Could Kostya Tsyzu have beaten any of the top names in divisions around him?

He has a very good chance against Mosley that's a 50/50 fight for me.

Floyd likely wins a decision although KT would have a size and power advantage so you never know.

Oscar stops him I really can't see how Tszyu wins that, he can neither outbox or outpunch DLH.

 

I think he'd have beaten Cotto.

 

I think it would have been a 50/50 fight. I think he loses to all the guys in the OP, but is competitive.

 

Yeah, I think he would have beaten up Cotto pretty good, especially at 140. I think his style was wrong for Cotto.

In response to the OP, Tszyu wasn't a great fighter, he was a very good one. He didn't do enough to be "great", unless one wants to state he was a great light welterweight, which doesn't really indicate "great" in the grander scheme of things. I say that as a big fan, too. I think he loses to most of the top fighters at 140-147 during his day--DLH, Mosley, Trinidad, Mayweather, Forrest, etc. However, I think Tszyu had the ability to be competitive with all of them. As with so much, however, careers can be made by timing. Had Kostya moved up to 147 between 1996-99, he may have had a brief moment in the spotlight as the world's highest-ranked welterweight by potentially beating Whitaker. Prime for prime I would take Whitaker, even the one of the DLH bout, obviously, but "Sweet Pea" was slipping around that time and Tszyu may have been able to catch him on one of his off-nights, e.g. like Hurtado nearly did. Maybe Tszyu makes one of two soft defenses and then loses his belt in a big money bout with DLH. His stature afterwards, granted he performed well, would have given him access to other top names. His resume likely looks a lot deeper historically than it does now.

 

I agree with quite a bit of this but what makes you think Forrest would ever have beaten Tszyu?

 

I just wish he had the chance to fight Oscar. I think that ODLH, with his chin, left hook and general boxing capability, would have won, but I also think there was a chance that KT could have starched him, and because the fight didn't happen, we will never know KT's true greatness.

 

Yeah agree as a Tszyu fan that was definitely the big fight i always wanted for him and i was super confident he could have beaten him.
It's just a shame he didn't hook up with a different promoter who could have helped facilitate big money fights like the Delahoya fight and the many others in and around the welterweight and light middleweight divisions that could/should have been made

 

I wouldn’t have picked him over any of those 3. I think he would have the best chance against Mosley. Tszyu was a clever boxer who picked his shots well, and I think he would get the straight right hand in on Shane. Mosley would take his lumps but in the end I think he wins a 8-4 type fight, or maybe stops Tszyu late.

 

wasn't this fight on the cards until tszyu lost to phillips?
don't quote me on that.

 

I just don't put too much weight on the amateur contest. Forrest developed into a highly proficient boxer who really knew how to use his height when he wanted to. I think he could have kept Tszyu at range and decisioned him.

 

I think dela Hoya fight would be interesting but ultimately futile

Mosely would absolutely anhialate

Tyzu, I think Gatti fight w Buddy McGirt in his corner would have been an interesting tussle, as well as Tyzu vs Hector Comacho could they have agreed upon a proper weight

 

Yes

 

Yeah agree

Tszyu knocks the Cotto @ 140 out.