Kostya Tszyu: "My mind, power and experience will be the main advantages which will put me on the road to victory"

By Tony Nobbs, Australia

22.10 - Konstantine Tszyu, the WBC and WBA Super lightweight Champion, and his enterouge flew out of Sydney Airport yesterday to finalise preperations in Las Vegas for his November 3 unification bout with Brooklyn's IBF Champ Zabdiel Judah at the MGM Grand. The showdown has been one of the most anticipated this year, a year that has seen some of the best fighters fighting each other. It will also be one-sided, if you listen to the flashy showboating Judah and the Vegas bookmakers who have the undefeated Zab a big favourite. 2001 has also been the year of the upset and there will be plenty of money coming from Down Under on the respected and friendly pig-tailed Tszyu.

"He is too one dimensional" said the 23 year old southpaw (27-0 1nc, 21ko's) following Kostya's hard fought WBA mandatory defence with Turkey's tough Oktay Urkal on June 23. Judah had just beat up Dane Allan Vester, who was somehow rated the IBF mandatory, in three rounds. Tszyu ,32, (27-1-1, 22 ko's) said yesterday that he has three advantages over his explosively fast rival. "I've got brains and this is my biggest advantage of course. My mind, power and experience will be the main advantages which will put me on the road to victory"

There is no doubt Russian born Tszyu will need to be on top of his game to be the first Australian fighter to unify a division. A body attack may be nullified by the squat American's crouching and spinning but that will be a weapon that Tszyu uses to open Judah up for the right hand. He and trainer Johnny Lewis have been working on the left jab which they feel will set up a knockout. Normally the jab doesn't really work against left handers but the former World Amatuer Champion has had plenty of experience with southpaws. He one his first world title, the IBF, from Jake Rodriguez. It's doubtful he has ever fought one as quick as 'Super' Judah. He answers that with "After a few rounds you lose your speed"

Judah, trained by his father Yoel, has seemed to toy with most of his opponents recently. When he faced Reggie Green he was in third gear, but after being told by referee Arthur Mercante to pick it up, it wasn't long before the fight was over in the tenth. One gets the impression he will be out to put on his best performance against the big punching Tszyu, if he messes about then Kostya will make him pay. If guys like Jan Bergman and Terron Millett can put him on the canvas then Kostya will put him through it. While on the way Zab looked every bit a potential superstar, a Pernell
Whitaker with power but he has showboated too much in key fights.That should not be the case in this one. Several Australian fight people claim that Judah is overated and that Kostya will be too strong.

"Kostya will win because he is tougher, stronger and has trained harder than before. By memory I don't think he has lost to a southpaw before, amateur or pro. I think it will stay the case" predicted Tszyu's former promoter Craig Mordey "This is a pressure fight and that is when Kostya is at his best" said Lewis who also took Jeff Fenech and Jeff Harding to World Titles. Tszyu struggled with injured Sharmba Mitchell when he won the WBA Crown ,if he faced a motivated Judah that night he would have tasted defeat for the second time as a pro. He will be better for the Mitchell fight as he had faced walk up Mexican right handers (Chavez, Santos and Gonzalez) in his previous three outings.

"Power hurts but speed kills" looks to be the motto in this one, and it may come down to whoever gets the first one in .Speed Kills. November 3 we find out.