Tim Tszyu v Jack Brubaker: Tszyu wins in four rounds
Tim Tszyu has his eyes on the winner of the upcoming Michael Zerafa v Jeff Horn bout after his brutal power game proved too much for Jack Brubaker in Sydney on Friday night.
Boxing/MMA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Serious talks will now begin to stage a mega-bout between Tim Tszyu and Jeff Horn next March after the Sydney fighter blitzed rival Jack Brubaker in just four rounds.
Tszyu (15-0, 11KO) scored a technical knockout win after Jeff Fenech, trainer of Brubaker (16-3-2, 8KO) threw in the towel after a sustained beating.
This was Tszyu’s most impressive performance since becoming a Main Event headline act, and he retained his IBF Australasian super welterweight title with an aggressive showing.
Stream live coverage of Charlo v Hogan with KAYO on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
Preliminary talks between the Tszyu and Horn camps had been conducted in recent weeks, but will now gain serious momentum.
Horn lost his last fight to Michael Zerafa, and the pair will have a rematch on December 18 in Brisbane.
Should Horn prevail, Sydney and Brisbane will likely battle it out for the Tszyu-Horn showdown in March.
If Zerafa wins, Tszyu could also lock him in as his March opponent.
As for his brutal power game against Brubaker, Tszyu said it was important to entertain the supporters who filled Darling Harbour’s ICC Exhibition Centre, including former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh, Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim, and NRL stars Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton, James Roberts and Corey Norman.
“I just wanted to deliver something different, go forward, it was just about to come off,” Tszyu said.
“I was just getting started, I was just warming up, I could have gone another 10 rounds.
“The main thing is, all the fans that came out, this is for you.
“We want world title fights, and we want them in Sydney.
“There’s always room for improvement, I got hit a few times.
“I think I’m getting better all the time.
“I will be ready for (a world title) whenever.”
Tszyu dominated from the opening bell, showing composure to strike Brubaker with clean punches while his rival moved frantically without being able to tag him.
A clean short left hook by Tszyu set the tone for the second. Tszyu peppered Brubaker with heavy shots, but missed three big attempted uppercuts that would have severely damaged his opponent.
Tszyu opened up in the third with three cracking right hands that had Brubaker backpedalling, and it appeared only a matter of time before he would be floored.
Following another heavy barrage on the ropes, Brubaker was saved from that fate when Fenech threw in the towel.
“All credit to Tim, he’s a big strong boy,” Brubaker said.
“I’m humble in defeat. Tim is all class.
“I’m looking forward to saying one day that I shared the ring with him.”
Earlier, undefeated Kiwi David Light (15-0, 9KO) stopped Australian cruiserweight Trent Broadhurst in the third round, having dropped him twice in the second.
Broadhurst (22-4, 14KO) had carried a perforated eardrum injury into the bout and was tagged with a hook in the second that resulted in a cry of pain before he dropped to his knee.
Light managed to land on the same ear later in the round for another knockdown. That continued in the third, with Light managing to drop Broadhurst with medium-weighted shots twice before the bout was halted by the referee.
Light retained his WBO Oriental title belt and is now targeting a showdown against Australia’s top cruiserweight, Jai Opetaia.
Tanzanian-born Bruno Tarimo (25-2-1, 5KO) retained his IBF International super featherweight title in an epic slug-fest against Nathaniel May.
Tarimo’s relentless work ethic prevailed against May’s flashy footwork, with judges giving a unanimous decision to the champion by 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93.
It is May’s second successive defeat, having lost a decision to James Dickens in England last July, and the highly touted West Australian fighter falls to a record of 21-3 (12KO).