Ultimate guide to Jeff Horn vs Tim Tszyu boxing fight

Tim Tszyu and Jeff Horn have arrived at Townsville Stadium to late drama with both camps still bickering over a heated pre-fight honour.

Final press conference ahead of the Jeff Horn and Tim Tszyu bout in Townsville.

While Jeff Horn took on the bulk of the smack talk in the lead up to his highly anticipated bout with Tim Tszyu tonight, the 25-year-old hit back as crunch time neared.

Although most of Horn’s verbal blows have just been brushed off by the 25-year-old son of Aussie boxing legend Kostya Tszyu, Tim fired back that former world champion Horn is “fake” and “irrelevant” on the eve of the fight.

Australia is split on who it wants to win. In a news.com.au poll of more than 12,400 people, 52 per cent of voters are supporting Tszyu while 48 per cent are barracking for Horn.

Watch Horn vs Tszyu live on Main Event (available on Foxtel and Kayo), Wednesday 26 August, 7pm AEST. ORDER NOW >

While Horn has been throwing barbs at the younger man throughout the build up, the constant criticism has been that the 15-0 Tszyu is only getting this fight because of his name.

The son of former undisputed light-welterweight legend and International Boxing Hall of Fame member Kostya Tszyu, Tszyu Jr. has expertly dodged most of the barbs fired his way.

But in an interview with the Wide World of Sports, Tszyu slammed Horn for not being authentic during the lead up to the fight.

“He’s very competitive, he’s a good fighter and he’s achieved a lot,” Tszyu said. “But he’s a bit fake. He says a few things … he’s sometimes not the real guy you see in the media.

“I couldn’t care less (what Horn says). I’m a professional athlete. Growing up with a dad like that, I’m super proud of what he did. He’s taught me to ignore what irrelevant people have to say and this is exactly what it is. Why listen to irrelevant people that have got nothing to do with anything?

“He’s trying to smack-talk, trying to put me off my game clearly, but it’s not working. he should remain Jeff Horn, who he is. He’s trying to be someone he not.”

He also took aim at Horn’s achievements, saying Manny Pacquiao “didn‘t take it seriously” and Terence Crawford, who took his WBO welterweight world title with a ninth round TKO “shows the calibre of the best boxers in the world compared to Jeff”.

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Hopefully they get a little closer in the actual fight.

LATE DRAMA IN HORN-TSZYU STAND-OFF

Jeff Horn and Tim Tszyu have arrived at Queensland Country Bank Stadium to late drama with both camps still squabbling over which fighter will get to conduct the second ring walk-out.

The point of contention has been a public battleground in the build-up to Wednesday’s fight and reports emerged on Wednesday night after the start of the uncercard that the Horn and Tszyu camps still haven’t reached an agreement.

Both fighters want the prestige of walking out second while their opponent is forced to stand abandoned in the ring.

Fox Sports News reported Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton remained adamant just hours before the fight that Horn would walk out second.

However, his claim has since been brought into doubt by reports the two camps are still in “heated” negotiations about the contentious issue.

Tszyu said during Monday’s press conference that he did not care if he walked out first or second — but the fight surrounding the pre-fight honour has had all the twist and turns expected of the biggest fight in Australia this year.

The Courier-Mail’s Peter Badel said the bitter stalemate between the two camps had become a “circus” with a last-minute agreement still nowhere near being reached.

“Tszyu and Horn promoters still can’t decide the walkout process two hours before the fight,” he posted on Twitter.

“What a circus.”

WHEN AND WHERE’S IT ON?

The highly anticipated bout between former WBO world welterweight champion Horn and rising Australian star Tszyu will take place on Wednesday, August 26, with the card starting at 6pm AEST. It’s expected the main event will start at approximately 9.30pm.

The fight will take place at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium, which is the home of the NRL’s North Queensland Cowboys. The $250 million, 25,000 capacity stadium opened in February. Up to 16,000 fans will be allowed into the stadium under its COVID-safe site specific plan.

#HornTszyu broadcast schedule:

6pm @FOXSportsAUS 503
Larfield v Hunt 4x3
Sandstrom v Cashman 4x2
B. Horn v Clarke 4x3

7pm @MainEventTV & @kayosports PPV
Copland v Camilleri 8x3
O'Connell v Fulmer 8x2
Wilson v Woods 8x3
Hardman v Weetch 8x3

9:30pm
JEFF HORN v TIM TSZYU 10x3

— Ben Damon (@ben_damon) August 25, 2020

HOW TO WATCH

The only way to watch the fight is on Main Event on Foxtel and for the first time ever, on Kayo Sports.

It is the first event that Kayo will offer a pay-per-view option. Kayo Sports executive director Ant Hearne said with COVID restricting travel and the ability to congregate at pubs and clubs, the move was perfect for those who still want to witness a piece of Australian boxing history.

Main Event is also available to be purchased on Foxtel’s Main Event channel.

The first three undercard fights will be shown on Fox Sports 503 on Wednesday at 6pm.

Watch Horn vs Tszyu live on Main Event (available on Foxtel and Kayo), Wednesday 26 August, 7pm AEST. ORDER NOW >

TALE OF THE TAPE

Jeff Horn shows what he’s got.

JEFF HORN

Age: 32

Height: 1.75m

Weight: 69.6kg

Reach: 1.73m

Record: 23 fights – 20 wins (13 KO), 2 losses, 1 draw

Last Three Fights:

– 18 December 2019 – Win vs Michael Zerafa (majority decision)

– 31 August 2019 – Loss vs Michael Zerafa (9th round TKO)

– 30 November 2018 – Win vs Anthony Mundine (1st round KO)

TIM TSZYU

Age: 25

Height: 174cm

Weight: 69.1kg

Reach: 183cm

Record: 15 fights – 15 wins (11 KO)

Last Three Fights:

– 6 December 2019 – Win vs Jack Brubaker (4th round TKO)

– 14 August 2019 – Win vs Dwight Ritchie (Unanimous decision)

– 15 May 2019 – Win vs Joel Camilleri (Unanimous decision)

Tim Tszyu is ready to go.

THE CARD

Jeff Horn vs Tim Tszyu – super welterweight

Issac Hardman vs Jamie Weetch – middleweight

Liam Wilson vs Jackson Woods – super featherweight

Shannon O‘Connell vs Kylie Fulmer – super bantamweight

Joel Camilleri vs Adam Copland – middleweight

Ben Horn vs Patrick Clark – welterweight

Linn Sandstrom vs Jessica Cashman – flyweight

Ricky Hunt vs Vegas Larfiel

ODDS

In the head to head according to TAB, Tim Tszyu is the favourite at $1.50 to Jeff Horn’s $2.60.

As for the method, a Tszyu KO/TKO/DQ/TD is at $2.75, followed by a Tszyu decision at $3.00, Horn decision at $4.75, Horn KO/TKO/DQ/TD at $5.00, with the draw at $17.00.