By Alexey Sukachev, March, 30, 2007
If you can’t beat him, just sign him. This motto, adjusted by Oscar De La Hoya several years ago, will be replayed in a reverse fashion on May, 6, in an old Russian city of Tula. Boxing legend Kostya Tszyu will not sign any promotional agreements with 43-year old Vince Phillips, but he for sure will try to take his bitter rival out of the ring with the help of just-contracted Russian fighter Alisultan Nadirbegov.
Phillips (48-11-1, 34 KOs) scored a gigantic upset on April, 1997, with a late TKO victory over junior welterweight powerhouse Kostya Tszyu. In an ironical turnaround he will headline the next stage of the Second International Kostya Tszyu Cup ten years past his career-defining victory. Phillips is expected to fight a tune-up fight versus Damon Wright on April, 14, prior his flight to Russia.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Zykov, who was earlier expected to test his skills versus durable American veteran, has been replaced by former WBO title challenger Alisultan Nadirbegov, 30, of Togliaty, Russia. Nadirbegov (15-2, 6 KOs) is coming off a lopsided loss to the current WBO boss Sergey Dzindziruk the last October.
“You better be hundred percent ready for this guy”, said Tszyu to Nadirbegov during this week’s presser. “I don’t know his motivation, but his a tough cookie to deal with even now, when he is an old man. He is coming to win this fight, and he is still hungry and capable of using dirty tricks while fighting. But he must know that Russian fans will allow nothing of that his arsenal”.
The next stage of the International Tszyu Cup will be divided into two parts, The first one on May, 5, will feature a good number of amateur fights, while the next day is set for the professionals. The show will be promoted by KT Group in association with Alexey Plotnikov and Kazan-based promoter Rinat Yusupov. Boxing event will be the core of the “Gazprom for children” charity mission.
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