13.08.04 – In another likely candidate for Fight of The Year, two of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters will meet Nov. 6 on SHOWTIME when Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion Kostya Tszyu defends his titles against Sharmba Mitchell. The long-awaited rematch will take place in the United States, from a site to be announced in the near future.
Tszyu (30-1, 24 KOs) scored a controversial seventh-round TKO over Mitchell (55-3, 30 KOs) on Feb. 3, 2001, on SHOWTIME. The fight was stopped when a knee injury forced Mitchell to retire after the seventh round. At the time of the stoppage, Tszyu was ahead on two of the scorecards, 68-65 and 68-64, and even on the other, 66-66.
KOSTA TSZYU
“I am almost 33, but I am a young 33. I have only had 31 fights. I feel fresh. I am healthy and I am hungry. I am anxious to get back in the ring.
“I have not fought since January 2003, but it makes no sense to fight a tuneup. That would accomplish nothing and would be a waste of time. Sharmba has done a lot of talking and it is time to shut him up. Let’s finish our business.
“My shoulder is fine. I have been testing it and doing heavy work with it for two months. You know me; all I do is train, train, train. Nobody works harder than me.
“Some wonder why I continue to fight after accomplishing so much. Well, I still have some unfinished business in this sport. If I stopped now, I would be quitting – and I have never quit anything in my life.
“I work with a lot of young kids at my gym in Australia and the one thing I stress to them – besides hard work – is to never quit. What kind of example would I be if I quit boxing now?
“Everything I have in my life is due to boxing, so I will stay in boxing my entire life. I want to give back to a sport that has given me and my family so much.
“I am looking forward to fighting again in the United States on SHOWTIME.’’