The very last thing Tim Tszyu instructed Tony Harrison on the pre-fight press convention, when the American prompt the gang was turning out to see him, was that: “That is the Tim Tszyu present”.
And what a present it was.
The 28-year-old has adopted his father Kostya in changing into a world champion, stopping Harrison with a shuddering volley of blows within the ninth spherical of a career-best efficiency.
Tszyu had Harrison on the again foot from the opening spherical, and whereas the Detroit fighter confirmed slick nous all through, he was punished with vicious depth within the ninth.
He was dropped, shaken, and whereas he rose to his ft the referee mercifully stopped the competition, giving Tszyu the interim WBO super-welterweight belt and establishing an undisputed title struggle in opposition to Jermell Charlo in July in america.
Tszyu (22-0, 16KO) mentioned on to Charlo, who was commentating the struggle from United States: “The message was despatched clearly, you recognize what’s up, I’m coming”.
And clearly fed up with the fixed comparisons along with his father, Tszyu instructed the capability crowd of 13,000 at Qudos Financial institution Enviornment: “What’s my mother—-g title? Say my title.”
Harrison (29-4-1, 21KO), the one man to have overwhelmed Charlo, was gracious in defeat.
“The higher man received tonight,” Harrison mentioned. “Tim, congratulations my boy.”
The top got here as Tszyu landed six savage uppercuts, an overhand proper and straight left that dropped Harrison. He simply managed to beat the rely however with eyes glazed, he was in no form to proceed.
“I used to be sensible,” Tszyu mentioned. “I knew he had a jab however I used to be sensible.
“I simply beat the person who beat the person. What does that make me?”
Tszyu had rocked Harrison with an enormous proper hand within the third spherical, and the American was on wobbly, Tszyu adopted up with a barrage of photographs, narrowly lacking a scorching uppercut as his opponent survived till the bell.
Tszyu continued stalking Harrison within the fourth, because the American tried to shock his rival with shock counters, however didn’t land something that troubled him.
Harrison continued to struggle off the ropes within the fifth, and ate a straight proper that rocked his head again. He managed to land some slick counterpunches however couldn’t halt Tszyu’s ahead momentum.
There was a extra even sixth spherical as Harrison confirmed his capacity to throw from awkward angles, touchdown some candy jabs and rights. Tszyu tried to drive a phonebox showdown by closing distance and had success along with his overhand proper.
A thudding left-right-left mixture from Tszyu within the seventh momentarily shocked Harrison however he recovered shortly.
Motion was briefly stopped within the eighth after Harrison slipped on water on the canvas, however in any other case it was a gruelling contest of wills on the within as each males traded with their heads on their rival’s shoulders. Tszyu had the larger punches once more.
Tszyu landed two onerous jabs in the beginning of the ninth, and Harrison truly nodded and mentioned “good jab”.
Tszyu was in no temper for niceties.
This was his present. He manifested a brutal ending, and enforced it.
Roll credit.
TIM TSZYU V TONY HARRISON
ROUND 1: Harrison’s arms down, Tszyu’s arms up. ‘Tony’s a w*****’ chants ring out. We get a small have a look at the velocity of Harrison’s jab. It’s fast, actual fast. Tszyu walks Harrison to the ropes and uncorks a left hook.Tszyu solutions a pair of jabs with a fast one-two. Harrison instances his jab so nicely. Good combo from Tszyu to complete the spherical. Powerful spherical to name. Harrison 10, Tszyu 9.
We’re moments away from Australian boxing historical past. Harrison strolling out to James Brown’s Superbad. So tasty. To not be outdone, Tim Tszyu places on an absolute present earlier than dropping Biggie observe. We’re on!
