Boxing: Raging favourite Tim Tszyu delivers St Patrick’s Day body blow to Irish rival Dennis Hogan

A fire-up Tim Tszyu has issued a dire warning to opponent Dennis Hogan if he is banking on the luck of the Irish saving him in their upcoming super welterweight bout.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos FEBRUARY, 15, 2021: Tim Tszyu poses for a photo at Fox Sports Studios in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Tim Tszyu has fired a St Patrick’s Day salvo at Dennis Hogan by mocking his Irish heritage and vowing to send his career crashing to the canvas once and for all.

A proud Irishman who speaks with a distinct accent, the Brisbane-based Hogan came out swinging last week, insisting Tszyu is overrated and riding the ‘hype train’ ahead of their super welterweight bout in Newcastle on March 31.

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But Tszyu, his calendar-timing as sharp as his body shots, has used the day of March 17, marking Ireland’s religious-and-cultural celebration of Saint Patrick, to issue a dire warning to the hungry ‘Hurricane’.

Tim Tszyu’s calendar-timing seems to be as sharp as his body shots.

Hogan’s past two fights have been failed world-title tilts against Jaime Munguia and Jermall Charlo and Tszyu (17-0, 13KO) pledged to deliver the hat-trick of hammer blows that will consign the Irishman to boxing oblivion.

“Dennis, I have heard what you have said about me (being over-hyped),” Tszyu said.

“Let me be very clear with you, I am going to end you, this is your last fight.

“I know it’s St Patrick’s Day, but I don’t believe in the luck of the Irish … you make your own luck and you create your own destiny.”

Tszyu is the raging $1.14 favourite to win his 18th consecutive fight and an emphatic disposal of Hogan will put the No. 1-ranked WBO contender on course for a world-title shot.

Tszyu and Dennis Hogan will step into the ring in Newcastle on March 31.

But having just turned 36, Hogan (28-3-1, 7KO) knows time is running out for him to scale the world-title summit after his heartbreaking majority-decision loss to Munguia in Mexico in April 2019.

Tszyu came of age as Australian boxing’s new star with his eight-round destruction of Hogan’s former stablemate Jeff Horn last August, but the Hurricane insists he will be hungrier than The Hornet.

“This is the best I’ve felt dropping weight,” Hogan said.

Tszyu is a raging $1.14 favourite to win his 18th consecutive fight.

“Jeff (Horn) has climbed the summit, I want to get to that world title, so I’m still hungry.

“The boxing game is a cruel game and another loss for me puts me well down the list.

“But I have got where I am with my attitude and I will go all out to get another world title shot.

“Deep down, Tim knows how tough this fight is, but credit to him for taking it because I am world class and I’m going to show it.

“I actually think I can really hurt him. I have a great structure I believe in. From round one I will be going out to win rounds. I will be busy.

“I am ready to make Tim Tszyu look average and put myself back in the picture for a world title.”