BoxRec

Appologies if this has done the rounds, but I found this link on another forum I post at in which Kostya Tszyu spars with Sam Soliman in preperation for this Hatton fight. The picture is good and the action is pretty good also.

What does everyone think of Kostya in action here, I'm a bit on the fence - haven't seen it since Muhammad Ali in which the champion seems to be focusing more on absorbing punishment from the sparring partner than dishing it out. A very strange workout.

I'm not too sure what to think of it, it shows that Kostya is a very strong man who doesn't get flustered when backed up - it also shows it will take some almighty punches to geninually hurt Tszyu (okay, I know they were not at it 100%, but Soliman is a stone and half heavier). On the negative (for Tszyu) it does show that he can get caught pretty easily and can get backed up.

Here's the link, judge for yourself.

http://www.boxing.net.au/pages/Articles ... 19-04.html

You can save this file aswell.

I thought he got opened up with the same two punches everytime. Soliman nailed him with a left jab and always followed up with a right hand that would back Tszyu up, simple little one, two but it did the trick. He also didn't throw enough leather I think. The fact that he gets backed up like that is good for Hatton who likes to pound guys on the ropes and he'll probably be looking to smother Tszyus right hand there.

I watched this a week or so back, and for a public workout I think Tszyu was far to laid back.

Solimon was applying the pressure, but it was all head work - Not ideal preperation for Hatton imo.

Tszyu never takes sparring seriously, He said in his book he likes to try little things in sparring and is not in there to beat up his sparring partner.
He also would have wanted Hatton's camp to see him doing very little as it will give them confidence thjat wont be there come the end of the fight in Manchester, Believe me Tszyu won't stand there like in the sparring he will be throwing big right hands and dictating the pace either aggressivly or defencivley.