Thanks you for joining me for that sickening bout! We'll be back together soon. Much love.
Jeff Horn concedes his glorious career is almost certainly over after defeat to Tim Tszyu
Three years after his life-changing defeat of Manny Pacquiao, Jeff Horn will spend the coming days and weeks considering retirement in the wake of his comprehensive loss to Tim Tszyu, This is how a night that promised so much turned career ending.
Jeff Horn concedes his glorious career is almost certainly over.
Three years after his life-changing defeat of Manny Pacquiao, Horn revealed he will spend the coming days and weeks considering retirement in the wake of his comprehensive loss to Tim Tszyu in Townsville.
Horn entered the bout declaring he was in better shape than when he conquered Pacquiao but in the fight game, champions can grow old overnight and the 32-year-old admits the younger Tszyu showed him age can weary even the best.
Horn has nothing left to prove in the sport. His Pacquiao boilover delivered a world title and generated millions of dollars that have set him and wife Jo up for life.
Now, with two young daughters to consider amid concerns for his long-term welfare, the former Brisbane school teacher's honest words suggested the sting had gone out of The Hornet.
"I probably don't have the hunger of Tim Tszyu," he said.
"I've been there, done the world title, I was just fighting for the big fights.
"The mountain was too big for me (against Tszyu). I told him he can go all the way. He has the ability. All the best to Tim in his career."
As for his own career, Horn said: "I've got to go home, evaluate things and talk to the family.
"You never know, time will tell.
"I'll go home and talk to Jo but I know what she's going to say.
"In the end, I have to ask if I have more in the tank or is that it?"
In the minutes after the defeat, just Horn's third loss from 24 fights, his father, Jeff senior, believed his son's fairytale career was over and trainer Glenn Rushton said he would not oppose a retirement call.
"Jeff has done wonders for boxing in Australia. He's done it all," he said.
"It wasn't a great night. If Jeff wanted to hang up his gloves, I wouldn't have any issues.
"I think of him like a son, his health is the most important thing to me always.
"He's done the best he could against a young, hungry talented lion.
"Jeff has to sit down with his family, he's done amazing things in his boxing career. You have to question if the hunger is there. His life has changed; he has two beautiful daughters and a lovely wife.
"I'd encourage him not to make a quick decision but I'll support him 100 per cent in whatever he does."
Horn looked surprisingly sluggish from the outset and admitted he was stunned by Tszyu's power and precision.
"He made me look silly out there," he said.
"It was a surprise how good he was. I was slightly off on my attacks but that was down to him as well.
"My corner was telling me I wasn't winning the rounds. I was trying to change it up but he was either forward at me or going back. He was very good.
"I'm never going to throw in the towel, never going to say I've had enough, so it was more of a relief than anything that the referee was saying he'd seen enough."
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HOW THE FIGHT WAS WON
Punching with energy and hunger, Tim Tszyu was in total control from the outset and won every round, putting Jeff Horn down in the third and sixth before the referee pulled the pin at the end of the eighth.
It was a magnificent pugilistic performance by the son of Kostya.
Bookmakers controversially installed Tszyu as the $1.55 favourite but their assessment was vindicated as Tszyu dominated The Hornet with the power-punching and precision that made his Russian father a boxing icon.
Horn declared he was in better shape than when he conquered Pacquiao but there was none of the heart and warrior spirit that defined his Suncorp triumph as Tszyu kept his unbeaten record intact.
Tszyu is determined to win a world title - and this performance showed he can scale the apex of boxing.
"My name is Tim, not the son (of Kostya)," he said.
"Jeff has achieved so much, I respect him, he is a tough competitor, but this is a young man's sport.
"I'm not here to sink, I'm here to swim."
There were concerns about Tszyu's ability to handle the high-octane pressure of a stadium fight but the Sydney slugger looked comfortable as he relished the big stage.
Horn only knows one way to fight - awkwardly and aggressively - and he wasted no time trying to intimidate his younger and more inexperienced combatant.
Tszyu refused to take a backward step in the second round and landed some clean shots, while Horn was thrown off balance several times making clumsy lunges in a bid to rock his rival with a big shot.
Tszyu took control of the fight in the third round. He hurt Horn with some clean punches and while the Queenslander slipped twice, a genuine shot on the inside sent him to the canvas in the closing seconds.
Suddenly, there was blood in the water. Horn looked tired and sluggish. Tszyu looked lean and mean, inflicting pain with every well-executed punch.
This was a major step up in class for Tszyu.
They say styles make fights and the neat, technical style of Tszyu troubled the bullocking approach of Horn, who hailed his rival's coming of age.
"Tim gave me some good body shots, well done to him," Horn said.
"I have been there and done that, but he is hungry and he has that champion spirit in him."
MORE BOXING
Tim Tszyu the new king of Australian boxing king after destroying Jeff Horn
In the lead-up the bout, Tszyu sought the counsel of his legendary father Kostya, who gave his starry-eyed son some simple instructions, urging him to avoid getting into the gutter with Horn and boxing with more intellect.
He followed the fight plan to the letter. For Horn, a sublime career is almost certainly on the canvas.
Updates
Horn v Tszyu coverage signing off
PICTURE PERFECT: Tszyu conquers Horn
Horn can't win this fight, his only chance is a knockout but his power has simple deserted him. Body, body, body. An incredible game plan from tszyu has sapped everything from Horn as the legend's son stays composed, waiting for the finishing blow. Horn won't be eating or ******* tomorrow. "What do you want to do?" asks Glenn Rushton. IT'S OVER! THE FIGHT IS OVER! Horn's corner finally succumbs to the assault from this new global boxing star in Tszyu.
"He's proved a lot of people wrong, people thought he was trading off his surname, not so," says Ben Damon.
