Aged 14, and already taller than his dad, Tim has given away a promising representative career in soccer to take to the ring full-time.

Six months inside the state boxing association age limit, Tim started his amateur career last week with a bang. When his opponent saw the name Tszyu he pulled out.

An older and heavier boy replaced him but the young Tszyu made short work of his task, the bout being stopped in the first round. Last weekend Tim travelled to Cessnock and won his second fight on points

and on Saturday afternoon, he fights for the first time in the gym where he trains: his dad's Tszyu Boxing Academy, beside the Rockdale PCYC.

Kostya Tszyu has not yet seen his son fight competitively. He has been in Russia this year, setting up a chain of sporting academies around the country. Instead, he will watch a video of Tim in action, while

his brother-in-law and gym head trainer, Igor Goloubev, continues to look after Tim's best interests.

Tim and younger brother Nikita were never encouraged to box, (younger sister Anastasia is a gymnast), so mum Natasha was shocked when Tim asked her recently if he could take up amateur competition.

"Tim told me that I had encouraged him to play soccer (he represented both St George and Bankstown), which was true, but he stressed that his heart wasn't in it... he just wanted to box,'' said Natasha at

the family's Carss Park home this week.

As a youngster Tim used to watch his dad train and saw many of Kostya's fights on the big screen, and it wasn't long before Tim was "shadow boxing'' with his own tiny gloves. The glint in Kostya Tszyu's eyes

gave away more than a father's natural pride. And soon, Tim was following his dad to gym and working out.

Now a Newington College student, Tim is happy to be following his dad. ``It has always been my dream,'' he said in between workouts at the Tszyu Academy. ``From Russia, dad tells me on the phone I have