Jeff Horn takes early shot at Tim Tszyu as they prepare for bout
Jeff Horn has landed an early blow on Tim Tszyu by suggesting his name rather than his record has secured him the mega-fight.
Jeff Horn and Tim Tszyu traded barbs in Townsville on Monday. On August 26, they will trade something a lot more dangerous. For the moment, words will suffice.
Horn isn’t often the instigator or agitator but he was happy to take up the running on Monday as the pair officially announced their bout would go ahead at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, having been postponed due to the COVID-19.
Horn started by suggesting Tszyu’s name had secured him the fight — he is the son of legendary world champion Kostya Tszyu — rather than anything the undefeated super welterweight had done thus far in his 15-fight career.
“Unfortunately for him it is the truth,” Horn said.
“This fight would never be happening for his last name. If it frustrates him, the more reason it is to say it. He is going to be wanting to prove himself.
“Maybe he will leave himself open and go too crazy. It is annoying him more than anything because he knows it is the truth. His dad is the reason he is getting all this attention.
“His dad did so much for the sport of boxing. No one would know a thing about Tim Tszyu except for his dad.”
Tszyu insisted he had led a spartan existence in isolation. He claimed to have trained three or four times a day, describing his dedication as a “sickness”.
His career may still be in its relative infancy, but he could scarcely have been more impressive.
“Nothing else in my life matters other than boxing,” Tszyu said. “Losing is not an option for me. I only win.”
He is not alone on that front. Horn is coming off two fights against Michael Zerafa where the results were split. He still covets another world title, having lost his belt to Terence Crawford and then suffered defeat against Zerafa.
He bounced back from that shock loss to put himself back in the picture and a win over Tszyu may set up another shot at glory.
The bookmakers have their doubts, having installed Tszyu as favourite. Horn and his promoter Dean Lonergan insist the oddsmakers must be punch-drunk.
“I am super surprised that I am an underdog for this fight,” Horn said.
“I really don’t mind. I think I fight best when people do doubt my ability. It happened with the big fights I have had in my career.
“I guess people see it as the changing of the guard. It kind of blows my mind that he is favourite for this fight. I don’t know how to answer it — it shocks me.”
Lonergan added: “It is ridiculous stupidity. It was the same in the Michael Zerafa fight. People wrote Jeff off. Zerafa was quite a bit bigger than Jeff when they stood shoulder to shoulder.
“Jeff is the same size bigger compared to Tim. Jeff is going to knock out Tim in six rounds and anyone who can’t see that is kidding themselves.
“Good luck to them betting against him. Jeff is one of those guys who gets motivated by little nuances. One of those nuances is a guy getting a fight that he doesn’t deserve because of his name.
“That has got up Jeff’s nose. Also Jeff gets fired up by guys who can be arrogant and more importantly, guys he knows. This fits into all the categories. Anybody wanting to win some money on this fight, get on Jeff to win inside six rounds, because that is what is going to happen.”
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