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From The Maitland Mercury News
Tszyu's future uncertain after Hatton hands out punishment
Boxing
Monday, 6 June 2005
Johnny Lewis had a tear in his eye after putting an end to Kostya Tszyu's world title defence and possibly pulling the curtain on one of boxing's great careers.
Tszyu wanted to come out for the 12th and final round in which he needed to knock out unbeaten English challenger Ricky Hatton to keep his IBF light- welterweight world crown for the 17th time.
But trainer Lewis, who has been with him since he immigrated from Russia and turned pro in Sydney in 1992, kept the 35-year-old on his stool after he took some serious punishment in the 11th.
In the chaotic aftermath in Hatton's home town Manchester yesterday, Tszyu was uncertain whether he would carry on after the second loss in his 34-fight career.
"I'm a very, very proud man, I'm not saying it's the end of my career, maybe it is, maybe it isn't," Tszyu told the crowd from the ring at around 3.15am. "But I'm saying today I lost to the better fighter."
As the passionate local crowd clamoured around Hatton - who took his record to 39-0 - and TV crews interviewed Tszyu, an obviously affected Lewis was being consoled ringside.
"Johnny was very emotional at the end," said Tszyu's promoter Vlad Warton.
"They've been together since '92, they fell in love with each other then and have been together since.
"Unless Kostya scored two or three knock downs in the 12th round I don't think we would have won.
"Johnny felt perhaps it was best to pull the plug. It wasn't Kostya's decision. Normally he wouldn't allow us ..."
All three judges had Hatton ahead on points at the end of the 11th round of an exhilarating fight fought at a ferocious pace. Hatton, 26, said he would be happy to fight Tszyu again and Warton believes the Australian can win the title back.
"I believe if that's what he wants to do, yes I think he can," Warton said.
Lewis had said before the fight it was very important for Tszyu to finish his career as the world champion. Whether he has time to reclaim the belt is another question.
Even in the best condition he has ever felt, Tszyu still faded late and will be at least 36 by the time a rematch with Hatton could be organised.
Hatton's promoter Frank Warren, who paid Tszyu $5.4million to fight in his opponent's home town, said a rematch came down to money.
Although the gracious and humble Hatton was willing to give Tszyu the chance to win the title back, he hinted that the man regarded until yesterday as the best pound- for-pound fighter shouldn't try.
"He went down on his shield tonight, he's a credit to the sport in and out of the ring," Hatton said. "If I can be half the champion Kostya was I'll be doing well."
Tszyu left the arena with the doctor as the sun came up over Manchester and was still being examined three hours after the fight. From the moment actor Russell Crowe was booed when he was introduced to the crowd and Hatton shot a steely stare across his 22,000 devoted followers after his deafening entrance, the challenger was the aggressor.
Hatton controlled the fight from the outset. He played it smart and kept Tszyu at close quarters so the Australian couldn't unleash all his power from his sledgehammer right hand.
As he predicted, Hatton wore the veteran down and was hurting him with stinging uppercuts and jabs in the final three rounds. Tszyu had landed his fair share, though, and sent Hatton's knees wobbling when he was able to let fly with the full length of his right hand at the end of the seventh round.
The turning point, however, came during the ninth when Hatton responded to two low blows from Tszyu with a deliberate punch below the belt which winded the champion and put him on one knee.
The contest was pretty even at that stage, but Tszyu was not the same after that.
Tszyu's future uncertain after Hatton hands out punishment
Boxing
Monday, 6 June 2005
Johnny Lewis had a tear in his eye after putting an end to Kostya Tszyu's world title defence and possibly pulling the curtain on one of boxing's great careers.
Tszyu wanted to come out for the 12th and final round in which he needed to knock out unbeaten English challenger Ricky Hatton to keep his IBF light- welterweight world crown for the 17th time.
But trainer Lewis, who has been with him since he immigrated from Russia and turned pro in Sydney in 1992, kept the 35-year-old on his stool after he took some serious punishment in the 11th.
In the chaotic aftermath in Hatton's home town Manchester yesterday, Tszyu was uncertain whether he would carry on after the second loss in his 34-fight career.
"I'm a very, very proud man, I'm not saying it's the end of my career, maybe it is, maybe it isn't," Tszyu told the crowd from the ring at around 3.15am. "But I'm saying today I lost to the better fighter."
As the passionate local crowd clamoured around Hatton - who took his record to 39-0 - and TV crews interviewed Tszyu, an obviously affected Lewis was being consoled ringside.
"Johnny was very emotional at the end," said Tszyu's promoter Vlad Warton.
"They've been together since '92, they fell in love with each other then and have been together since.
"Unless Kostya scored two or three knock downs in the 12th round I don't think we would have won.
"Johnny felt perhaps it was best to pull the plug. It wasn't Kostya's decision. Normally he wouldn't allow us ..."
All three judges had Hatton ahead on points at the end of the 11th round of an exhilarating fight fought at a ferocious pace. Hatton, 26, said he would be happy to fight Tszyu again and Warton believes the Australian can win the title back.
"I believe if that's what he wants to do, yes I think he can," Warton said.
Lewis had said before the fight it was very important for Tszyu to finish his career as the world champion. Whether he has time to reclaim the belt is another question.
Even in the best condition he has ever felt, Tszyu still faded late and will be at least 36 by the time a rematch with Hatton could be organised.
Hatton's promoter Frank Warren, who paid Tszyu $5.4million to fight in his opponent's home town, said a rematch came down to money.
Although the gracious and humble Hatton was willing to give Tszyu the chance to win the title back, he hinted that the man regarded until yesterday as the best pound- for-pound fighter shouldn't try.
"He went down on his shield tonight, he's a credit to the sport in and out of the ring," Hatton said. "If I can be half the champion Kostya was I'll be doing well."
Tszyu left the arena with the doctor as the sun came up over Manchester and was still being examined three hours after the fight. From the moment actor Russell Crowe was booed when he was introduced to the crowd and Hatton shot a steely stare across his 22,000 devoted followers after his deafening entrance, the challenger was the aggressor.
Hatton controlled the fight from the outset. He played it smart and kept Tszyu at close quarters so the Australian couldn't unleash all his power from his sledgehammer right hand.
As he predicted, Hatton wore the veteran down and was hurting him with stinging uppercuts and jabs in the final three rounds. Tszyu had landed his fair share, though, and sent Hatton's knees wobbling when he was able to let fly with the full length of his right hand at the end of the seventh round.
The turning point, however, came during the ninth when Hatton responded to two low blows from Tszyu with a deliberate punch below the belt which winded the champion and put him on one knee.
The contest was pretty even at that stage, but Tszyu was not the same after that.