RUMBLE ON THE REEF Dressing down for ‘very cocky’ stadium novice
IF it was not for Tim Tszyu’s surname, Jeff Horn says he would never have taken this fight.
Had the undefeated 25year-old’s father, Kostya, not been of the calibre he was, the former WBO welterweight world champion would have targeted “bigger and better things”.
But now the stage has been set and he has some business to take care of – winning.
At the official announcement of the fight to take place on August 26 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, the diversity of the fighters was highlighted in the dress code.
For Horn it was suit and tie, for Tszyu a tracksuit.
This riled the 32-year-old Queenslander, who believed Monday’s event should have been synonymous with professionalism – beginning with their attire and the way they presented themselves.
However, now all the focus is on the fight and Horn said Tszyu needed to be reminded of where he stood in Australian boxing.
“They’re very serious and very cocky in the way they think they’re going to win this fight nice and easy,” he said.
“But Tim has never fought the opposition I have, he’s got relatively little experience in that manner and the only reason why this fight is being made is because his last name is Tszyu.
“If he was Tim Smith or whatever, he wasn’t going to be getting this fight because I’d be looking at bigger and better things.
“But the Tszyu name is red hot, his father was an absolute legend and that’s exactly why this fight is happening.”
The defection of Horn’s former strength and conditioning coach Dundee Kim to the Tszyu camp was not unnoticed by the former world champion.
Tszyu has denied a link between himself and Kim, much to Horn’s bemusement.
But he has found his own new coach in former North Queensland Cowboy Chris Muckert, a connection he says will give him a distinct edge in the bout.
Horn sees no advantage to the opposition corner.
“I don’t know why he’s lying, it is obvious. You saw exactly what happened, and you saw Dundee showing him some moves,” Horn said.
“I was very shocked and frustrated with that, but I’m not going to let it affect me for this fight. I don’t think he’s going to get too much, my style is so out there I’ll change things left, right and centre.
“I have Chris Muckert in my corner; he’s an absolute great bloke, he knows his stuff – very scientific – and I feel in the best shape I have ever.
“He knows all the places, he knows Townsville, he’s just a great guy to have around and I think that’s definitely an edge in this fight.”
The break from fighting as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down society has given Horn the ideal opportunity to cover in preparation for highly anticipated clash.
However, as the promotional poster suggests, it would hardly be a Jeff Horn fight without some blood shed – something for which he says he has his “fingers crossed”.
What astounds him the most is the betting markets, which have Tszyu as favourite.
Despite that, Horn said the colosseum-like environment of a stadium fight would inevitably get the better of his rival.
“I can’t believe I’m that much of an underdog for this fight, but I love being underdog,” he said.
“It makes me fight to that next level, and stadium fight added in that – all these things are a mix of me having my greatest victories and this is going to be one of them.
“I’ve got ample experience on what Tim has done in his career. I’ve versed world champions, fought hall of famers – legends like Manny Pacquiao, Terence Crawford ...
“He’s going to be blown away, there’s no way he can’t be blown away in a stadium fight. I have every time been like ‘ wow, this is a momentous occasion’.
“What does he do with that energy? Does he use it, or does it sap away from him? I’ve used it every single time, I plan on doing it a third time.” rethe