- Tim Tszyu’s dad was in the crowd for Sunday’s fight
- He was beaten by Russian star Bakhram Murtazaliev
- Tszyu was defeated in the third round
Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech has questioned the decisoin of Tim Tszyu to have his father Kostya ringside for Sunday’s fight against Bakhram Murtazaliev, claiming it was a ‘huge distraction’.
Murtazaliev went on to retain his IBF super welterweight title with a dominant victory against the 29-year-old boxer.
The Australian, who has now suffered back-to-back defeats, was sent to the canvas three times during the bout, with Murtazaliev inflicting some huge blows on the Aussie boxing star.
Tszyu’s team would throw in the towel in the third round after the Russian fighter knocked the 29-year-old down for a fourth time. Gallantly, the Australian got back to his feet again but his team stepped in to call off the fight.
In recent years, a rift appears to have developed between the Aussie boxing star and his father Kostya – a former undisputed and lineal light-welterweight champion.
His dad had not been seen at one of his fights since 2016, but in heartwarming scenes, Kostya turned up to watch his son compete on Sunday night and was also seen sharing an emotional embrace with Tim’s younger brother Nikita.
Fenech, who clinched three world titles across three weight divisions, has subsequently stated that Tszyu’s father’s appearance came at the wrong time, considering the permutations of this fight.
‘It’s great to have your father around, but I think it was a huge distraction,’ Fenech said to 2GB’s Wide World Of Sports Radio.
Tim Tszyu’s dad Kostya (centre) was present for his son’s defeat on Sunday to Bakhram Murtazaliev
Tszyu was beaten in three rounds by his Russian opponent in what was a devastating defeat for the Aussie boxer
But the decision to have his father inside the arena for the fight has been slammed by boxing great Jeff Fenech (pictured)
‘He was trying to prove something to his dad and it’s a hard thing when you’ve had a dad that was so great.
‘It’s really hard when you haven’t seen your dad for eight years and then all of a sudden he’s there… that was more of a distraction than being a help.
‘He doesn’t need to prove anything to his dad or to the rest of Australia. What he has done in boxing over the last few years has been amazing and his fight prior to that with a cut head was one of the bravest performances in boxing history.
‘So much was on the line and I honestly believe he did the wrong thing.’
After the bout though, his Kostya was seen consoling his son and gave him a big embrace.
‘It wasn’t the evening Kostya wanted and it certainly wasn’t the evening Tim wanted,’ Main Event commentator Ben Damon said.
‘One thing at least, he did have his father around in those moments and consoling him,’ Damon added. ‘Giving him words of advice. He had a couple of brutal losses in his own professional career.’
Fenech (right) claimed Kostya’s (left) appearance proved to be ‘a distraction’ for Tszyu on Sunday
Speaking ahead of the fight though, Tszyu opened up on what it meant for him to have his dad in the arena.
‘Yeah, it’s good man,’ he said to Fox Sports. ‘It’s a good feeling. He surprised me in the back. I knew straight away that it was him when he grabbed hold of me.’