HORN VS TSZYU BOUT TO GIVE TOWNSVILLE GLOBAL REACH Rolling with the punches
TOWNSVILLE’S upcoming “Superfight” between Jeff Horn and Tim Tszyu is set to garner a global audience as fight promoters lock in yet another broadcast deal. It is understood a deal that will beam the Queensland Country Bank Stadium bout to South America is close to being finalised. Broadcast deals have already been secured for the USA, Canada and India through ESPN, while Fite TV will stream the fight in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Russia and countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States such as Belarus and Kazakhstan will also be able to watch the fight via Match TV.
“It’s set to be the most watched fight internationally this year,”
Horn’s fight promoter, Dean Lonergan, said.
“The numbers are just staggering; India alone has a population of 1.3 billion.
“That’s the type of exposure we are talking about, and because there’s not a lot else going on globally because of COVID-19, we expect there will be tremendous interest in the fight.”
Horn already has an international brand thanks to his defeat of Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in 2017 — a result that was embraced by many in Australia but was received with hostility in many parts of the world, including Pacquiao’s home country.
Tszyu’s name is already well known in Russia and parts of eastern Europe thanks to his boxing father Kostya, who became a world champion fighting for Australia.
Both Horn and Tszyu have proposed world-title shots at the stadium should they win the August 26 Superfight.
But perhaps the biggest winner out of the upcoming rumble could be Townsville itself.
Lonergan said a six-minute package would be shown before the fight featuring segments about Townsville, including attractions such as Castle Hill and The Strand.
“Can you just imagine the number of people in countries in places such as Turkmenistan and Russia learning about Townsville for the first time?
“It’s an incredible amount of exposure for the city and the region.”
The fight is also expected to be the most well attended of 2020, with 16,000 fans expected at the stadium.
“Horn versus Tszyu will be one of the biggest fights in the world this year and it’s being held at our very own world class stadium,” Mayor Jenny Hill said. “Sports fans across Australia and the world will be tuning in to see world-class boxing and when they do, they’ll see the very best Townsville has to offer.”