Why Kostya Tszyu is set to miss biggest fight of son Tim’s life this month

Tim Tszyu has revealed Hall of Fame father Kostya is unlikely to be in his corner — as initially planned — for his first ever world title shot, with a family situation to keep him in Russia.

Only 12 days out from his WBO championship showdown against American Tony Harrison, Tszyu confirmed he will likely be walking out for the biggest fight of his life without dad beside him.

The new face of Australian boxing revealed the old man, while wanting to attend the Qudos Arena blockbuster, is set to stay home to look after his young daughter.

Asked on Wednesday if his dad would be attending, Tszyu said: “I’m not sure, mate.

“Not sure ... My little sister is a bit sick so I think he’s looking after her. We’ll see how it all pans out.”

Back in December, it was revealed Kostya would walk his eldest son to the ring for what was initially planned to be a Las Vegas blockbuster against the division’s undisputed king Jermell Charlo on January 29.

Yet even when that fight was cancelled – due to Charlo breaking a hand in sparring – there was still talk Kostya would attend his boy’s revised WBO interim super welterweight showdown on Sunday, March 12.

The event is an extremely significant one for Australia’s famed fight family given Nikita Tszyu (4-0) will also look to keep his own undefeated record intact on the undercard against Tasmanian Bo Belbin (7-0).

Unfortunately though, Kostya is now unlikely to be ringside as planned.

Before Christmas, Tim Tszyu revealed to Fox Sports Australia that he would need to “have a chat” with the old man about what was expected on fight night.

The revelation followed on from interviews a year earlier, when the boxer said he would never again have Kostya front row for his fights given his tendency to get “out of control”.

Back in 2016, Kostya surprised his boy by not only flying into Sydney on the eve of his professional debut against Zorran Cassady – but then sat ringside the next day.

Yet speaking after the fight, Tim revealed how dad’s thick Russian accent grew so loud, so quickly, during the bout, it became the only voice the boxer could hear as – increasingly frustrated -- he battled through a tough six-rounder.

Asked about the evening since, Tszyu has described the presence of his old man as both “chaotic” and “out of control”, adding: “Dad’s a control freak, so it’s hard for him to watch someone he loves fight in the ring.”

Asked in December if he was concerned about having the old man back in his corner, as was planned for the Charlo title fight, he laughed: “A little bit.

“But before it all happens we’re going to have a chat.

“Because the last time my dad saw me fight, I was a boy.

“Now though, it’s completely different.

“I’m my own man.

“And what I’ve done to get into this position, it’s been all on my own.”

Importantly, Tszyu added that his father, who remarried and returned to Russia when his boys were still young, now understood all this.

“And respects it,” he said.

“Before, dad always saw me as his little boy.

“But not anymore.”