Training Update from Kostya Tszyu

07.01.04 – By Kostya Tszyu: It is only one month now to my rematch with Sharmba Mitchell on February 7 in Moscow, Russia at the Loujniki Stadium. My training has been going very well and I am happy with my progress. I have been getting some great sparring from Demarcus Corley, Damian Fuller, Sam Soliman and Paul Miller, which has me in excellent condition.

While I am focused on the work still ahead of me, it has been an honour to have had some special guests visit me at the Tszyu Boxing Academy over the last two weeks in Oscar winning actor Russell Crowe and one of boxing’s great trainers Angelo Dundee, who of course was the trainer of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Russell will be making a new movie this year about former heavyweight champion James Braddock and Angelo has been working with him to prepare for the role. On a few occasions during my early morning runs I have also bumped into Anthony Mundine who is preparing for his next fight on January 19 and he came to visit me while I was training in the gymnasium.

This week I will be making my final public appearances in Sydney before I leave for Moscow on January 22. On Thursday January 8, I will be appearing at the Rebel Sport store in Penrith, NSW from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

On Saturday January 10, I will be a special guest of the Sydney Turf Club at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse to see some champion horses in action for the “Kostya Tszyu” Race Day. I will be interviewed in the parade ring at 2.20pm, while arrangements have been made for me to spend time with the Tszyu Crew from 3.00pm in the public stage area. One lucky person at the racecourse will win a ‘Kostya Tszyu prize package’, including autographed boxing gloves, DVD, autographed autobiography and Tszyu Crew shirt, plus an invitation to be my special guest at one of my final gym training sessions in Sydney.

There are still some packages available to travel to Moscow for my rematch with Sharmba Mitchell. The only travel agent outside of Russia who will be able to provide access to fight tickets is Value International Travel Pty Ltd at Shop 2a, 79 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, 2022, NSW, Australia. Please ask for Dimitry Belin. Their contact telephone number is 61 2 9387 5757.

For those of you in Australia, the fight can be seen live at participating venues on Sky Channel, Fox Sports Pub and Club Vision and in homes on Main Event Television on Saturday night February 7 with coverage commencing at 9pm Australian Eastern Daylight Saving time. For those of you in the USA, my good friends at the Showtime television network will be showing the fight at 9pm Eastern and Pacific time.

While I am in Russia, my website www.kostyatszyu.com will keep you updated on all the happenings surrounding the fight including the final press conference and weigh-in with lots of news stories and photo galleries.

Finally, a special get well soon to Australia’s great three-time boxing world champion Jeff Fenech (jeff_fenech@teamfenech.com ) who was attacked and injured on Sunday night in Sydney by four street thugs. Jeff, we are relieved that you are OK and we are all thinking of you!

Remember the Tszyu Crew rules always!

Your champion,

Kostay Tszyu, Undisputed Super Lightweight Champion of the World