Undefeated Aussie boxer Tim Tszyu has torn down all the fight posters of his father Kostya in Rockdale’s famed Tszyu Boxing Academy ahead of his showdown with American boxing star Brian Mendoza.
The 28-year-old’s father is regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats after winning multiple belts and reigning as the undisputed light-welterweight world champ – yet he’s only been sighted at one of Tim’s fights.
The Tszyu family gym used to have countless photos of the Hall of Fame fighter, but just weeks ago Tim stripped the walls back.
The gym is being renamed Tszyu Fight Club and most of the new photos going up on the gym walls are from Tim and his brother Nikita’s fights.
Tim says there will be a separate ‘legacy wall’ in the gym for his famous father’s achievements, but the gym is getting a new look.
Tim Tszyu has redecorated his gym and torn down all the old photos of his famous father
Tszyu is changing the name of the Rockdale gym and giving it a new look as he emerges from his father’s shadow after a string of impressive victories
The gym is now in Tim’s hands and the decorations around the walls will reflect that.
‘Look there,’ he told foxsports.com.au, pointing at youngsters training in the gym.
‘Those kids, they don’t know my dad. They’ve got no idea who Kostya Tszyu is.
‘It’s a new generation coming in here now … a new generation we want to inspire.’
Tim is committed to adding more posters on the walls as he collects more world titles – but reveals when he looks at them he doesn’t feel anything.
‘Nothing,’ he said.
‘Nah, not really,
‘They’re cool but … I dunno … it’s hard to explain.
Tszyu says the youngsters in the gym have no idea who Kostya Tszyu is
The 28-year-old will encounter a tough customer when he fights Brian Mendoza on Sunday, with the Aussie’s super-welterweight belt on the line
Kostya, who last visited Australia in 2019, now lives in Russia and has a new family
‘I’m just never content. Even after winning, I’m not content. Just never satisfied.
‘It’s like I’m always journeying towards this treasure somewhere. I wake up every day searching for more.’
Kostya was supposed to be ringside for his son’s planned bout against Jermell Charlo, but that fight fell through and he is still in Russia ahead of Tim’s clash with Mendoza on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
Earlier in the year, Tim revealed how his father moving back to Russia and splitting from his mother affected him.
‘Every year at school there was a father’s day camp. I never had one father’s day camp. Never had a father’s day breakfast,’ he told the Howie Games podcast.
‘He was never there for us. Now looking back to it, I understand where he came from because to get to where he got to, there’s a lot of sacrifice.
‘It was tough because you always think your parents, it’s like a fairytale, they love each other. Then all of a sudden it’s completely gone.’