Kostya Tszyu Hits The Books

Former boxing champion Kostya Tszyu enrolls in college

Kostya Tszyu, the former undisputed 140 lb. champion who lost his crown to Ricky Hatton on June 5, 2005, and who may or may not return to the ring, has enrolled in the Urals State Technical University, according to the ITAR-TASS news agency.

Tszyu will study in the martial arts department at the Institute of Physical Culture, Social Services and Tourism, said Sergei Novakovsky, the institute’s director.

Kostya Tszyu was born in September 1969 in Serov, a whistle-stop in the Urals region, and always dreamed of entering the institute, but when he tried to enroll twenty years ago he failed the entry exams.

But a lot has happened to Kostya Tszyu in the intervening decades.

Now, the former champ was admitted to the university without any annoying tests he only had to pass an oral interview and is taking what is called a distant studies program,’ which means he will only have to hand in his homework on time to get a passing grade.

After an outstanding amateur career, Tszyu relocated to Australia in March 1992 and turned pro that same year. His record presently stands at 31 wins and 2 losses, with 25 of those wins coming by way of knockout, and he has victories over Zab Judah, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jesse James Leija and Sharmba Mitchell, and among others.