HORN ROLLS THE DICE
HORN’S SECRET WEAPON FOR TSZYU
HE HAS been friends with Queensland’s Jeff Horn from day one, but now experienced boxer Tyrone Tongia is in the Hornet’s nest.
And it could be his inclusion that could hold the key to unseating the undefeated Tim Tszyu in Townsville.
A LONGSTANDING relationship with a man now working in his corner could be the key to Jeff Horn overcoming Tim Tszyu – and with that the betting odds.
Tyrone Tongia has been friends with ‘The Hornet’ since the latter began his career as an amateur boxer.
From there a bond in and out of the ring was forged.
But it was only after Horn’s defeat at the hands of Michael Zerafa that Tongia was directly brought into the fold, and now he acts as a consultant for the upcoming bout at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
The former Australian light middleweight title winner has offered a perspective from inside the mind of a fighter, as Horn ramped up his preparation for the August 26 clash – an insight he said not many others had.
Tongia said the coronavirus pandemic had forced the Horn camp to adapt how they trained, using online resources to stay on top throughout the lockdown phase. Since then, he has seen an energy and attitude in the 32-year-old that has him perfectly prepared to shut down his up-and-coming rival, equipped with the awkward fighting style that has typified his career.
“You’ve got to give Glenn (Rushton) a lot of credit, who has worked on his unpredictable foot movement, head movement,” Tongia said.
“He makes you think he’s going in one direction, then all of a sudden he goes in another direction. He can do it going forwards, going backwards and sideways – he’s one of the best lateral movers going around.
“I think he will take Tszyu to a lactic threshold that he hasn’t discovered or experienced before. I think Tszyu is going to be surprised at his inability to hit Jeff.”
Without Horn’s family in tow, Tongia said the former world champion could be forgiven for experiencing different emotions in the fight buildup. But he said those feelings had been put to the side – this was strictly business.
The Townsville clash will be Horn’s third stadium contest, but Tszyu has not fought within that environment. But Tongia does not view this as the vital point of difference.
Instead it will be the approach Horn throws at the 25year-old in front of 16,000 sport-deprived spectators.
“I look at Tim’s pedigree and I think he was built for something like this,” Tongia said. “He has a dad that was one of the greats of the sport, and I think he’s been visualising this moment for a long time. I don’t think the occasion will get him, but I think the inability to hit Jeff and the constant tenacity Jeff will bring from round one and not lose that form I think Tim will struggle with that.
“He (Horn) doesn’t have the girls there, but he has mates around him and it won’t be long until he gets back into family mode again. He’s in focus mode now.”