Kostya Tszyu Was A Real Massacre!

Born in Serov, Russia, moved to Australia former WBA, WBC and IBF World Super Lightweight champion Kostya ‘Thunder from Down Under’ Tszyu amassed a junior record of 259-11.

In March of 1992, Tszyu became a champion in Australia and, in his fourth fight, defeated former WBC Featherweight champion Juan LaPorte, 37-11-1. Two fights later, he stopped Puerto Rico’s future WBO World Lightweight Champion (1995) Sammy ‘Mangani’ Fuentes, 23-10-1, at 0:54 of the first round.

In August 1993, Tszyu defeated former WBA World Lightweight champion Livingston Bramble, 34-11-3. Four months later, he stopped Puerto Rico’s Angel Hernandez, 40-1-2, in seven rounds, winning a world title fight in January 1995, stopping IBF World Super Lightweight champion Jake ‘The Snake’ Rodriguez, 26-2-2 , in 6 rounds at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In Tszyu’s first round, he won a unanimous decision over Roger ‘Black Mamba’ Mayweather, 54-11. Next, Colombia’s Hugo Pineda, 27-0-1, stopped him at 11. Detroit’s Corey ‘Prime Time’ Johnson, 20-1-1, fell in four rounds. Then Jan Piet Bergman of South Africa, 32-0, stopped at six.

In May of 1997, Tszyu, after nine rounds, was stopped by ‘Cool’ Vince Phillips, 35-3. He returned, beating Ismael Armando Chaves of Argentina, 40-5-3 by three strokes; Calvin Grove, 49-9; and finishing WBC Light Welterweight Rafael Ruelas, 52-3.

In November 1998, Tszyu found himself twice knocked out in the first round by Cuban WBC Interim World Super Light champion Diosbelys Hurtado, 28-1, and. Tszyu completed five rounds, taking the world title.

Next, Tszyu won the vacant WBC World Super Lightweight title, stopping Miguel Angel Gonzalez, 43-1-1, in Miami, Florida, in ten rounds. In his second defense, he stopped Mexican Julio ‘JC’ Cesar Chavez, 103-4-2, in six rounds in Phoenix, AZ.

Tszyu won his next six defenses. His career ended in his next fight in the UK where he was beaten by Ricky Hatton, 38-0, stopped in eleven rounds.

Tszyu’s final record was 31-2 with 25 stoppages. At 5:07, ‘The Giant Killer’ will enter the IBHOF as one of the best of modern times.