Hit Tszyu hard and early on

Fenech offers advice to Horn

Jeff Horn must break Tim Tszyu’s confidence in the first round of their proposed multimillion-dollar fight next year, just as he did against Michael Zerafa in Brisbane last week.

That’s the advice from Australia’s most successful fighter, Jeff Fenech, the three-time world champion who has coached such world-beaters as Mike Tyson, Danny Green, Daniel Geale, Sakio Bika and Vic Darchinyan.

Fenech rightly tipped Zerafa would beat Horn in Bendigo in August and told Horn that he would need to shatter Zerafa’s confidence in Brisbane if he was to gain revenge.

That’s exactly what Horn did, dominating the first half of the fight and roaring back from a beating in round nine to score a victory on points.

Fenech says picking a winner between Horn and Tszyu is “a tough call’’.

Tszyu is lightning fast but has yet to be tested in a dogfight – the kind of brutal, savage brawl where Horn excels.

“Horn is an awkward fighter to take on because he is so unorthodox,’’ Fenech said.

“Zerafa came into the fight in Brisbane full of confidence but Horn hurt him in the opening round with a couple of right hands and Zerafa’s confidence left him. He knew he was in for a rough night.

“That’s what Horn would have to do against Tszyu – knock that speed out of him by stamping his authority in the first round.

“We haven’t seen Tszyu under any great pressure in his fights and pressure is the one thing we know for certain that Jeff Horn will bring.’’

Fenech trained Tszyu’s last opponent, Jack Brubaker, who was stopped in four rounds by a much superior technician.

But Brubaker was never off his feet despite taking one big right hand after another, calling into question Tszyu’s power when matched with a proven finisher such as Horn.

Horn would rather fight for a world junior-middleweight title than take on Tszyu, but is ready to rumble again.

“Tim is a good boxer,’’ Horn said. “He’s fast and he’s put together some good wins against good opponents, including Joel Camilleri from my gym.

“But I don’t think Tim has the physical strength or the same sort of experience against world-class opponents that I’ve had.

“I’ve beaten Manny Pacquiao, one of the greatest of all time, and Anthony Mundine, who was the face of Australian boxing for years.

“I’ll back myself against Tim every day of the week.’’