Nikita Tszyu surgery: Boxing star defied doctors order to fight Ben Horn

Nikita Tszyu has revealed he defied doctors orders to fight Ben Horn after undergoing surgery a week out from his incredible victory.

Tszyu and Horn embrace after the fight. Picture: Getty Images

Nikita Tszyu survived a late scare from the tremendously brave Ben Horn to claim his third professional victory at the sold out Hordern Pavilion, after which he revealed he’d had ear surgery last week.

The procedure was to fix cartilage in Tszyu’s right ear that had been damaged in sparring, and he said “the doctors didn’t want me to fight”.

He came through with victory, but Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings said he would now take an extended break and not return to the ring until October – he was set to fight in late August or early September.

A confident Horn even taunted Tszyu in the sixth and final round, yelling “Come on Nikita” as his rival came forward, and in the final minute landed a monstrous uppercut that clearly rocked Tszyu.

Horn also landed a right left in the closing stages that wobbled Tszyu, but the rising star had done more than enough damage throughout the bout to win 60-54, 60-54 and 59-55 on the judges’ cards.

It was the first time Tszyu has gone the distance and been cut in a fight.

Ben Horn landed a flurry of brutal late blows on Nikita Tszyu, but it wasn’t enough. Picture: Getty Images

“These are the fights you learn the most from,” said Tszyu (3-0, 2KO).

“Ben is tough, as tough as they come.

“I was quite surprised, he can take a shot.

“What’s more entertaining than a war? There’s blood all over the floor, that’s boxing, that’s the beauty of it.”

Horn (4-5) absorbed a bruising 93 body shots from Tszyu.

“Honestly, I wasn’t hurt by any one of his body shots, I felt them,” Horn said.

“I would love to see him win a world title.”

Tszyu and Horn embrace after the fight. Picture: Getty Images

Horn, with his brother Jeff in his corner, showed the typical courage that was synonymous with the former world champion.

Tszyu controlled the first round with his power and ring control.

He landed some big shots as Horn lay on the ropes and ensured his opponent felt his heavy hands.

There was more punishment to come in the second for Horn, as Tszyu hammered his body with thunderous shots in close.

But Horn had a much better third, particularly in the final 30 seconds when he landed three flush rights and an uppercut as Tszyu tried to muscle him against the ropes.

Tszyu took control again in the fourth, and in the fifth landed a barrage of blows that hurt Horn, though he managed to stay on his feet.

In the final round Horn began taunting Tszyu, but the power-puncher kept landing big blows until he was stung late in the round.

Ben Horn poses with brother Jeff Horn and his support team after the fight. Picture: Getty Images

It’s a stern lesson for the rising super-welterweight star.

In the co-main event, crowd favourite Sam Goodman produced the finest win of his career by stopping former world title challenger Juan Elorde in the eighth round.

Goodman (12-0, 7KO) dominated the bout and rocked Elorde repeatedly with combinations and straight rights through the middle rounds.

After another punishing flurry, referee Brad Vocale waved away Elorde (29-3, 15KO) 96 seconds into the eighth.

Goodman then rushed to the stands where his huge throng of supporters – who had chanted his name all evening – and was embraced by the raucous group.

‘I’ll give him a hiding’: Hodges’ warning for Gal

Justin Hodges revealed he already has an agreement in place to fight Paul Gallen after defeating podcaster Jordan Simi, whose ex-girlfriend Sammy Robinson comforted him afterwards but would not confirm if they were getting back together.

An emotional Hodges said he’d nearly pulled out of the fight after losing his nan Shirley last week, but pulled through with a unanimous four-round decision over the debutant Simi.

“I’ve got one fight left, if Gal wants it, let’s go, I’ve got no doubt I can beat him,” said Hodges (4-1, 2KO).

“We’ve both agreed to it, we’ve both said yes, it’s up to Matt and George [Rose] to make it happen. Matt wanted me to have this fight, I did everything they wanted me to do, I won the fight, yeah I didn’t get the knockout but I still won the fight.

