WAR DOWN UNDER: JEFF HORN vs TIM TSZYU IGNITES TODAY IN TOWNSVILLE
By Gary Todd
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 26 Aug 2020
Jeff Horn v Tim Tszyu
Townsville Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
With all the hard work done in each boxers respective training camps, and the weighin over and done with, it’s time to relax and get mentally ready for what is coming. What they can both be sure of is each of these combatants will be out to show who is the elite of Australian boxing. Everything is at stake, with the winner in line for a crack at a world title in 2021. Jeff Horn [20-2-1] has had his fair share of glory as a former world champion, albeit a shaky and controversial win over the legendary Manny Pacquiao, three years earlier in 2017 in his hometown of Brisbane.
Since that time, he hasn’t exactly set the roof on fire, with losses to Terence Crawford and Michael Zerafa. Crawford absolutely outclassed and out gunned Horn, in a one sided fight, and Zerafa battered him around the ring, taking his heart, and the right to fight the Japanese middleweight WBA champion, Ryota Murata. Horn had a win over the faded Anthony Mundine which could only be described as a money making fight for both former champions. He then exercised his right to force Zerafa into a rematch and halt any chance of him realising his own dream of becoming a world champion. Horn and Zerafa fought with heart and after surviving a hellish 9th round, where the referee stepped in for the doctor to look at Horn’s left eye, miraculously, Horn fought back, showing a lot of grit and courage, to deck Zerafa twice in the remaining seconds, knocking him out to win in Brisbane.
Tim Tszyu [15-0 / 11 KOs] has a lot to aspire to. In many ways, it’s not fair as every time he fights, all we seem to hear is “he’ll never be like his old man” or “he doesn't have that killer instinct like Kostya”. I suppose that only pushes him to train harder in the gym, and let his fists do the talking for him.
Tszyu has a very familiar team surrounding him, with most of them seeing him grow from a baby, so this is not just a team, it's a family business. I was lucky enough to train alongside the great Russian when he was at his peak, skipping for 40 minutes, and doing the impossible 50 push-ups on the back of his hands, to battering his American sparring partners in preparation for greatness. All these years later, it’s Tim Tszyu who is now working the bags, in the gym where his father trained and that can only be a special place for him and his team.
At this stage of his short career, Tszyu is still a novice in the sport of boxing, with arguably a bunch of hand picked guys all there to make him look good, and exciting to watch, and to take notice, maybe even take them back in time.
With everything at stake, you would think all the pressure is on Tszyu. Horn knows what it feels like to be belted around the ring. He has been outclassed, and he has been knocked down and out. He has also been badly injured, and been on the brink of defeat and yet he knows what it feels like to feel like that and come back to win. Tszyu has only experienced the highs of winning in boxing. This fight is a step up in every way for him and I'm sure he knows it.
I think Horn knows this also, with statements like “the only reason you got this fight was because of your last name”. Again, surely this arrogance would be fuel to the Tszyu fire. The fact is, Tim Tszyu and Jeff Horn are prize fighters and this is the biggest prizefight right now in Australia. Jeff Horn didn't have too many people knocking down his door, offering to fight him and with talk of retirement, this is another money making fight for him and his team.
The fight itself should be entertaining. Horn can only fight one way, and at this stage of his career, he has been in a few wars, been banged up, particularly around his eyes, so it will be more of the same from him, coming forward, leaning in with his head, swinging, landing, hoping to hit Tszyu on the head to great effect. Basically mauling his way in trying to overwhelm the young Tszyu.
For Tszyu to win, he has to fight smart, using his fast and solid jab, and use the old 1- 2 building up the points. Tszyu has to set and dominate a fast pace and sting the Hornet, wearing him down, forcing him to gas out, and hoping some of those old gashes will open themselves for further punishment. If Tszyu can do this, he can win in a very classy way, stopping Horn in the last rounds [ 8th or 9th ].
Gary Todd has been involved in all aspects in the sport of boxing for over 25 years. He is the proud author of his books on boxing’s world champion’s, “Workout’s From Boxing’s Greatest Champs” Vol 1 and 2.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Gary Todd.
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