Kostya Tszyu Was A Real Giant Killer! 

Born in Serov, Russia, moving to Australia the future WBA, WBC and IBF World Super Lightweight champion Kostya ‘Thunder from Down Under’ Tszyu built an amateur record of 259-11.

In March of 1992, Tszyu turned pro in Australia and, in his fourth fight, defeated former WBC Featherweight champion Juan LaPorte, 37-11-1. Two fights later, he stopped Puerto Rico’s future WBO World Lightweight champion (1995) Sammy ‘Mangani’ Fuentes, 23-10-1, stopping him at 0:54 of the first round.

In August of 1993 Tszyu would defeat former WBA World Lightweight champion Livingston Bramble, 34-11-3. Four months later, he stopped Puerto Rico’s Angel Hernandez, 40-1-2, in seven rounds, earning a world title fight in January of 1995, stopping IBF World Super Lightweight champion Jake ‘The Snake’ Rodriguez, 26-2-2, in 6 rounds at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In Tszyu’s first defense, he won a lopsided decision over Roger ‘Black Mamba’ Mayweather, 54-11. Next, Colombia’s Hugo Pineda, 27-0-1, stopped him in eleven. Detroit’s Corey ‘Prime Time’ Johnson, 20-1-1, fell in four rounds. Then South Africa’s Jan Piet Bergman, 32-0, stopped in six.

In May of 1997, Tszyu, after nine even rounds, was stopped by ‘Cool’ Vince Phillips, 35-3. He came back, scoring three stoppages over Argentina’s Ismael Armando Chaves, 40-5-3; Calvin Grove, 49-9; and in an eliminator WBC Light Welter fight Rafael Ruelas, 52-3.

In November of 1998, Tszyu found himself on the canvas twice in the first round and WBC World Interim World Super Light champion Cuba’s Diosbelys Hurtado, 28-1, once. Tszyu ended it in five rounds, taking the world title.

Next, Tszyu won the vacant WBC World Super Lightweight title, stopping Miguel Angel Gonzalez, 43-1-1, in Miami, Florida, in ten rounds. In his second defense, he stopped Mexico’s Julio ‘J.C.’ Cesar Chavez, 103-4-2, in six rounds in Phoenix, AZ.

Tszyu won his next six defenses. His career ended in his next fight losing in the UK to Ricky Hatton, 38-0, stopped in eleven rounds.

Tszyu’s final record was 31-2 with 25 stoppages. At 5:07, the ‘Giant Killer’ would enter the IBHOF as one of the best in modern times.