Tim Tszyu promises a knockout against Tony Harrison in March
Tim Tszyu’s opponent in March says the Aussie has a ‘lack of skill’, but the Aussie says he’ll prove Tony Harrison wrong come March 12, guaranteeing an explosive end to the fight.
Boxing/MMA
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Tim Tszyu has promised to open a Kinder surprise in the ring with a sensational knockout of Tony Harrison, a man who believes the Australian has limited skills.
As they announced their March 12 world title fight at Qudos Bank Arena, with Harrison on a live video stream, Tszyu listened with a smirk on stage as his rival claimed his sole attribute was toughness.
Tszyu spent 10 weeks in the United States sparring a range of fighters – two of who, twins Jason and Justin Bell, he‘s brought back to Sydney to continue with his camp – and their feedback has been markedly different from Harrison’s appraisal.
“He’s talking about a lack of skill, skill-wise I’ll show something different, 100 per cent facts,” Tszyu told News Corp Australia.
“The boys that I’ve been sparring with, they were in shock, and a lot of them said that I stop him in five.
“So I feel like there’s a little Kinder surprise getting ready to be unwrapped to the whole world.”
The undefeated Tszyu (21-0, 15KO) fights former world champion Harrison (29-3-1, 21KO) for the WBO super-welterweight belt, after his original fight for all four major belts against Jermell Charlo was cancelled after Charlo broke his hand before Christmas.
Harrison – the only man to have beaten Charlo – said his countryman wouldn’t have had a problem disposing of Tszyu.
“Charlo, easy, I think the preparation for Charlo was set up, almost like it was set up for Tim to be successful when it was Tim and Terrell [Gausha],” Harrison said.
“But for Charlo to be coming off fighting Castano twice in a row, Tim has the exact same style as Castano, they both come forward, they’re both, they’re both aggressive, they both throw tons of punches, on a height scale they’re the same, on a reach scale they’re damn-near the same.
“Charlo had already fought Castano twice, so I just thought he’s fighting Castano a third time so I just thought Charlo would win easy.”
As for Tszyu’s ring skills, Harrison said: “What skill are you impressed with?
“Tim is a tough guy, so I don’t take nothing away from Tim being tough, but skill, when we talk about skill, what you all look at and what I look at are probably two different things.”
Tszyu is aware of Harrison’s boxing IQ, but laughed off his verbal jabs.
“He is fluent at talking, like a hyena,” Tszyu said.
“Skill-wise, he’s got great skills, very tricky, good hand speed, but boxing’s not just about that.
“I’ve got the Bell brothers back here with me to continue sparring. They’re keeping me sharp, they’re giving me good work, they’ve got quick hands and they’re strong fellas.”
The undercard will feature Tszyu’s younger brother Nikita fighting Australasian super-welterweight champion Bo Belbin.
It will be the first time the sons of legend Kostya Tszyu have fought on the same card.
“It’s good to share this night, this is a moment for both of us, usually it’s one or the other so it’s interesting for us both to share it,” said Nikita Tszyu (4-0, 3KO).
“Our trainer Igor [Goloubev] said he doesn’t even want Tim to watch my fight, because he’s got such a magnitude of a fight himself, I don’t want him to be distracted or have his focus elsewhere.
“Once we overcome this hurdle, it’s going to great to look back on.”
Rising star Paulo Aokuso (3-0, 3KO) takes on Yunieski Gonzalez on the same No Limit Boxing card.
American-based Cuban Gonzalez (21-4, 17KO) had an incredible amateur record of 345 wins and just 27 losses, and has been ranked in the top 10 by Ring Magazine in the light-heavyweight division.
“If fast is my pace, that’s the pace I’ve got to move at, I’m not afraid,” Aokuso said.
“Every show that I’ve been on, it’s my show.
“Just name anyone on the show that’s taken these kind of fights, these kinds of risks. No one here in Australia would ever take these fights.”
World title hopeful Sam Goodman (13-0, 7KO) fights former world champion Irishman TJ Doheny (23-3, 17KO) for the WBO Oriental super-bantamweight belt.
