the fight that he was going to do everything in their power through legal courts to see that these guys get back in the ring,” said Jennings.

“I think Main Events and Showtime can see that it has the potential to be an enormous crowd puller and an enormous fight and I think the public would probably want to see them go around again. The reality of it is that Zab Judah is no longer a contender at 140lbs. He is the one that has gone home looking for a job. He has no belt he has no title, this guy has got all of them. He calls the shots from here on in.”

Regardless of how much money is thrown at him, Tszyu will not be rushed into making a decision about his future. “Money has never been the biggest priority in my career,” said Tszyu.

“Money can’t buy everything. In life, being happy is the important part. Now, money is important, but not everything. You can’t buy me. Money can’t buy me and you have to understand this. You can’t buy me for any money in the world.

“I can fight anybody I want to fight. The reality is when I decide when I am going to fight it is against somebody who is well known. An interesting fight, lets put a super-fight on. I am 32. I don’t want to waste my time.”

Such a fight with WBC welterweight champion Sugar Shane Mosley is not an immediate option after he spoke to him in Las Vegas, says Tszyu.

“I’m not considering this as an option. I spoke with Shane just briefly and he is fighting against Vernon Forrest (Editor’s note: Negotiations have, in fact, fallen through), which will be a great fight between them. In the amateurs, Shane lost to him and it will be a good fight between them,” he said.

After achieving what he described as his destiny in becoming the undisputed champion of the world, Tszyu is unsure what his new goals will be before he retires.

“It was a big destiny, three belts together finally. I made history not only for this country, but for Russia as well, which is really important for me,” said Tszyu.

“I don’t know what else I am going to do. Someone asked me if it was necessary to go to a different division. Maybe I need it, but maybe I don’t. I feel comfortable and I make weight so perfectly. I had breakfast the day of the weigh-in.”

Right now, Tszyu will channel the same focus he had for his fight with Judah into enjoying time with his family and friends. “The future is what is going to be tomorrow. But today I want to live today. This is my day and I want to enjoy myself every split second of it,” he said.

Paul Upham

Contributing Editor
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