Kostya Tszyu makes startling admission after emotional family reunion with sons Tim, Nikita

WATCH: For the first time in 11 years, Kostya Tszyu has seen his two sons face-to-face. Watch their heartwarming reunion ahead of Tim Tszyu’s blockbuster fight on Sunday.

Kostya Tszyu sprung a fight week shock with an early arrival in Orlando, before enjoying an emotional family reunion with his boxing sons, Tim and Nikita.

Kostya also revealed he is relieved he wasn’t at his oldest son’s bloody defeat to Sebastian Fundora in March, because he was scared of how he would have reacted.

BOXING: TSZYU V MURTAZALIEV | Tim Tszyu faces off against undefeated IBF super welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev | SUN 20 OCT 10:30AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports

The hall of famer wasn’t due to land in Orlando until late Thursday night local time, but surprised everyone by strolling into Tim’s world title press conference just minutes before it started.

Wearing a Team Tszyu hoodie and lugging his suitcase behind him after coming straight from the airport, Kostya first had a warm embrace with a stunned Nikita.

It’s the first time the pair had seen each other in 11 years, with this masthead catching the heartwarming moment on camera.

Kostya was then escorted backstage, where Tim was waiting for the press conference to begin.

In a greeting he later demonstrated on this reporter while speaking to media, Kostya snuck up behind Tim, grabbed his shoulders and squeezed – hard.

“I went up behind him, and he couldn’t see me, but I squeezed him, and he went, ‘Dad!’” Kostya told this masthead. “He knew it was me just from my hands.”

“No one does that like him,” Nikita laughed.

It’s the same trick the former world champion pulled off as a nervous Tim ate breakfast before his first professional fight back in 2016.

Coincidentally, that was the last fight of Tim’s that Kostya has ever attended after making a nuisance of himself by constantly yelling out advice and encouragement all night.

Kostya Tszyu embraces son Tim in an emotional family reunion, Orlando. Picture: Johnny Garcia

“My first fight, it was the same thing, I’m sitting down on my couch and he just grabbed me by my back,” Tim said. “He got my traps pretty good, and I knew it was him straight away.”

There has been speculation about what impact Kostya’s presence will have as Tim takes on IBF super-welterweight world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev this weekend, but the ‘Thunder From Down Under’ is confident Tim will take it all in stride.

“I hope it’s not too much mental pressure on him, but he should realise I’m here just to support him,” he said. “It’s important to control my emotions and not overreact.

“Because sometimes I can’t control myself.”

Kostya and Nikita Tszyu sitting front row at Tim’s press conference. Picture: Supplied

He says that would have been the case if he was ringside for Tim’s bloody loss to Sebastian Fundora in March.

“Thank God I wasn’t there,” he said. “Because I didn’t know what I would do during that fight.

“Now I can say, the referee is supposed to stop the fight – not the corner. It’s the referee.

“The way he was non-stop bleeding, in many countries it would’ve been stopped.

“But Tim had a huge lesson in what to do and what not to do. That experience will help him achieve an even higher level.”

After recovering from the initial surprise of seeing his dad, Tszyu is “buzzing” now.

“It’s more of a moment for him,” he said. “I haven’t really missed out on much.

“He’s the one that’s missed out on this journey, and I’m glad he’s getting to feel this again.”

Very few of Tim and Nikita’s fights are broadcast in Russia, so Kostya is often forced to wait for round-by-round updates via text messages.

Occasionally, he’ll Facetime a family member in order to see them in action.

But one day he says he wants Tim to fight in Russia.

“He never lived in Russia for long but he has a huge following and great support and, yes, I would love to see him fight in Russia one day,” Kostya said. “I will be looking to organise this one day.

“One day, it will happen.

“Many people want him to fight in Russia and I might just be the co-promoter! He can’t fight without me promoting it.”

Kostya and Tim Tszyu at the press conference. Picture: Johnny Garcia

Kostya now runs a restaurant in Russia, and has other business interests and work that keeps him busy.

He said he’ll only have two days off between now and the end of the year, which doesn’t leave much time for much else.

However, he said he’d consider dropping everything if his boys wanted him to train them.

“I’m for them every day,” he said. “If they want me, I would be there. But I’m on the side.

“I don’t have time for it every single day. But, if they say, ‘Please, Dad, we need you, I’ll be there’.”

Murtazaliev revealed earlier in the week that Kostya and Roy Jones Jr are his favourite ever fighters, but that won’t stop ‘KT’ from getting in his head on fight night.

“Right now, I’m not nervous, but I’m not sure what will happen tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll try – and I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to do – but maybe I’ll put some more pressure on that guy – Bakhram.

“Sorry, my brother, but I will do it!”

Originally published as Kostya Tszyu makes startling admission after emotional family reunion with sons Tim, Nikita