Born in Serov, Russia, moving to Australia the future WBA, WBC and IBF World Super Lightweight champion Kostya ‘Thunder from Down Under’ Tszyu built an amateur record of 259-11.
In March of 1992, Tszyu turned pro 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, stopping him at 0:54 of the first round.
In August of 1993 Tszyu would defeat 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, earning a world title fight in January of 1995, stopping IBF World Super Lightweight champion Jake ‘The Snake’ Rodriguez, 26-2-2, in 6 rounds at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In Tszyu’s first defense, he won a lopsided decision over Roger ‘Black Mamba’ Mayweather, 54-11. Next, Colombia’s Hugo Pineda, 27-0-1, stopped him in eleven. Detroit’s Corey ‘Prime Time’ Johnson, 20-1-1, fell in four rounds. Then South Africa’s Jan Piet Bergman, 32-0, stopped in six.
In May of 1997, Tszyu, after nine even rounds, was stopped by ‘Cool’ Vince Phillips, 35-3. He came back, scoring three stoppages over Argentina’s Ismael Armando Chaves, 40-5-3; Calvin Grove, 49-9; and in an eliminator WBC Light Welter fight Rafael Ruelas, 52-3.
In November of 1998, Tszyu found himself on the canvas twice in the first round and WBC World Interim World Super Light champion Cuba’s Diosbelys Hurtado, 28-1, once. Tszyu ended it in 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 Mexico’s Julio ‘J.C.’ Cesar Chavez, 103-4-2, in six rounds in Phoenix, AZ.
Tszyu won his next six defenses. His career ended in his next fight losing in the UK to Ricky Hatton, 38-0, stopped in eleven rounds.
Tszyu’s final record was 31-2 with 25 stoppages. At 5:07, the ‘Giant Killer’ would enter the IBHOF as one of the best in modern times.
