‘Would have a field day on him’: American response to Tszyu win says it all

You’d think Tim Tszyu would have silenced his doubters against Tony Harrison, but it seems America still doesn’t rate him.

No Limit Boxing – Tim Tszyu v Tony Harrison fights at Qudos Bank Arena, Homebush. Picture: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

America somehow still doesn’t really rate Tim Tszyu.

That’s the general consensus from the other side of the world despite his impressive TKO victory over Tony Harrison in Sydney on Sunday.

Tszyu knocked out Harrison in the ninth round, claiming the interim WBO super welterweight title and earning himself a shot at undisputed world champion Jermell Charlo.

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The 28-year-old took a risk by even fighting Harrison, given he could have just sat on his hands and waited for Charlo to recover from a hand injury that forced their January fight to be postponed.

But the risk paid off as Tszyu got some much needed reps under his belt and claimed his first stoppage victory since 2021.

It was an impressive performance that went a long way to silencing his critics, many of whom believe Tszyu hadn’t fought an opponent of yet until Harrison and have accused him of riding on his father Kostya’s coat-tails.

Many were impressed by his performance, including a gracious Harrison.

Better man won tonight no excuses

— Tony Harrison (@Iamboxing) March 12, 2023

Tim Tszyu is the real deal. Proved it now!! #TszyuHarrison

— Adam Houda (@LawyerAdamHouda) March 12, 2023

Well, it seems he didn’t quite silence all the critics. Tszyu is the mandatory challenger for Charlo’s unified belts and proved he is as ready as he can be to take him on.

But the American wasn’t overly impressed by the Aussie’s performance, declaring he didn’t see anything from Tszyu’s win over Harrison he hadn’t seen before.

Tim Tszyu is an interim world champion. Picture: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

“He was impressive. He did what he had to do at home,” Charlo said on the Showtime broadcast.

“He was a little flat to me. My movement, my style, my power will make him do completely different things.

“That’s exactly what we’ve seen — come forward, not as fast or a big pace. Strong, of course. Throws hard punches. Don’t we all? But I’m a different animal in there. I’m a different fighter than Tony.

“Tim is next and that’s what we had before the injury. It’s not like I’m not prepared already.

“He doesn’t really show a lot of athleticism to me. When you’ve got skills, and you’ve got styles and you’ve got power all together, you get four belts. He’s going to be a tough fight because he’s coming forward, but I think he’s perfect for my style,” he said.

“I know he can’t take my punch, because I just know my punch is different. It just made me want to fight, just get this over with, shut him up, I’ve shut a lot of them up, it’s just another one.

“He’s going to do the same thing. He’s not going to change much.”

Super welterweight champ Jermell Charlo doesn’t think much of Tszyu. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Douglass Fischer, editor of respected boxing publication The Ring Magazine, believes Tszyu needs another couple of similar fights under his belt before taking on Charlo.

“Harrison provided excellent experience for Tszyu,” Fischer tweeted.

“He needs another bout or two like this before being truly ready for a beast like Charlo, but if Charlo-Tszyu is next, bring it on.”

Former world champion Ishe Smith said Harrison didn’t give Tzsyu much of a test and a counterpuncher would “have a field day” against him.

“It’s easy to look that great with nothing coming back, great test and he passed but I was looking at him like my God a counter puncher would have a field day on him,” the ex-light middleweight champion said.

“Just my thoughts. I would of loved it, always loved that style, Wolak kind of style. It makes counter punchers like me dig deep, we love setting traps for guys like Tim. Great win but Charlo, even Lubin I think is to much, and who’s beating that freak of nature what’s his height again.”

DAZN boxing commentator Sergio Mora was also quick to dampen the excitement around Tszyu’s win.

I was BIG fan of Kostya Tszyu back in the day. His straight right hand was laser like lethal! Tim has similarities to his father, but being the 4th fighter to stop Harrison ain't as big a statement as it looks...but it's a good start! #TszyuHarrison

— Sergio Mora (@TheLatinSnake_) March 12, 2023

The brutal reality for Tszyu is until he beats Charlo and takes the belts off him in his backyard, American boxing pundits and fans will always find a reason to talk down Australian fighters.

As for when a Tszyu vs Charlo fight might eventuate, it could happen in a matter of months, pending Charlo’s fitness.

“It all comes down to him and his recovery,” George Rose, boss of Tszyu’s management No Limit said.

“I know if I ask Tim when he wants to fight, he’ll say tomorrow. He’d be ready to go quite soon I think I’d say quite soon.

“We’ll sit down and have a yarn together this week and get ready for what’s next but it will come down to when Charlo’s ready. As soon as he’s ready, so’s Tim Tszyu.”

Tszyu dominated Tony Harrison but some still don’t rate him. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

While many have been quick to label Tszyu a world champion, he pointed out he only won an interim belt, which will mean nothing if he can’t beat Charlo to become the tenth undisputed champion in the four belt era.

“This is the interim belt. The champ has to be beaten,” Tszyu said.

“It’s a little step up in my journey but the real one is beating Charlo.”

Charlo’s eagerness to shut down the Tszyu hype train appeared to quash talk of the champion vacating his belts to move up a division to take on brother Jarmell.

Asked if Charlo could be running scared, Tszyu scoffed: “Charlo isn’t scared. We’re fighters, we’re not scared. It’s just part of our mentality. There’s so such thing as being scared.”

The 32-year-old has repeatedly mispronounced Tszyu’s name and a build-up to the fight is bound to be spicy. “Charlo’s a real angry man, that’s just how he is,” Tszyu said. “He barks a lot.”