Thanksgiving Throwback Thursday: Kostya Tszyu vs. Darrell Hiles, 1992

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Apparently in the moments before the first bell of his pro debut, Tszyu's new Aussie trainer Johnny Lewis (having met the Russian the year before at the amateur world championships in Sydney and lured him to Oz along with his his fiancée Natasha simply by promising them a new microwave and full-size bed, luxuries unavailable in their Soviet home) was concerned about Tszyu getting too slow a start against the more experienced 7-1 (3) local Aboriginal fighter Hiles, and through a translator said he wanted Kostya to be sure to win the 1st round to send a message and establish his own confidence. Tszyu shot him a confused look when the interpreter was done speaking, and then answered the bell with a shrug. After disposing of Hiles in just over a minute, Tszyu returned to his corner to ask Lewis, "...but coach, why did I have to win in the 1st round?"

:rofl:rofl Epic miscommunication.

Also epic: Hiles' mullet.

I'm stricken by Kostya's ability to slip punches while attacking with hoop-trundling uppercuts (which packed some major crunch, btw) so well even at the beginning of his career.

 

This was on the undercard of Fenech vs. Nelson II.

Also on the card, Virgil Hill schooled Aundrey Nelson and 5-0 (5) prospect Grahame Cheney of New South Wales beat up 49-1 (22) Argentine contender Alberto de las Mercedes Cortes, who a few years earlier had challenged Julio Cesar Chavez for the WBC 140lb title.

Would've been a fun night of fights @ Princes Park.




IB Funfact: Cheney made his pro debut against none other than Darrell Hiles. So did Shannan Taylor. Both of them, like Tszyu, beat Hiles by TKO. (in the case of Cheney, dealing Hiles the only defeat of his career before Tszyu...while Taylor entered the paid ranks by thrashing Hiles in his very next bout after Tszyu)

 

Sick power in both hands.

As much stick as he gets for his chin, Roger Mayweather ought to get some credit for going twelve with a prime Kostya. (although he did accomplish this with a great deal of clinching, mugging and spoiling rather than standing up to flush shots)

 

In the OP. Does it say "BORKED"? Are you browsing on a phone or tablet?

 

I just find that incredibly bad ass, the fact that he wiped Hiles out in the blink of an eye more or less on command (or at least what he thought Lewis was asking of him). Like, he was that destructive a force that he could just end it literally whenever he wanted to, and had no qualms going up against someone with a decent enough looking record and eight bouts' experience on him.

 

:rofl

Poor Valentina. I wonder if she ever caught more than impulse?

Probably more durable than your average housewife, though, being Siberian. I bet she had cheeeeeeen.

Hell, she was probably sturdier than Hiles.

 

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