“Bring it, I think I can beat all these guys,” Goodman said.
“Going to America and sparring all the guys there proved to myself the level I belong at, it was very reassuring, and when TJ’s name got thrown up I said ‘100 per cent’.
“It’s easily the biggest name and biggest test on my resume, I need these fights going forward.”
SYDNEY’S MASSIVE WIN AHEAD OF TSZYU’S BLOCKBUSTER TITLE FIGHT
Sydney will host one of the biggest boxing events of the year by outbidding Victoria and Queensland for Tim Tszyu’s world title fight in March, in a huge win for the NSW Government.
Tszyu will fight American Tony Harrison for the WBO super-welterweight at Qudos Bank Arena on March 12, two weeks before a state election in which the gloves have well and truly come off.
A fortnight after Opposition leader Chris Minns promised Sydney would host three major pay-per-view events in his first term should he win the election, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and NSW Sports Minister Alister Henskens have come out swinging with the Tszyu deal.
Sydney can now lay claim to being the fight capital of Australia, regardless of which way the polls read on March 25.
Tszyu, the Sydney born and bred son of fight legend Kostya, gets the opportunity for fight for his first world title.
“It’s incredible to be fighting for my very first world title in my hometown of Sydney,” Tszyu said.
“Sydney is my home, it’s the place that made me who I am and I can’t wait to create history here. It’s going to be absolutely electric.
“I have one date, one time and one name on my mind and that’s Tony Harrison. He’s standing in front of everything I have ever worked for and I will stop at nothing to make sure that belt stays right here in Sydney where it belongs.”
The NSW Government had hoped to stage the mega-bout at Allianz Stadium, but the scheduled NRL match between Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors on Saturday meant there wouldn’t be enough time to erect the giant structure around the boxing ring in the middle of the field by early Sunday morning.
The bout will be shown live in the United States in prime time on Saturday night, giving Destinations NSW a huge platform to advertise the state’s tourist highlights.
“Tim Tszyu was born and raised in Sydney, so where better to stake his claim for a world title than here on his local turf, in front of a home crowd, with the world watching on,” Mr Henskens said.
“World title bouts are broadcast internationally and will showcase NSW as the leading sports state of Australia and a city that punches above its weight to produce unforgettable sporting moments.”
Tszyu (21-0, 15KO) was to have fought undisputed super-welterweight champion for all four major belts on January 29 in Las Vegas, but that fight was scrapped when Charlo broke his hand just before Christmas.
Instead of waiting, Tszyu has chosen to risk it all by fighting Harrison (29-3-1, 21KO) – the only man to have defeated Charlo – for the WBO belt made vacant due to Charlo’s inactivity.
Harrison said last week: “To be honest Tim is a very tough fighter but he’s just so basic to me. He’s somebody I see around the block, he’s like somebody at the park when I’m fighting somebody at the park. It’s nothing special about him. His defence is not stellar, his offence ain’t stellar.”
The fight card will also feature Tszyu’s younger brother Nikita fighting undefeated Australasian champion Bo Belbin, and world title hopefuls Sam Goodman (versus TJ Doheny) and Paulo Aokuso (versus Yunieski Gonzalez) in a stacked event promoted by No Limit Boxing.
This will be the first major event held in Australia since No Limit signed an exclusive broadcasting deal with Foxtel and Kayo late last year.
“Tony Harrison is Tim’s toughest test by a mile and he will no doubt be ready to bring his very best on what I expect to be a tough day down under for him inside and outside the ring,” No Limit chief executive George Rose said.
“It’s going to be a history-making event with an atmosphere never seen before at a world title fight in Australia. Sydney is not going to know what hit it when the first bell rings on Sunday, March 12.”
Foxtel Group chief executive Patrick Delany said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with No Limit Boxing to bring the Kayo Sports and Fox Sports magic to this world-class bout, held right here in Sydney, and broadcast exclusively to our more than three million sports subscribers around Australia, through Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.”
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