Tim Tszyu defeats Joel Camilleri to take Australian title fight in pay-per-view debut

Tim Tszyu has weathered an early storm to defeat Joel Camilleri and become Australia's new super welterweight champion - but first punters were treated to a brutal boxing debut from former UFC star Ross Pearson and a Justin Hodges 'farce'.

• Tszyu's frightening vow: 'I will take his soul'
• Horn ready for Hodges, Tszyu
• Kostya: My boy can beat Jeff Horn

Tim Tszyu won the Australian super-welterweight title by outpointing Melbourne schoolteacher Joel Camilleri at Sydney’s Star Casino on Wednesday night but the rising star still has a lot to learn before stepping into the ring with Jeff Horn.

Tszyu survived a cut over the left eye in Round 2 but overcame Camilleri’s frustrating movement to take the points 99-91, 98-92 and 99-91 after 10 rounds.

It was Tszyu’s 13th consecutive win while Camilleri lost for the sixth time in 24 starts.

``Joel was tough and I learnt more in this fight than any other but now Jeff Horn’s on the radar,’’ Tszyu said.

``Hopefully we can meet in an all Australian superfight. It’s a fight that I believe I can win. Horn is a very strong, rugged fighter. But I see a lot of flaws in his boxing and I believe I can capitalize on the flaws and get the victory.’’

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Tim Tszyu goes toe to toe with Joel Camilleri. Picture: Brett Costello

Former world champ Horn, who is also a qualified schoolteacher, said Tszyu still had a lot of homework to do before facing the world’s top fighters.

``I definitely see myself taking care of Tim Tszyu at this stage,’’ Horn said.

``He won’t last in my classroom. The exam I set will be too tough.

``I don’t think Tim’s ready for me and I’ve still got big fish to fry. But if it’s a fight that people want to see and it sells, I’ll gladly fight him.

``Good on him for calling me out. He’s got the surname but it’s yet to be proven that he’s got the talent of his father. It’s a hard name to live up to.’’

Tim Tszyu (R) lands a telling blow on Joel Camilleri. Picture: AAP

Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton said he would take a fight with Tszyu in heartbeat.

``Tim Tszyu is not his father and there’s no way he’s ready for Jeff Horn,’’ Rushton said.

Earlier, in a ridiculous mismatch rugby league great Justin Hodges rocked Kiwi ring-in  Troy McMahon with his first punch and then stopped him in just 23 seconds to win what he would be embarrassed to say was his second professional fight.

McMahon, a tubby 43-year-old from Auckland, had trouble getting his gloves on before the bout and had trouble staying on his feet when Hodges landed the first punch of the bout, a straight right to the top of McMahon’s bald head.

The referee calls the end of the fight after just 23 seconds. Picture: Getty

McMahon stumbled and looked ready to fall face first to the canvas. Hodges was reluctant to hit him again but a follow-up combination ended by an uppercut forced referee Garry Dean to call a quick finish.

At 175cm and a soft 91kg McMahon, looked like a stuffed teddy bear against the 188cm, 103kg former State of Origin flyer.

McMahon was a last-minute opponent for Hodges after four earlier opponents had withdrawn.

``It was disappointing,’’ Hodges said in an understatement. ``The guy took the fight late.

``It’s not my fault. I came prepared. I hurt him and I didn’t want to hurt him anymore.

``It’s a shame it didn’t go longer. I trained hard and wanted a fight.’’

Jeff Horn was at the fight as a commentator. Picture: Brett Costello

Hodges said he would look to fight again probably in November but against a boxer with ``much more experience.’’

He said he was still a long way from fighting Origin rival Paul Gallen.

Former world champ Jeff Horn agreed, saying Hodges would get ``ripped to pieces’’ against the Blues great.

Hodges says he wants to learn as much about boxing as he can but McMahon couldn’t teach him much last night.

Horn said it was obvious McMahon was going to get hurt from the first punch.

``When guys get hit on top of the head like that, they lose all their balance,’’ Horn said.

``The referee did the right thing.’’

Jack Brubaker (L) and Ty Telford went to war in a brutal undercard fight. Picture: Brett Costello

In a welterweight thriller Ty Telford drew over 10 brutal rounds with rugged Jack Brubaker.

Horn’s Olympic team-mate, Jai Opetaia stopped rugged Kiwi cruiserweight Navosa Ioata at 1min 13sec of round eight.

The 75kg Ross Pearson, a former mixed martial arts star, scored a second round KO in his professional boxing debut over Brisbane’s Salar King.

After 37 MMA fights Pearson returned to the sport in which he excelled as teenager in England.

He dropped King twice in the second round for a stoppage victory at 2min 21 sec of the round.

``It’s the start of a new journey,’’ Pearson said.

``The transition to another sport is difficult because it’s a totally different skill set. But the emotions are the same and the desire is there to get in there and hurt someone.’’

``I want to take this as far as I can go. I want to reach the top in boxing.’’

King lost for the 11th time in 16 starts.