27 May 2003 15:39
BOX: Kostya Tszyu plans to unify division
SYDNEY, May 27 AAP - Kostya Tszyu today outlined his bold plan to unify a second division, a feat fellow Australian
boxing hero Jeff Fenech believes he can accomplish. Introducing his new manager, Matthew Watt, in Sydney today,
undisputed super lightweight world champion Tszyu also took the opportunity to expand on his new goal of attacking the
welterweight division. After confirming his promoter Vlad Warton had initiated discussions with International Boxing
Federation welterweight champion Cory Spinks, 33-year-old Tszyu made it clear he wanted to unify the division. "I
just think it's a great opportunity, I can do it, that's why I believe it's exciting for me," Tszyu
said of his plan to unify the welterweight division. Tszyu said he hoped to fight and beat Spinks later this year and
then challenge the winner of next month's rematch between his old amateur victim Vernon Forrest and World Boxing
Council and World Boxing Association welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga. He felt he had achieved all his aims at
super lightweight, though he didn't rule out fighting again in that division. "The most important thing in
life is the challenge and now the welterweight division is the big challenge for me," Tszyu said. "But who
knows, if there is to be a big fight in the super lightweights, I still make the weight easily." He said it was
hard to please all three of the bodies whose titles he held and it had therefore become difficult to organise fights.
"It's very hard to please everyone and I think I've made the right decision, to please myself
first," Tszyu said. Among the invitees to today's function at his Rockdale gym was triple world champion
Fenech, who the WBC recently recognised as Australia's greatest world boxing champion. Asked if he thought Tszyu
could also unify the welterweight decision Fenech said: "No doubt, he will be stronger." "I just think
he's run out of things that can keep that hunger and desire there in the lighter weight division, so you've
got to do something and I think it's a great thing to do." While he previously had reservations about Tszyu
stepping up to welterweight, trainer Johnny Lewis felt it was now a timely thing to do as it could bring the best out of
his fighter. "If he is going to fight he's really got to have the desire and I think the only way to get the
desire is a new challenge," Lewis said. "I think only time will tell, but he's proven beyond doubt that
he is the best super lightweight in the world and I think this challenge might be just the thing." Tszyu confirmed
his next fight was scheduled for September 27, but remained uncertain whether Spinks would be the opponent and if the
bout would take place in Australia, America or Russia. While he will turn 34 the week before the scheduled bout, Tszyu
said he wasn't ready to retire and still had four more fights left on his contract with American cable television
network Showtime. Watt, who helped organise Tszyu's last world title fight promotion in Melbourne back in January,
was formerly a development director with the Seven television network and an investment banker with the Macquarie Bank.
He was contracted to manage Tszyu until the fighter's retirement and will supervise all his dealings with Warton,
pay television and the media in addition to securing sponsorships. AAP aw/cc/ph
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