Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Kostya Tszyu said that despite living in Australia for many years, he considers himself a Russian.
“I have always been Russian. But I don’t want to fall apart in any way. Australia has given me so much. He is very valuable to me. But there is the word Motherland. He is alone,” Tszyu quotes Metaratings.ru.
After winning the 1991 World Championships in Seattle, Tszyu received an offer to move to Australia and become a citizen of that country. He played 34 fights at pro level, won 31 wins (25 by knockout) and lost twice, and another match was declared void.
On June 12, 2011, Tszyu was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame for his contribution to the development of this sport.
In 2013, after his divorce from his first wife, Natalya Serova, he returned to Moscow from Australia to live with his second chosen one, Tatyana Averina.
Previously recognizedPetersburg SKA striker Valentin Zykov lost almost the entire top row of teeth in a collision with Kazan Ak Bars striker Alexander Radulov.