to be honest I thought Tszyu was a bit overrated. He was a 3/1 underdog going into the fight against Judah, that gives you an indication that he hardly set the world alight. Then in hindsight, that win over Judah was not as impressive as it seemed at the time...considering Judah has turned out not as good as was thought. Sharmba Mitchell was always an overrated fighter....B class. Then he actually lost to another B class fighter in Hatton, though to be fair he was semi-retired and it was hardly a level playing field. He did still get his senses knocked out of him by Vince Phillips...that was his one legit loss.
Fair enough mate. I tend to agree with pretty much all you've said there. He was a devestating am though- i just love that clip.
His head movement is something to behold in that fight not to mention his left hook and hooking off the jab (the punch he was known for during his am career...not the right ) I've always wondered what type of pro fighter Tszyu would have turned out if he'd stayed in a style similar to this, rather than the puncher he turned into under Johnny Lewis (trainer of fenech, harding, hill, briggs, etc)
I've had that fight on video for years. It's a display and a half - Speaking of "What if's..." - I'd be more interested to see if he stayed on as an amatuer and boxed in Barcelona - I wonder if we'd all know Oscar as "Silver" Boy these days? Watching that fight - I think that would have been the case. Fair enough to say that - but a couple of BUT's * He was a 3/1 underdog cause he was a Russian bassed in Australia, Judah was Tyson-lite with the big mouth and the -0 on his record. Of course he was always going to be the underdog. * Tszyu fought and defeated more current of former world titles during his reign than any other contempoary fighter save Oscar and Roy. * I don't think he was over rated, in my biased view - I think he underachieved as a result of the language barrier and the effects that had in his business relationship with Bill Mordey leading up to the Phillips loss and from injuries. * Watch what he did to Miguel Angel Gonzalez about a 18 months after DLH outpointed him, see what prime Tszyu is capable off.
I think Tszyu is a great fighter and a HOFer. Zab Judah was in his prime when he lost to Tszyu, and Zab was undefeated. Zab couldn't recover mentally from that lost, and became less focused in boxing. Mitchell is not a B-class fighter. He's only lost to the very best like Tszyu and PBF. Kostya also fought fighters in their prime. He fought a prime Oktay Urkal, a prime Hatton, a prime Judah, a prime Miguel Angel Gonzalez, a prime Ben Tackie, a prime Hurtado, a prime Ahmed Santos, a prime Sharmba Mitchell in their first meeting, and a pretty close to prime Sharmba Mitchell in their second meeting. In fact, Sharmba was on an amazing winning streak before their second meeting, and he may actually been on his prime. Rafael Ruelas was also another game opponent near his prime. Kostya just makes everyone look bad and hurts them so much that retirement isn't that far around the corner.
Plus his name is mentioned STILL by Roger Mayweather as Mayweather tasted the pain ealry in their fight and took a HIDING behind the infamous "Maywaether shoulder roll" style in their fight. He still wants back as Tszyu for that fight.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree on Mitchell. I always thought he was one of the most overrated fighters of the last 10 years. Who did he ever beat? it's true Tszyu fought a lot of guys in their prime, but not that many were top drawer opponents. Wins over the likes of Tackie and even Urkal are hardly awe-inspiring, the Urkal fight was pretty close too. Chavez was well past him best and as it turns out a win over Judah is nothing special after all. I like Tszyu but just feel he was a touch overrated, that's all. I would however pick the semi-retired Tszyu that lost to Hatton to beat Hatton anywhere outside of England and with a neutral referee.
Actually, Tszyu would've never fought Oscar in the amateurs, as KT was a light welter (141) back then and Oscar, unbelievable that he has grown so much now, was a lightweight (132).
Little off topic. My brother in law wupped Vernon Forrest in the amateurs twice. He is 5'8 and had somewhat of a Cotto type stockiness to his body he was a great puncher with an unreal power jab. Too bad he never went pro :|
If you want to see fear...watch the Tszyu/Mas 1-round fight. Mas was shitting his pants until, none other than Joe Cortez, gave him an out. I hope Mas still sends Cortez a yearly Christmas card. Tszyu - Legend