“Gal made the bet, Queensland won so bring his arse up to Queensland, I’ll give him a hiding.

Justin Hodges, left, scored unanimous decision win against Jordan Simi at Hordern Pavilion. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“[My nan] was such a massive part of my life and now I don’t have her here, I could only shed a couple of tears when my wife told me about it because I had to try to get my mind right for this.

“I was going to pull out but I didn’t want to let the team, Jordan, Matt and George down. I just had to turn up and fight, I left it all in the ring.”

For Simi, who took the fight to win back “the love of his life”, Instagram influencer Robinson, the first step was achieved with her turning up to watch at the sold out Hordern Pavilion and then in his change room afterwards.

“He’s a lover, and he expresses his emotions, he always has and I thought it was a beautiful display of affection,” Robinson said.

“I’m here to support him, and he’s done an amazing job.”

Asked if they were getting back together, Robinson gave a firm: “No comment”.

Simi said: “I’m building a house here, small steps.

“Look, I took the fight not just to fight, but to stick to something.

“I’ve learned a lot from the guys at Bondi Boxing, and I think boxing has helped more people than have been hurt in the ring.”

Simi confirmed he will look to fight again.

Meanwhile, Darragh Foley (20-4-1, 9KO) slammed Hunter Ioane as a “little b---h” after their spiteful bout was halted in the fifth round due to a bad cut over Ioane’s eye, leading Foley to a points victory.

Ioane (8-5-1, 5KO) was still trying to fight Foley after the fight was stopped and as the men were called to centre ring.

“He could’ve fought me in there instead of trying to rush me and cut me, instead of when there’s 50 people in the ring he’s trying to jump over their shoulders,” Foley said.

“I could hear him panting like a little b---h, he didn’t want to be in there so he was looking for a way out.

“He’s not professional, it’s not boxing. This is live TV and there’s 50 people in the ring, come on. That’s a b---h, that’s what he is.

Hunter Ioane suffered a nasty cut above his eye in his fight with Darragh Foley. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“That didn’t feel like a fight, that was like a rugby match.”

Both men were cut in the fourth round due to an accidental head clash, Ioane much worse.

After the doctor looked at the gash in the fifth, referee Will Soulos allowed the fight to continue but as the blood kept flowing he halted the contest.

Ioane had been dropped by a right hook in the second round.

Foley reiterated his desire to fight Steve Spark next.

In an earlier bout, Ashleigh Sims suffered a shock knockout loss against Jessica Adams.

In the second round of their super-featherweight clash, Adams landed several big punches including some as her opponent was falling down, rendering her flat on the canvas.

An elated Adams (1-1-1, 1KO) celebrated his first win wildly as Sims (0-1-1) was eventually helped to her corner.

In another super-featherweight female bout, Sims’ bitter rival and former X-Factor singing star Shanelle Dargan won a majority decision over Melbourne’s Jaala Tomat in a four-round thriller.

Ashleigh Sims and Jessica Adams didn’t hold back in their bout. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The pair exchanged gamely in the centre of the ring, with Dargan (1-0-1) winning 39-37, 39-38 and 38-38 – her first professional victory following the disputed draw against Sims in her debut.

Joel Taylor scored a crushing first round knockout over Michael Hall in their super-welterweight clash.

Taylor (8-0, 3KO) rocked Hall (8-2-1, 5KO) with a straight right, and then off a clinch break landed a thudding right-left-right combination that floored his rival.

Heavyweight prospect Jackson Murray moved to 4-0 (4KO) with a second round knockout of India’s Parminder Singh.

Female welterweight Kate McLaren (1-0-2) survived a knockdown in the fourth and final round to prevail on points over Connie Chan.

Originally published as Nikita Tszyu surgery: Boxing star defied doctors order to fight Ben Horn