Kostya Tszyu vs Ben Tackie

One of only three undisputed world champions, Kostya Tszyu will make his first start since defeating previously unbeaten Zab Judah when he defends his (WBC-WBA-IBF) 140-pound titles against IBF No. 1 contender Ben Tackie on Showtime Saturday, May 18, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. In the co-feature, undefeated Hercules Kyvelos will take on perennial world-ranked contender Oba Carr in a 10-round welterweight bout. Millennium Events Inc. will promote the fight card from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Tszyu (28-1-1, 23 KOs), of Sydney, Australia, by way of Serov, Russia, stamped himself as the world’s premier 140-pound boxer and added the IBF belt to his wardrobe with a second-round TKO over Judah Nov. 3, 2001. In a sensational performance in which he became the first undisputed junior welterweight champion since Paul Fujii in 1968, Tszyu dropped Judah with a single, devastating right hand in the second round. Judah made it to his feet, but appeared dazed and confused when referee Jay Nady stopped the bout. On June 23, 2001, Tszyu retained his WBC title for a fifth time and WBA title for the first time by winning a unanimous 12-round decision over Oktay Urkal June 23, 2001. Tszyu won the WBA belt with a seventh-round TKO over Sharmba Mitchell on Feb. 3, 2001. Tszyu captured the WBC 140-pound title by knocking out Miguel Angel Gonzalez in the 10th round on Aug. 21, 1999. Tszyu, who will be making his 15th appearance in a world title fight, has won 10 consecutive bouts, including nine by knockout. He went 259-11 in the amateurs, prior to turning pro on March 1, 1992.

Tackie (24-2, 15 KOs), of Accra, Ghana, has won three straight contests, and six out of his last seven. In his last start on Jan. 25, 2002, Tackie scored a fifth-round TKO over Teddy Reid to retain his North American Boxing Federation (NABF) junior welterweight title and win the United States Boxing Association (USBA) 140-pound crown. A rugged, durable boxer with power in both hands, Tackie won the NABF title with a 12-round decision over Ray Oliveira on Aug. 10, 2001. In one of his best performances, Tackie rallied to register a 10th-round TKO over former IBF 130-pound titleholder Roberto Garcia June 3, 2000, on Showtime. Two months later on Aug. 18, 2001, Tackie recorded a first-round knockout over former IBF lightweight champion Freddie Pendleton.