Jackie Chan
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Negotiations are underway for former undisputed super lightweight boxing world champion Kostya Tszyu to stage an exhibition bout with movie martial arts great Jackie Chan as part of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in August.
It was reported in the Russia media this week that Chan and Tszyu had both agreed to the bout, which would be held on August 22 or 23 towards the end of the Olympic Games.
Tszyu’s manager Matthew Watt confirmed to SecondsOut on Saturday that the Russian media report was accurate, but that the Chinese Olympic Committee still had to give their approval. An agreement also needed to be reached between Chan and Tszyu as to the exact type of exhibition match they would engage in.
54 year-old Chan has appeared in almost one hundred films and is China’s official face of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, to be held August 8-24.
Tszyu represented Russia at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and is part of the official Russian team delegation for Beijing.
Currently in Russia on a business trip, 38 year-old Tszyu 31-2 (25), has not fought since losing to Ricky Hatton in Manchester in June 2005. While he has not officially announced his retirement during his absence from the boxing ring, the four-time world champion has made no real attempt to arrange a fight either.
“It is all about opportunities,” Tszyu had said.
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At a press conference in Sydney two weeks ago, Tszyu was asked to name a percentage chance of him fighting again in the next five years, he thought for a few moments and replied, “40%. It is less than 50%. But it is still 40%. I am realistically saying it is still a big chance.”
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