Nikita Tszyu has ditched his “boring” life as an architect to follow father Kostya and brother Tim into the ring as a professional boxer.
Key points:
- Nikita Tszyu gave up a promising amateur boxing career about five years ago to pursue an architecture degree
- He says watching brother Tim amass a 20-0 record inspired him to return to the sport
- He says he is “more messy” than Time and has earned the nickname “The Butcher”
The 24-year-old will fight unbeaten Aaron Stahl (2-0-1) at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on March 2 in the same super welterweight class as his brother.
The former amateur champion looked set for a white-collar career when he gave boxing away to study about five years ago.
The itch returned while watching his brother march to a 20-0 record and mandated world title challenger.
While the Tszyu name carries weight, Nikita held his own as an amateur thanks to his reputation as a danger puncher and admission that he’s “a little bit more messy” than his brother, earning him the nickname of “The Butcher”.
Loading
“(Architecture) got a little too boring for me. I have this energy inside me that was hating it,” Tszyu said on Wednesday.
“As soon as I started training again, that will, determination popped up again and it felt right.”
He is managed by Glenn Jennings, who oversaw Kostya’s world-beating career as well as handling Tim’s affairs.
“Nikita comes to the ring on March 2 with bad intentions,” Jennings said.
“He’s been out of the game for a long time. I can guarantee you one thing, when Nikita dedicates himself to something, and he did with his university degree… don’t blink.
“Don’t get out of your seat. Don’t go anywhere.”
The card also features Dennis Hogan in a final eliminator for the IBO super welterweight world title against Wade Ryan.
AAP