Kostya Tszyu has issued a chilling warning to Sharmba Mitchell and revealed he would enter his first professional boxing fight in the country of his birth without the safety net of a re-match clause.

Undisputed super lightweight world champion Tszyu's world title bout against American Mitchell in Moscow on February 7 will be the Russian-born boxer's first fight in his native country since he won a national amateur title 13 years ago.

Tszyu made it clear he wouldn't allow the anticipated media and public clamour for his time in Russia distract him from defeating Mitchell a second time.

Mitchell, 33, retired with an injured left knee after the seventh round of their first bout in 2001 when the Australian took away his World Boxing Association title.

Tszyu, who prides himself in mentally outpointing his opponents before they step in the ring, upped the psychological ante in the war of words with Mitchell.

Rankled by derogatory comments about him from Mitchell, which included calling Tszyu "a bum", the 34-year-old Sydneysider made it clear he wasn't interested in a quick knockout and wanted to inflict a sustained beating on the challenger.

"I really want to have this fight longer because of the way he talks. For the way he conducted himself after the fight, challenging me, he deserves punishment and not an early knockout," Tszyu said.

"And I know how to make this punishment, I know how to make sure every part of the body is going to be sore, because I'm in great shape and it doesn't make any difference to me if we are going to go one or two extra rounds."

Tszyu displayed a flash of black humour when warning Mitchell his face would look twice as big after next month's fight than it did following their last encounter.

"At least after that, he can go to the snow to cool his face down," said Tszyu, referring to the chilly Moscow weather.

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