Tim Tszyu no chance of beating Jeff Horn, promoter says
Jeff Horn’s promoter Dean Lonergan has waved a red flag in front of Tim Tszyu after his man’s huge win over Michael Zerafa.
Jeff Horn’s promoter Dean Lonergan has waved a red flag in front of Tim Tszyu.
“Not a chance (he could beat Jeff next fight),” Lonergan said.
“Jeff Horn, on that performance, destroys Tim Tszyu and I’ll also say that Michael Zerafa, on that performance and his last performance, destroys Tim Tszyu.
“It’s not even the same conversation. But at the end of the day, we’ll take the fight, Jeff will make a lot of money for knocking him the f..k out.
“After Jeff Horn lost to Crawford, Tim Tszyu said ‘get me that fight’. Are you kidding me? One is the best in the world and one that has beaten a few Australian club fighters. Seriously?
“Jeff Horn vs. Tim Tszyu – it is no war, it is a trouncing.”
A fight between Horn and Tszyu could take place early next year, preliminary discussions having already taken place between the respective camps.
It shapes as the logical next step for both men given the interest – and money – it would generate.
Horn carries a significant edge in experience compared to the younger Tszyu.
He is also coming off a career-reviving and -defining win over Zerafa, having won a majority points decision in a war at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre on Wednesday night.
Tszyu has the bloodlines, his father Kostya one of this country’s greatest champions. Yet he is very much in the infancy of his career, having won 15 fights since making his professional debut.
His latest win against Jack Brubaker was among his more impressive as he picked apart the veteran before Brubaker’s trainer Jeff Fenech threw in the towel.
Lonergan wasn’t overly impressed. He insists Horn would be a different proposition.
“I would like to see Jeff, as long as he is up for it … fighting again in April,” Lonergan said.
“If he is going to fight, he gets back training at the end of January and we fight in April. We go into full-on camp on February 1.
“At his age, he doesn’t need hit outs, we need fights to be meaningful. Whether that is to be the number one Australian at light middleweight or a world champion at light middleweight, it’s up to what Jeff wants.
“We need to put fights in front of Jeff that motivate him. The first Zerafa fight didn’t … we ended up with a fat welterweight and he lost.
“This one really motivated him and he won.”
Horn looked gone for all money in the ninth round but clawed his way back and dropped Zerafa in spectacular fashion – not once, but twice – later in the round.
Horn has now put himself back in the world title picture, although Lonergan insists his future lies at junior middleweight.
Tszyu is the logical fight and talks are likely to step up in the new year, no doubt prompting a bidding war between Brisbane and Sydney to host the bout.
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