Horn focused on Zerafa after seeing off ‘boy’ Tszyu

Jeff Horn was unimpressed watching potential opponent Tim Tszyu defeat Dwight Ritchie and believes a far more dangerous opponent lies in wait.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 15: Jeff Horn does some shadow boxing as he continues preparations for his fight against Michael Zerafa at Dundee's Gym on August 15, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

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Rising star Tim Tszyu holds no terrors for Jeff Horn but Brisbane’s Fighting Schoolteacher admits Melbourne’s malevolent Michael Zerafa is a clear and present danger.

Horn sat ringside in Sydney on Wednesday night watching Tszyu battle to a 10-round decision over Dwight Ritchie, who was handicapped from the third round on by a badly cut left eye.

He says Tszyu is nowhere near ready to fight him but that Zerafa is a dangerous opponent who has his full attention ahead of their August 31 fight in Bendigo.

”Zerafa is the only guy I’m worried about now,’’ Horn said.

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Jeff Horn in training for his fight with Michael Zerafa. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“He’s a very good all-round fighter. He does the basics very well. Good jab, hard right hand and he’s tough. He showed that in going 12 rounds with (former world champ) Kell Brook that he’s world class. He’s younger than me, bigger than me and he’s fighting in his home state. He has a lot of advantages over me.

“There’s lots of talk about me fighting Tim Tszyu or fighting for the world middleweight title at the end of the year. Either of those fights might happen but Michael Zerafa is the only name I’m concentrating on right now.’’

Immediately after returning from Brisbane on Thursday morning, Horn headed from the airport to the gym of conditioning coach Dundee Kim for a furious workout just two weeks out from what will be The Hornet’s 22nd pro fight.

He was unimpressed by Tszyu’s win over Ritchie, considering Tszyu has been calling loudly for a Horn fight.

Horn says it was obvious that Tszyu was uncomfortable with Ritchie’s aggression and high workrate, the hallmarks of Horn’s fighting style.

“Tim Tszyu is still a boy with a man’s name,” Horn said. “Ritchie was handicapped by an eye injury for most of the fight but he made Tszyu work very hard for 10 rounds.

“Tim is still holding onto that Tszyu name.

“Sure he is one of the best in Australia in that (70kg) weight division, he is making inroads, and he is doing great things for the sport but is he ready yet for that massive fight? I don’t know.

“I would like to see him against some world class opposition first.

“He’s beaten good Australian-level fighters but can he take the next step? I’m not sure.”