By Rick Reeno
Kostya Tszyu is hoping that a deal can be stuck between HBO and Showtime in order to secure a fight with Arturo Gatti. Tszyu told "The Australian" that he does not want to wait, he wants a fight with Gatti right now.
"The fight does shape up as a promoter's dream and it would be a sell-out at the famous stadium (MSG). That's what people want to see. The fight I think belongs in Madison Square Garden and I'm sure it will be packed. There is a huge Russian community in the city." said Tszyu
"I think the WBC is going to be best for me in the beginning, Arturo Gatti is the big attraction. I have to speak to the WBC because I am emeritus champion and they said to me when they gave me this honour that I'm able to fight the champion any time I want. I want to fight him now."
Tszyu said that he does not want to anything less then big money fights with big name opponents, he does not want to waste his time with lesser names anymore. Tszyu is hoping to stage 2-3 fights in 2005
"Everything is in my court now. I will play my ball anywhere I want. I told the guys in the United States show me a great, great deal for big fights only. I don't want to waste my time any more. I want to be busier in the ring, not training in the gym."
Tszyu surprised the press by telling them that he actually injured himself only 3 weeks prior to the fight with Mitchell and if the injury was going to postpone the fight again, he was going to retire. Tszyu said he thought his ribs were initially broken, doctors told him the fight with Mitchell could go on if he was able to deal with the pain.
Tszyu said that his anger towards Mitchell from the trash talking and the desire to be on top pulled him through the bout with Sharmba.
"I went into the fight against Mitchell angry and hungry, but positive. It worked out to be one of my best performances. The one-two combination that put Mitchell down for the first time was as perfect as could be."
Tszyu said that if the fight with Gatti could not be made, there was always an option to move up in weight to challenge welterweight champion Cory Spinks.
"Cory Spinks is the undisputed world champion in the welterweight division. It would be a big fight as well. While it wouldn't be as popular as fighting Gatti, it would still be big. A big challenge for me to make the weight comfortably, but I don't see it as a big problem."
The Tszyu camp is still hopeful that a deal can be reached between the networks and Tszyu gets the biggest payday of his career.
"If we can sort something out over the contract between the two rival cable television networks, then we're talking a potential $15million pay day for Kostya," said Tszyu's manager Matt Watt