Boxing: Tim Tszyu reveals “the godfather” in his life

Tim Tszyu was known as the son of Kostya until he beat Jeff Horn to become the biggest name in Australian boxing.

Kostya Tszyu with son Tim, who is following his dad’s lead. Picture: David Swift.

Tim Tszyu is being followed by a nice old bloke called Boris. Wherever Tszyu goes in his Rockdale gymnasium, this dear fellow stays with him. Stick and move, stick and move.

Tszyu’s victory over Jeff Horn last year made him the biggest name in Australian boxing. His stadium bouts are sellouts and a blockbuster world title fight is on the cards if he gets past Dennis Hogan in Newcastle on March 31. He’s on his way to emulating the championship achievements of his father, Kostya, one of the greatest Australian pugilists of all.

The apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree when it comes to putting up the dukes — but apple and tree are now 14,000km apart. The 26-year-old Tim lives in Sydney but Kostya has been in Russia for the past 13 years.

“Dad and I have talked about … us,” Tim says in an extensive interview.

“We talk all the time as a father and son — but in terms of my boxing career, he’s not involved at all.”

Their father-son relationship has always caused intrigue. Tim stuck with Australia, Kostya moved. A rift between them?

“That’s all bullshit,” Tim says.

When he gives The Weekend Australian behind-the-scenes access in the build-up to the Hogan fight, the walls of his gymnasium are plastered with photographs and posters of his old man.

His pride in Kostya’s halcyon days is palpable and yet it becomes evident it’s his quiet, polite and unfailingly attentive 74-year-old shadow who is more involved in his day-to-day-life. Boris. Kostya’s father, Tim’s grandfather.

“He means everything to me. Everything,” Tim says.

“He’s like the godfather to us all. That’s what we call him. The godfather … I have so much respect for him. He’s by the book. Everything has to be done right. Every last detail. There’s no short cuts. Not ever. There’s no arguing.

“We speak on the phone two times a day. We see each other three times a day. He’s always calling me up and saying, how are you feeling? Everything OK? He knows what’s involved in boxing because he’s been through it all with my dad. He knows there’s a mix of emotions.

“If I ever have a problem, I call him. Every time ... he is my best mate in this world. And he is a father figure in my life.”

Boris’s English is on the ropes. He’s trailing Tim all over the gym. When Tim moves, Boris sticks like glue. Move and stick, move and stick. Boris is asked what his grandson means to him. He goes quiet for a bit then says, “he is my life”.