“Russia, like Australia, has a huge passion for sport. Sochi's bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2014 will give Russians the chance to show the world its pride and commitment to sport and to the new Russia, which will be greatly helped by the strong legacy the Olympics will leave behind.“

Kostya Tzsyu is the former undisputed super-lightweight boxing champion of the world and at the height of his career, was regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.

Tzsyu began his amateur boxing career at the age of 9 and won the World Amateur Championship as a 22 year-old. He was the Soviet champion on five occasions and won the European Championships three times, before turning professional in 1992. His amateur record stands at 259 wins and only 11 defeats.

The start of Tzsyu's professional career saw him set up a base in Australia, where he still lives today. He fought his first professional fight on 1 March 1992 and knocked out his opponent in the first round. After 13 straight wins with 11 knockouts, Tszyu won his first world title fight against IBF super lightweight champion Jake Rodriguez in 1995.

Tszyu retained the title until 1997, when he lost to Vince Phillips in Atlantic City, USA. This loss marked the low-point of Tzsyu’s career, but after months of soul-searching, he rededicated himself to the sport of boxing and returned with a drastically changed training regimen. Three wins by knockout secured him a shot at the vacant WBC super lightweight title, which he won.

Knockout wins over Mexicans Miguel Angel Gonzales, Ahmed Santos and the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez in 1999 and 2000 re-enforced Tszyu’s status on the world stage. In 2001, he took the next step towards greatness when he stopped WBA champion Sharmba Mitchell to unify the WBC and WBA world titles. The same year, Tszyu faced the young and talented IBF champion, Zab Judah, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He won the fight by knockout and claimed the title of the undisputed super lightweight champion of the world.

In the following years, Tzsyu made successful defences of his titles, but was also hampered by injury. With a record of 31 wins (25 by knockout), 2 losses and 1 no contest, his career is now at an important crossroads and the decision to retire or fight on at the age of 37 has still not been taken.

Tzsyu was born in Serov, Russia. He is married and has three children.

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