What a wonderful performance from Tszyu, it was "utter destruction".
REMEMBER, MY NAME'S TIM, NOT THE SON
TIM TSZYU: "My name's Tim, not the son. All credit to Jeff, he's achieved so much and it's an honour to share this stadium with another tough Australian but it's a young man's game and I was better tonight.
"Give me big names and I'm gonna swim not sink. I want the real world title around my waist. I'll be back in the gym monday, this is just the beginning."
ON JEFF HORN: "Look, Jeff has raised the flag for Australia he's ignited this sport, he sold Suncorp out, it was an honour to share the ring with you.
THE HORNET
He's young and hungry .. he's now the No.1 fighter in australia. He's a very good fighter, I wasn't, but all credit to him. But has that hunger about him, I've be there done that. The wars have taken their toll, at least I'm not cut … but the body shots really hurt.
BARRY MICHAEL: "I don't want to see Jeff Horn in the ring again – he's accomplished everything in the sport and it's Tim Tszyu's time."
"I would've stopped the fight three rounds earlier."
PAUL KENT: "Glenn Rushton showed the amateurism being in Jeff Horn's corner. It was embarrassing when Rushton was telling Jeff 'one more round, walk up on Tszyu, he's got a punch left in him' .. he's been pushed in to this fight and his corner shouldn't have pushed him."
Knockout! Tim Tszyu stops Jeff Horn!
Horn can't win this fight, his only chance is a knockout but his power has simple deserted him. Body, body, body. An incredible game plan from tszyu has sapped everything from Horn as the legend's son stays composed, waiting for the finishing blow. Horn won't be eating or ******* tomorrow. "What do you want to do?" asks Glenn Rushton. IT'S OVER! THE FIGHT IS OVER! Horn's corner finally succumbs to the assault from this new global boxing star in Tszyu.
"He's proved a lot of people wrong, people thought he was trading off his surname, not so," says Ben Damon.
What a wonderful performance from Tszyu, it was "utter destruction".
REMEMBER, MY NAME'S TIM, NOT THE SON
TIM TSZYU: "My name's Tim, not the son. All credit to Jeff, he's achieved so much and it's an honour to share this stadium with another tough Australian but it's a young man's game and I was better tonight.
"Give me big names and I'm gonna swim not sink. I want the real world title around my waist. I'll be back in the gym monday, this is just the beginning."
ON JEFF HORN: "Look, Jeff has raised the flag for Australia he's ignited this sport, he sold Suncorp out, it was an honour to share the ring with you.
THE HORNET
He's young and hungry .. he's now the No.1 fighter in australia. He's a very good fighter, I wasn't, but all credit to him. But has that hunger about him, I've be there done that. The wars have taken their toll, at least I'm not cut … but the body shots really hurt.
BARRY MICHAEL: "I don't want to see Jeff Horn in the ring again – he's accomplished everything in the sport and it's Tim Tszyu's time."
"I would've stopped the fight three rounds earlier."
PAUL KENT: "Glenn Rushton showed the amateurism being in Jeff Horn's corner. It was embarrassing when Rushton was telling Jeff 'one more round, walk up on Tszyu, he's got a punch left in him' .. he's been pushed in to this fight and his corner shouldn't have pushed him."
Rnd 7: Jeff Horn vs Tim Tszyu
Jeff Horn is too brave for his own good. Tszyu knows the best way to finish this fight early is keep attack the body. We are witnessing the launch of a world class boxer in Tim Tszyu. Horn's body looks like a butcher's block – welts rising from his trunk. Johnny Lewis always said Kostya Tszyu didn't go to the body enough, his son is certainly listening to Lewis's advice. "What is Horn made of?" No-one knows, he's shouldn't be standing.
ROUND 7: Tszyu 70-61
Rnd 6: Jeff Horn vs Tim Tszyu
Tim Tszyu is dominating Jeff Horn in his own domain – the clinch. Horn looks a beaten fighter halfway through round six as the Sydney-sider lands at will. So much sting left in his punches! And Horn's down for the third time and it was a body shot that started it and body shot that finished it! The fight must be stopped if it continues this way.
ROUND 6: Tszyu 60-53
Rnd 5: Jeff Horn vs Tim Tszyu
Jeff Horn is looking for THAT one punch but tszyu sees it come. Tszyu has in all likelihood just embarrassed 90 per cent of the best boxing minds (me included … na) in the country. Fenech calls the left and right hooks that sting into Horn's gloves. OH! Tszyu thuds a vile left hook clean into Jeff Horn's liver as the Brisbane native winces in pain. Halfway through the fight, guessing it won't last the 10 at this rate. Body shots are starting to show.
ROUND 5: Tszyu 50-44
Rnd 4: Jeff Horn vs Tim Tszyu
Tszyu is forcing Horn backward, stalking the former world champion. The bookies were right (so far). Lightning punches from Tszyu: left, right, hooks – Tszyu looks better everywhere this fight goes. Jeff Horn is as tough as they come but he looks totally shot. Fenech wants this fight stopped and I agree with him. Another round like that and it's all over. Tszyu isn't even breathing in his corner. Unbelievable! This kid is the real deal.
ROUND 4: Tszyu 40-35
Rnd 3: Jeff Horn vs Tim Tszyu
Horn looks low on energy as Tszyu fires off piston-like one, twos. Tszyu picks up and dumps Horn to the canvas. HUGE RIGBY HAND rocks Horn! Tszyu smells blood! "It's done, it's done, it's done," say the commentators.
BANG! Huge left hook coat hangers Horn to the floor. The fighting schoolteacher makes the standing eight count as Tszyu pours it on. The bell goes five minutes early, saving Horn. "it won't go past this round," say Fenech.
ROUND 3: Tszyu 30-26