Who wins? Pros for Tszyu: Locche didn't have much firepower to hold him off with. Locche stood in the pocket to make guys miss. Pros for Locche: Tszyu wasn't much of a body puncher. Tszyu attacked in a straight line.
Tszyu liked to smother the lead hand and take away their ability to set in this sort of fight. Not good for Nico he only had a lead hand, his right hand didn’t help him in any fight expect for the mental game, this is worthless if Tszyu takes away his only weapon. I think Kostya might shut him down eventually but he’d look silly at times.
I think Tszyu was a decent bodybuncher but it was never really a steady thing- he was dynamic with it and it only came on in fights where he could light the guy up enough to keep him still which usually meant they weren’t in his league anyways. But it’s been a bit since I watched Tszyu I think I’m basing this on the Bergman fight which I last watched in 2021…
I'll never forgot that fight. People were really down on Vince going into it because of his substance abuse issues but when he had his head on straight he was a very difficult guy to beat. I just remember how happy Roy Jones Jr was for him when he won. He was friends with him from back in his amateur days and knew how talented he was when sober. I think Koysta thought he was going to run right over him like Quartey did but Vince wasn't the same guy that night. He was there to win and he did.
It always crinkles my forehead when people think Vince Phillips was some coffee and cake earner who upset Tszyu or worse “Exposed” him. Vince was one tough guy he went though a lot to get that win- he came down from his usual 147lbs and was celebrating his 4th year sober a few weeks before the fight the signs of dedication were there. Some 20-1 he turned out to be. Johnny Lewis called it a 2 horse race and told Tszyu not to underestimate him but they bet on the weight loss to take its toll none the less what they failed to understand is Vince was at one point in modern boxing a “record breaking” fighter in terms of sheer punching volume. Kostya has minor problems going into that fight but he said it himself he had a few sleepless nights that’s it. Nothing unusual for a fighter Tyson himself said “You and the other guy are both awake thinking about each other scared ****less.” “Once the fog of pain started to clear someone asked me why I was now an ex-champion. Because I lost. It was as simple as that” -Kostya Tszyu (My Story P153)
I'm taking Koysta. Locche was a great boxer and was fantastic defensively but I simply think Tzysu has the power, strength to win this but more than that I think the way to beat Tzysu is to back him up not out box him. In both his losses he he was beaten by guys that push him back and rough him up in the clinches. Vince Phillips out slugged him with right hands and body shots but in the clinches he would walk him back. Hatton was a little different in that it wasn't his power as much as his volume and ferocity. He simply wouldn't allow Tzysu to back him up and he was extremely rough on the inside. Locche simply didn't fight that way and would try to outbox Tzysu which nobody really was able to do. He always tracked his prey down eventually.
I don't even think Hatton was winning when Tszyu quit. I think Vince legitimately beat him but an injured Kostya hurt Hatton plenty and should've just hung in instead of quitting on his stool. In his prime without the s***ty home ref he would've iced Ricky.
When I was a kid everyone knew who Vince was in the amateurs. He was a national champion and a guy with a hell of a rep. He looked to be destined for multiple world titles as a pro but he got sidetracked. I can't stand it when people **** on Tzysu for losing to him. Folks like to call Phillips a club fighter or Journeyman but he really wasn't. He was an elite fighter that had a drug problem but when he was on he was on and Kenny Adam's had him ready to go that night.
Vince was awesome and just a better fighter then Tszyu when he was ready to go. I'd have paid 100$ to watch the rematch on PPV that's how much I enjoyed it the first time, It impacted Aussie's so much he's one of the rare few opponents names brought up by older casuals- "Fenech was robbed by Azuhma" "Kostya was old/injured against Phillips" lol. Hatton isn't talked about though.
Tszyu had excellent timing I think that would help him vs defensive wizard like Locche. Tszyu seemed to struggle more vs swarmers like Hatton, Phillips. But against boxers he normally excelled. I think I might actually favour Tszyu in this one.
Probably the best matchup you can make between two guys with the most easily mispronounced last names.
