Tim Tszyu’s fight to join his father at boxing’s summit
Champion of the world. Those are the words Tim Tszyu grew up hearing each time his father stepped into the ring.
Champion of the world. Those are the words Tim Tszyu grew up hearing each time his father stepped into the ring and now he is on the cusp of emulating the legendary Kostya, with his fight against Jeff Horn next Wednesday to be a world title eliminator.
“As a young boy, I always dreamt of being like Dad, he was the ultimate warrior,” Tszyu said.
“To be able to copy his achievements and for both of us to go in the history books as multiple world champion Hall of Fame boxers, is my ultimate goal.
“This is what I live for.”
Every bead of sweat, every punch thrown and landed, every nutrient eaten to the gram, every nightclub offer rejected in favour of a 5am run, has led Tszyu to this moment.
He was born in November 1994. Two months later, Kostya Tszyu became world champion when he knocked out Jake Rodriguez in Las Vegas to claim the IBF light-welterweight title.
Now, 25 years later, his boy takes on the hardened Horn in his Queensland backyard, with 16,000 expected in attendance at Townsville’s new stadium, in the biggest super-welterweight showdown in the nation’s history.
Tszyu and Horn clash for the WBO Global belt, as well as the IBF Australasian belt, but it can now be confirmed that due to Covid halting major boxing events around the world, the WBO will look to set up a showdown between the winner of this fight and its champion Patrick Teixeira (31-1, 22KO) in December.
Teixeira, signed to Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, has been unable to fight since a title defence last November, and with his native Brazil and the US still crippled by coronavirus, the prospect of Tszyu or Horn fighting him for his belt within four months is now a firming option.
“To me, common sense prevails and money talks,” WBO Global chairman Danny Leigh told The Weekend Australian.
“If Australia is doing well with the virus, coming up with the right money and the right shows, they’ll get the big shows here.
“If Tim Tszyu wins this fight he will suddenly become globally acclaimed, he will be in a position for a world title in his next fight.
“Now whether the politics allows it to be the next fight, that’s negotiable, but he will be in that position so it’s huge — and so will Jeff by the way.
“You’ve got the young gun versus the veteran. The veteran has done more.
“Having a show of this magnitude has been impossible overseas. The world champions who are expecting bigger dollars, in the multimillion-dollar range, it’s difficult to put a show on even for the big promoters, when you can’t put a crowd in there.
“That has opened the door for Australia. It’s my job to represent the region and push ahead for a title fight and this fight just makes my job easier.
“The world’s eyes will be on this fight because of the magnitude, no other country can get a crowd of this size to a boxing event at the moment. The winner will be in line for a world title and it puts all champions on notice in the 154-pound division.”
Tszyu (15-0, 11KO) already has many critics saying he’s taking on Horn (20-2-1, 13KO) too soon, despite being the betting favourite.
However, a world title shot in just his 17th professional bout? That seems a bridge too far.
“In boxing everyone has an opinion, this is what keeps the fans interested and engaged with their favourite fighters,” Tszyu said.
“Some say it’s too early for me to be on the big stage, but it’s all about challenges and testing yourself against the best. You have to step up and take the big fights. If not, what’s the point? The big stage is my place, I love it.
“The excitement of a stadium show is amazing, the hard work and dedication and a great team around me has given me these opportunities.
“It’s my time.”
Leigh will be in Townsville to supervise the grudge match.
“Tim has been fighting good fighters but he’s never fought anyone like Jeff Horn, who is a former world champion and at the high end of the game, Australian or not,” Leigh said.
“This is huge for Tim Tszyu, and if he comes up with the win it really puts him in stead to win the world title. On the world scene Jeff Horn is the established fighter, so we’re lucky to have such a huge fight like this. And Townsville being Covid-free in this day and age is extraordinary, so Australia has the chance to have someone rise to the top globally, and in a country that is doing boxing shows with a crowd.
“It’s probably the biggest fight at the weight class this year.”
With the lure of a world title so close, Tszyu has vowed not to become complacent, having put in his toughest training camp yet.
The Sydney fighter was training up to four times a day during the Covid lockdown and, since relocating to the Gold Coast a fortnight ago, has held a stringent routine, waking at 6am each morning, training outdoors, stretching, eating a light breakfast, having an afternoon nap, being put through a vigorous boxing session before dinner with his team and bed by 9pm.
“My entire focus is on next Wednesday night, nothing can distract me,” Tszyu said. “The opportunity to fight a world title next is real and of course exciting, it’s every fighters dream. But until my hand is raised in victory on Wednesday night in Townsville, it’s just that, an exciting opportunity that I will grab with both hands.”
The Daily Telegraph
