Is proposed super fight between Tim Tszyu and Jeff Horn on the ropes?
Australia’s most anticipated boxing bout in years between Tim Tszyu and Jeff Horn remains in limbo after a heated three-hour meeting because of two major sticking points in both camps.
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The proposed superfight between Tim Tszyu and Jeff Horn is in serious doubt following a heated three-hour meeting in Sydney.
Tszyu’s agent, Matt Rose, met Horn’s promoter, Dean Lonergan, in Crows Nest in the hope of locking in a date for the fight after Tszyu gave Horn a deadline.
Instead, the pair walked away frustrated after failing to agree on two major sticking points.
Horn’s team want 10 rounds while Tszyu’s camp is pushing for 12.
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The other major issue is that Horn wants a rematch clause inserted, but Tszyu doesn’t see the benefit of having a second fight given he has his sights set on a world-title crown.
At this point, the Tszyu versus Horn stoush won’t see the light of day unless both parties can resolve their differences.
This appears to be unlikely given the body language exchanged between Rose and Lonergan during their fiery meeting.
Both men refused to take a backward step as they fought hard for their fighters’ rights.
Lonergan confirmed his meeting with Rose was animated, with both men feeling agitated at stages.
“It is boxing, you’d be disappointed if it didn’t (get fiery),” Lonergan said.
“For us it is clear — no rematch clause and we are saying no fight.
“The rematch clause has been a sticking point for the past two weeks.
“We are adamant that there has to be a rematch, which is a fair indication of how seriously we are taking this fight. We don’t think that Tim Tszyu is going to be a walkover.
“Tim’s team are saying that if there is a rematch clause they are not going to have a fight.
“Both camps are pretty staunch on it right now.
“I now have to go back to Jeff and have a chat with him, but I know what their attitude is going to be.
“I think there is a huge public appetite for this fight, but if we don’t get those issues resolved there won’t be a fight.”
Horn’s camp is willing to give Tszyu another week to agree on the sticking points, but for now the two camps are at loggerheads.
Tszyu is determined to become the best pound-for-pound fighter in Australia.
He sees a clash against Horn as the perfect chance to place himself in a prime position to contend for a world title.
At 25, Tszyu also feels that he holds the edge over 31-year-old Horn, who is clinging onto his career at the highest level.
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Despite this, the Brisbane-born welterweight is quietly confident of defeating Tszyu to keep his world-title dream alive.
Horn, the man who famously made a name for himself by beating boxing legend Manny Pacquiao for the welterweight title in 2017, is coming off a win over Michael Zerafa in their titanic rematch last month.
Horn exacted his revenge by securing a majority points decision over Zerafa, who nearly ended Horn’s career earlier in 2019 by stopping him in the ninth round in August’s “Battle of Bendigo”.
The Tszyu versus Horn fight had previously been pencilled in for April 18.