The time has finally arrived and this weekend I travel to Manchester in the UK for my fight with the IBF No.1 contender Ricky Hatton at the MEN Arena in the early hours of June 5 local time
I am looking forward to this fight with Ricky and I am excited!
My training has been very good
I have had four or five different sparring partners and the boys have been very helpful
They did some great work to the best of their abilities and helped me a lot
The support from you the Tszyu Crew has been tremendous and I have enjoyed reading your emails and our live chats in the Forum at www.KostyaTszyu.com
There is great confidence amongst all the people around me and my team has worked very hard and there is not much more to do
The mental preparation is always there and I will be sharpening a few things over the final two weeks
Nearly all the work is done and my body is very fit and I am ready for this challenge
Being at your best is all about desire
I have seen many fighters come to this final stage of their career where they start finding shortcuts in training and in preparation
If you have done everything, you can say I can do this a bit differently now
This is the first mistake you can make
I am training the same way I have trained years ago
Even harder and I have no excuses for myself
After fighting in Australia and the USA my entire professional career, defending my world title in Manchester is going to be something different
I haven't fought in Europe for so many years and I have to show my best abilities over there
I am World Champion and I have to show all the world why I am the World Champion
I have to fight anywhere, anytime and be ready
My team has arranged a dinner for me on my return to Australia after the fight with Ricky Hatton
On Friday 10th June 2005 I will be at the Panthers World of Entertainment in Penrith, NSW
More details are available from my website www.KostyaTszyu.com and tickets can be purchased via email - oliver@helpinghand.com.au - or by telephone at (61 2) 8338 8755
Some people have said that because I have not fought many rounds over the last few years it will work against me, but I see it as an advantage as I am a fresh 35 year-old
I am the World Champion who is willing to fight and who has big desire
I can make this fight with Ricky Hatton very easy for me, or I can make this fight very hard for myself
I have been doing boxing for 27 years and I have fought against opponents with a similar style and I beat them
I am confident in myself
Confident in the way I have trained and the way I have prepared myself
Remember the Tszyu Crew rules always!
Your champion
