22.04.04 – By Kostya Tszyu: Dear Tszyu Crew, After the operation on my left shoulder in January, my recovery is going very well. Faster than I thought it would be, but I’m still taking my time. I don’t want to make any excuses when I start heavy training. Right now, I‘m doing some light training and keeping myself busy. I’m helping with some of the young boxers at the Tszyu Boxing Academy. I have to be active. My doctor is very happy with my progress. He tells me that I am not normal. Already, I can start lifting my Kettlebells with my left hand. I did that for the first time a couple of days ago. The 16 kilogram Kettlebell I pressed ten times with my left arm and shoulder, which is not bad for me.
I have to change my technique with some of my punches, but I think the shoulder is going to be much better since the operation. I had some tendon damage over the years that I was not really aware of. I never used my left hand to full capacity and this is very, very promising for me. You should be very scared if you are going to be my opponent. I never used my left hand with all my power. Over the next few months I am going to be able to reach a level of fitness with my left hand that I have never had before.
Mentally and emotionally, I am completely past my injuries. You can’t live in the past. You can only look to the future. Otherwise you can burn yourself with negative emotions. I am just thinking positively and I have always believed that everything in life happens for a reason. I look towards the future. The IBF have set a deadline in November for me to fight again and this helps me realise that I do have to fight by that time. At the same time, if my doctor tells me I am not ready to fight by the deadline, I will not fight. It is my life and I can’t cheat myself. But, I have been given a deadline and my goal is to be ready to fight by then. I believe that I am able to reach that goal.
If there has been one good point to my injury, it has been that I have been able to spend more time with the Tszyu Crew. I have been able to do a number of public appearances around Sydney and it is always pleasing to see so many smiles. Many new faces, and some of the special Tszyu Crew who always come out to see me. It keeps my mind busy and my thoughts positive.
We have been doing some live web chats in the Forum at www.kostyatszyu.com with some of the best Australian boxers, Paul Briggs, Danny Green, Sam Soliman and Anthony Mundine. I have really enjoyed these, answering questions on-line. It’s interesting to see the personalities of each of the boys and to see how the fans react to them with their questions and responses. We have had some great questions from the Tszyu Crew and all the chats have been respectful and interesting. We are planning to do more, not only with boxers but with other sporting stars and well known celebrities. I have approached some different people and we will see who else we can get in to give you the chance to meet on-line. This Wednesday night April 21 at 6.15pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time), I will be doing another live web chat with the three Hussein brothers from Team Fenech.
I am flying to Russia in May to launch my new sports drink in Moscow. It’s called the ‘Tszyu Drink’ and I am hoping that we will be able to bring it out to Australia as well one day. It is a healthy drink and I want my name associated only with positive, healthy products. I was also planning to go to the Olympic Games in Athens this year to look at some of the best young fighters and promoting them in the future, but my No.1 priority now is to be 100% fit again, resume my career and finish on a high note. I am sure now that when the next Olympics comes around in 2008, I will definitely be retired!
While it seems way off right now, November is not really that far away and I have much to do before I fight again. The process has already started, time will fly and November will be on us very quickly. It has been a long time since my last fight with James Leija in January 2003 and I do miss it. It was not my intention to be away for so long. I’ve had two injuries and I feel that time has been wasting, but you can’t change this. It is life. I know that there are many people with question marks on my future, but it is my goal now to be back at my best as the undisputed champion of the world.
Remember the Tszyu Crew rules always!
Your champion,
Undisputed Super Lightweight Champion of the World
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NEXT FIGHT: vs. Sharmba Mitchell II – date & venue to be confirmed
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w w w . K o s t y a T s z y u . c o m – Official website of Kostya Tszyu
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