Tszyu steps out of dad’s shadow with demolition of Horn
FORGET names, forget reputations — Tim Tszyu was born for the ring.
Throughout the build up to his bout with Jeff Horn, his surname had been thrown around like a beachball in a grandstand.
But he is now no longer Tim Tszyu: Son of Kostya. He is now Tim Tszyu: Australia’s champion. And that was shown with the referee ending proceedings at the conclusion of the eighth round.
“I just wanted everyone to know my name is Tim, not the son,” Tszyu said. “It’s a different competition, someone who can test me. It’s sink or swim, and I’m not here to sink I’m here to represent every one of these people in Townsville all around the world.
“I’ll have the world title strapped around my waist soon.”
Anticipation for this bout has been relentless, the sporting world deprived of action during the coronavirus pandemic.
In one corner, the most famous surname in Australian boxing. In the other, one of the sport’s great underdog stories rising to the mantle of world champion. Each brought their own belts to the big dance.
For Tszyu, the WBA Oceania super welterweight title and IBF Australasian super welterweight title headline his act. For Horn, a former world champion — no more needs to be said.
But from the third round, after a couple of fairly docile opening proceedings, Tszyu’s dominance was obvious.
After a flurry of clean hits, Horn found himself on the ground twice in quick succession as Tszyu established his dominance. The Hornet seemed frazzled, Tszyu in command — his face expressionless as he gained the upper hand.
And just prior to the bell, Horn fell for a third time — barely making the count.
From that moment it was the Tszyu uppercut that sent shockwaves through the Horn camp. Any time the pair came in close proximity, that fiendish hook came out and dazed The Hornet throughout the contest. Now officially Australia’s champion, Tszyu was full of praise for what Horn has achieved. But this is a young man’s game, he said, and now it was his turn to fly the nation’s flag on the world stage.
“All respect to Jeff, he’s achieved so much, he’s given Australia its platform. It’s an honour to stand out in an event like this with a fellow Australian,” Tszyu said.
“Jeff has raised the flag for Australia, he’s the man that ignited the sport here. Suncorp Stadium, selling it out, and look at what we did here.
“We bring smiles to people’s faces and get people talking about boxing. It was an honour to share the ring with Jeff.
“I’ll be back in the gym Monday, and I’ll be training because I know this is not the end it’s just the beginning. This motivates me to keep going.”
Horn, humble in defeat, refused to be drawn on whether he had fought his last fight.
But in Tszyu he sees world champion qualities, and the 32year-old proudly backed the rising sensation to take Australia back to boxing’s peak.
“Tim was young, hungry, he’s an absolute champion so I can’t put anything passed him,” Horn said. “Hopefully all of Australia can get behind him, he’s the best in Australia now … and he can fly that flag very proudly for Australia.”