Tszyu talks about retiring

THE glittering career of Kostya Tszyu appears over, with the Russian-born slugger candidly admitting he lacks the desire to fight. As debate rages over whether he should fight on after being floored by Britain's Ricky Hatton last June, Tszyu confessed he might never enter the ring again. Tszyu, who turns 37 in September, also revealed he would almost certainly not return to boxing without the approval of long-time trainer Johnny Lewis. Last month, Lewis said he would not support any comeback plan from Tszyu. "Right now I do not have the desire, honestly, to give everything," said Tszyu in an interview to be aired today on Sydney radio station Triple M's Wash Up program. "In a few months from now, if something inside me changes, I might consider it. "But the people who do not like me as a boxer, the people who like me as a person, my family and friends, do not want me to fight again. They've seen the good stuff, the bad stuff, the pain. "Their honest opinion is that I should not fight again and I need to respect that." A fortnight ago, it was revealed the International Boxing Federation wanted Tszyu to fight for his old junior welterweight world title. It is the title he lost to Hatton, who is giving up the belt to chase the WBA world welterweight crown in Boston on May 13. But Tszyu, who has 32 wins from 34 bouts, said he had no fear about life without boxing. He did, however, admit to having lost his motivation twice before - including before his shock loss to Vince Phillips in 1997 - only to regain the fire. "Against Phillips, I didn't have the desire, but I found it again," Tszyu said. "Then after the second fight against Sharmba Mitchell , at some stage I didn't have the desire to do it but I decided I wanted to fight again and I came back. "I'm not concerned . I don't have a fear. I did ask myself this question and that's another reason why, when I announce I'm finished, I'll never come back. I will never return. "It's nearly one year since my last fight and I enjoy my life. I'm extremely busy, but I'm relaxed. "I'm spending time with my family. I know where my destiny will take me." Asked if he needed Lewis in his corner should he decide on a comeback, Tszyu replied: "Yes, of course. No doubt. If I decide I want to continue, I need him in my corner and I need to prove to him I have the desire." source