Tim Tszyu says girlfriend Alexandra Constantine key to his success

Of all the people in rising boxer star Tim Tszyu’s corner — it’s his girlfriend Alexandra Constantine whom he credits for a large part of his success. But she admits watching her partner fight doesn’t come easy.

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Rising boxing star Tim Tszyu has revealed the integral part his girlfriend plays in his success.

Tszyu has been dating Alexandra Constantine for two years and the young pair live a far from average lifestyle as the 24-year-old pugilist seeks to emulate the feats of his legendary father Kostya.

Constantine, 25, keeps Tszyu on track with rigid diet of grilled chicken breast and boiled broccoli, and has attended all but the first of his 12 professional fights since they met at his gym.

“It means the world, just to have someone by your side, and not just at the fights,” Tszyu (12-0, 10KO) said.

Tim Tszyu with his girlfriend Alexandra Constantine. Picture: Christian Gilles

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“A lot of the hard work is done before the fights, when people don’t see what’s going on.

“She lives this as well. She is young, she could be going out to bars, hanging out with her friends, instead she’s stuck in a sauna with me on Saturday nights and then we have an early night.

“When I diet, she diets. She cooks a lot of meals, she actually keeps me grounded with my diet.

“So it’s not just my victory when I win a fight, she deserves the spotlight too.”

Constantine, who works in property law and is studying a Master’s degree in finance, will again be in Tszyu’s corner when he fights Joel Camilleri (17-5-1, 8KO) for the Australian super-welterweight title at Star Casino on May 15 but concedes watching her partner taking punches for a living can be difficult.

A young Tim Tszyu with his champion dad Kostya Tszyu. Picture: Milan Scepanovic

Tim celebrates his dad’s win against James Lejia.

“As your feelings grow, it becomes harder and harder to watch,” she said.

“It is surreal, exciting, heart-pounding. I won’t say it’s scary because I have faith, Tim is very good at what he does, there’s never any doubt.

“I expect that he’ll win and it’s making sure that I stay positive.

“He is determined, disciplined, positive and charismatic.”

The pair met in late 2016 when Constantine, a fitness buff, decided to take a boxing lesson at the Tszyu Boxing Academy in Rockdale.

“I normally don’t hold pads for people so she was lucky she got pads that day,” Tszyu said.

“Her smile was what actually made me fall in love with her.”

Tszyu wins his fight against Denton Vessell during the Star of the Ring boxing night at the Hordern Pavilion, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

Constantine added: “I went to pay after class and he wouldn’t let me.

“We began talking over the next few weeks, although I never went back for a class.

“We don’t train together, my friends are surprised that he’s not my personal trainer.

“Last year before Christmas he told me we were going for a holiday to Thailand, and it ended up being a training camp where he was training three times a day in 45 degree heat.

“I did my own training, but I had summer exams as well so while he was napping between sessions I would be studying.”

When they’re not in gyms or saunas, the couple relax with pet Pablo, a $5000 french bulldog Tszyu purchased as a reward for winning his first bout.

Tszyu is headlining his first pay-per-view show in the title fight, in which he’ll aim to be the first man to defeat Camilleri in five years.