Tszyu to hit UK on May 22!

[Martin (Top Knowledge)]

Let's drum up some excitment on this mega bout!

Keen to acclimatise to UK timings and conditions ahead of his IBF Jr-welterweight title defense, Kostya Tszyu will arrive in the UK on May 22nd. This is a full two weeks before his June 4th defense against unbeaten local fighter Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton at the MEN Arena in Manchester. The fight has sold out in the capacity 22,000 arena and will be shown in the UK on Sky Box Office pay-per-view. In Australia Tszyu has been training at 11am each day to ensure his body clock is tuned to the correct timings given the fight will occur at 2am in the UK. This is to suit the watching US TV audience who will see the fight live from Manchester via Showtime. Meanwhile in Australia Tszyu's long-time trainer Johnny Lewis feels his fighter is reaching a new level of fitness. He stated, "I have worked with Kostya for 13 years and he has never looked better."
Tuesday, May 10 2005

Hatton by UD!!!!

[Martin (Top Knowledge)]

I'm glad that Kostya Tszyu is taking this fight seriously, coz' then after Ricky wins no one can take anything away from him.

If Kostya Tszyu is currently P4P No.2 then Surely if Ricky beats him, Ricky Hatton will become P4P No.2 Yeah?

I don't reckon that'll happen though, Perhaps because Ricky Boy isn't American?

[cupcrazy01]

There is no way Tszyu isn't taking this fight seriously...

How f'ing cool is it that a world-recognized champ voluntarily takes a fight against a mega-hyped undefeated challenger from the UK...AT MANCHESTER ARENA! I didn't care for Tszyu one way or the other before he took this fight, but now I'm a fan because the man has balls and I love it. I only hope if he prevails he can KTFO PBF by the end of the year...

[SacTown1]

There is no way Tszyu isn't taking this fight seriously...

How f'ing cool is it that a world-recognized champ voluntarily takes a fight against a mega-hyped undefeated challenger from the UK...AT MANCHESTER ARENA! I didn't care for Tszyu one way or the other before he took this fight, but now I'm a fan because the man has balls and I love it. I only hope if he prevails he can KTFO PBF by the end of the year...

he's got HUGE cojones for going to Manchester, if and when he dominates Hatton, he's going to need a really clever escape route from MEN Arena because there will be 20,000 liquored-up maniacs going after him and the Kostya Krew

[!! Mr. Soprano]

I'm glad that Kostya Tszyu is taking this fight seriously, coz' then after Ricky wins no one can take anything away from him.

If Kostya Tszyu is currently P4P No.2 then Surely if Ricky beats him, Ricky Hatton will become P4P No.2 Yeah?

I don't reckon that'll happen though, Perhaps because Ricky Boy isn't American?

Well, a P4P Throne is not a belt that if you beat someone you take his spot.

I'm sure it will put Hatton on the list, but would not be at #2.
Now if he beats Tszyu and PBF, I'm sure he will be in the top 3 P4P champs :-)

But he has to prove that and not by a single victory.

Agree?

[Brz_Pugilist]

There will be alot of dissapointed UK fans after this match.

[EXIGE]

lot of disappointed UK fans. What the ones hu emigrated from Australia. I say "The Hitman" is gonna win. He has a 10 yr age advantage and i heard that his training is aimed towards making the most of this.

I also heard, however, that Kostya has bought in sum great sparring partners which match the style of Ricky. Im guessin Ricky has dun the same. It will be a close bout i think. No1 can say some1 is gonna get whitewashed, but i think with all that said Hatton will win (home advantage etc)

[cupcrazy01]

eXig3,

Cool avatar (though I dislike the Prince)...

I can't wait for this fight, on top of how cool it is for Kostya to go to the UK for this fight, it is that much cooler for Showtime to show the fight LIVE and FREE in the US and for Frank Warren and co and allow that to happen. Win-win-win for boxing fans in this bout, the only thing that could ruin it is a hometown robbery for Hatton, like if he wins a controversial decision or gets a gift Cotto-like stoppage (like the first time he knocks Tsyzu off balance or back a step).

War Showtime Championship Boxing!

HBO needs some strong FOY runner-up candidates (since the award is locked up) from Tito-Wright, PBF-Gatti AND BHop-Taylor to have a chance at making the battle of the networks even remotely close for this year...

[NAB]

lot of disappointed UK fans. What the ones hu emigrated from Australia. I say "The Hitman" is gonna win. He has a 10 yr age advantage and i heard that his training is aimed towards making the most of this.

I also heard, however, that Kostya has bought in sum great sparring partners which match the style of Ricky. Im guessin Ricky has dun the same. It will be a close bout i think. No1 can say some1 is gonna get whitewashed, but i think with all that said Hatton will win (home advantage etc)

It's much easier for Tszyu to find sparring partners like Hatton than the other way around.

Hatton has a 10 year DISadvantage.

Tszyu's opponents nearly ALWAYS have a home town advantage. There wouldn't be too many other fighters who have fought on the road as much as Tszyu. Annoying for us, because we never get to see him in person.

[Manny_P]

Im backing Ricky Hatton on this one though not neccesarily dislkin Tszyu. Tszyu is awesome.