The Greatness of Kostya Tszyu

[Left Hook Tua]

I was talking about Kostya Tszyu with a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fan earlier today and he asked , "Who the hell is Kostya Tszyu?" and "Who the hell did Kostya Tszyu beat?"

It's time the greatness of Kostya Tszyu is appreciated. He is one of the most underrated fighters on this board. That's unfortunate. I will do my best to change that.

First of , who is Kostya Tszyu you ask? He's one of the greatest junior welterweights of all time. He's up there with all the other greats who have fought at 140 and would be competitive with any of them head to head.

Second , who has he beat? Well here's a list of some of the opponents he beat , their record when they first fought Kostya and some of the titles they've held.

Zab Judah (27-0-0) WBO/IBF140 , WBC/WBA/IBF147 Champion
Sharmba Mitchell (47-2-0) WBA/IBF140 Champion
Julio Cesar Chavez (103-4-2) WBC130 , WBC/WBA135 , WBC/IBF140
Champion
Roger Mayweather (54-11-0) WBA130 , WBC/IBO140 , IBA/IBO147 Champion
Rafael Ruelas (52-3-0) IBF135 Champion
Jesse James Leija (43-5-2) WBC130 , IBA135 Champion
Oktay Urkal (28-0-0)
Ben Tackie (24-2-0)
Miguel Angel Gonzalez (43-1-1) WBC135 Champion
Diobelys Hurtado (28-1-0) WBA/IBA140 Champion
Calvin Grove (49-9-0) IBF126 Champion
Ismael Armando Chaves (40-5-3)
Jan Piet Bergman (32-0-0) WBU147 Champion
Corey Johnson (20-1-1) IBC140 Champion
Hugo Pineda (27-0-1)
Jake Rodriguez (26-2-2) IBF140 Champion
Pedro Sanchez (26-1-2)
Angel Hernandez (40-1-2)
Hector Lopez (26-2-1)
Livingstone Bramble (34-11-3) WBA135 Champion
Juan LaPorte (37-12-0) WBC126 Champion

[Flawless]

Mayweather > Kostya.

[Flawless]

Don’t have excuses he was past his prime when he quit against Hatton.......

[Dan...]

Completely agree. Great thread. Kostya in his prime was absolutely brutal. My favourite Kostya fights are the ones against Hurtado and the second Mitchell fight.

[Silencers]

He's one of the top 10 light welterweights of all time IMO, he beat some very good opponents, shame he never tried to avenge the Phillips loss though.

[baCCaT]

you forgot about the pigtail

[Sweet Pea 50]

Tszyu has always been a favorite of mine. One of the true good guys of the sport.

[Left Hook Tua]

Kostya Tszyu's Career

Kostya ended his career with a record of 31-2-0 (25 KO's)

The Ring/Lineal World Champion 2001-2005
WBC World Champion 1998-2003
WBA World Champion 2001-2003
IBF World Champion 1995-1997 , 2001-2003 and 2004-2005

He didn't have that many fights but please make note that he fought and won the IBF Junior Welterweight Title on his 14th fight. His pro debut was against a fighter with a 7-1 record and in his 4th fight he fought Juan LaPorte , who while older and not a natural 140 pounder , was a former champion and had a record of 37-12-0 at the time.

He had a stellar amateur career and was 259-11. One of the guys he beat in the amateurs might be a familiar name to you , a guy by the name of Vernon Forrest , who I hear had a pretty solid career at Welterweight and Junior Middleweight. He was European Champion twice in 1989 and 1991 , won a Gold Medal in the Goodwill Games in 1990 and won the World Championships in 1991.

[WLAD OWNS]

Prime Tszyu would've knocked Fatton out cold

[Left Hook Tua]

Mayweather > Kostya.

okay. it's a matter of opinion. i think 50/50 he ko's floyd jr.

but would you at least agree that Kostya would've been his toughest challenge out of everyone that fought in the last 10 years or so?