ROUND 2: Identical once more: Harrison jabs, Tszyu throws energy punches. Tszyu’s dictating the geography of the struggle. Tszyu is discovering a house for his combos. Actually sturdy indicators for the Aussie. Little mouse beneath Tim’s eye however he takes the spherical. Tszyu 19, Harrison 19
ROUND 3: Rocked! Tim Tszyu sends Tony Harrison crashing into the ropes. Wow! Tszyu has Harrison on tilt and the American’s eyes are nonetheless glazed. Enormous spherical. Tszyu 29, Harrison 27
ROUND 4: Harrison has recovered considerably however he’s confronted with a relentless Tszyu. The Aussie is thrashing Harrison to the punch. Harrison’s jab has misplaced a contact of velocity. Jeff Fenech says Harrison’s “eyes are blurry”. Tszyu 38, 37
ROUND 5: Tszyu and Harrison exchanging on the ropes. Huge proper hand snaps Harrison’s head again. Tszyu uncorks a proper to the physique that’d fold me like a deck chair. That is world class. What a deal with. Tszyu 48, Harrison 46
ROUND 6: Tszyu taking on this struggle and it’s the left hook doing the injury.Harrison’s combos glancing off Tszyu’s gloves. That is Tim Tszyu’s struggle – it’s his to lose now. Tszyu 58, Harrison 55
ROUND 7: Tim Tszyu has landed 75 energy punches to Harrison’s 15. Tony’s jab is the one factor conserving him on this struggle. Tszyu wants one thing late within the spherical to take it. Lands a glancing combo however Harrison might have stolen that. Tszyu 67, Harrison 65
ROUND 8: I can’t rating this struggle. So long as I get the end result proper I’ll be pleased. There’s a chess match happening inside. Each males selecting to take the stink into the cellphone sales space … as they are saying. Harrison slips and will get a much-needed relaxation as an official wipes down the thriller fluid. Tszyu? Harrison? Hardest spherical to name. Tszyu 77, Harrison 74
ROUND 9: Tszyu begins to discover a house for his jab, snapping Harrison’s head again early on. Harrison is again within the centre of the ring, he doesn’t need Tszyu’s smoke on the ropes. OHHH!!! Harrison in massive bother. Tszyu touchdown bombs! Harrison is down and it’s over and TIM TSZYU IS A WORLD CHAMPION JUST LIKE HIS FATHER!
3.27PM: PAULO AOKUSO’S THE REAL DEAL
Paulo Aokuso produced a boxing and showman’s masterclass to outpoint robust Cuban Yunieski Gonzalez.
Aokuso’s potential after simply 4 professional bouts is extraordinary.
He was untroubled going 10 rounds for the primary time, and was too quick and sharp for the previous world title challenger.
Aokuso landed a surprising proper hook-left uppercut mixture to drop Gonzalez within the sixth spherical, and he was fortunate to outlive the following onslaught because the bell rang.
However whereas Gonzalez gamely tried to rally, Aokuso had his measure and claimed the vacant IBO Inter-Continental light-heavyweight title, profitable 100-89, 99-90 and 97-92.
Aokuso (4-0, 3KO) wanted the step up in check after three early stoppage wins to start his profession, and he was as much as the duty.
Aokuso used his lightning jab and swift footwork to bamboozle Gonzalez, all of the whereas winking on the tv digicam, speaking to the ringside viewers and strutting across the ring after exchanges.
Gonzalez (21-6, 17KO), who has fought celebrity world champions Andre Dirrell and Gilberto Ramirez, spent nearly all of the tenth spherical on the again foot, prompting Aokuso to surrender and stroll again to his nook earlier than the ultimate bell rang.
In the meantime, two of OneFour’s members, Spenny and J-Emz, managed to sneak into Aokuso’s entourage for the ring stroll. Though they weren’t performing.
A small win for OneFour over the Raptor squad…
– with jamie Pandaram
TRELLMIT IN DA QUDOS HOUSE
2.37PM: GOODMAN’S MAD BUNCH IGNITES
Sam Goodman received a convincing factors determination over the awkward veteran TJ Doheny to assert the WBO Oriental and IBF Inter-Continental super-bantamweight titles.
Goodman confirmed superior motion and sharp punching as he claimed a 10-round determination; 100-89, 98-92 and 97-92.
Goodman (14-0, 7KO) strikes additional into world title rivalry whereas inflicting the fourth loss to Doheny (23-4, 17KO).
Goodman dropped Doheny within the third spherical with a brief left hook. Whereas Doheny survived and was recreation for the remainder of the struggle, he was only a step behind.
The ringside physician took a have a look at the reduce over Doheny’s proper eye within the seventh spherical, but it surely was not hindering his imaginative and prescient.
Cheered on by his raucous supporter group “The Mad Bunch”, Goodman raised his arms on the ropes after being awarded victory. – Jamie Pandaram
1.51PM: OFFICIALS CONFRONTED BY DISGRUNTLED STAR
A livid Issac Hardman says “one thing’s fishy” with boxing judging after dropping a cut up determination loss to Rohan Murdock.
Murdock received an in depth 10-round determination, however Hardman, coach Blair Studley and even boxing legend Jeff Fenech, have been livid with the officiating.
Hardman known as for a whole overhaul of judging and officiating in Australia.
“I’m 26-years-old, and the dinosaurs within the f***ing nook, they’ve had their go,” Hardman mentioned. “Revamp the Australian Nationwide Boxing Federation.
“Eliminate them. It wants a cleanout, whoever it’s. It wants a cleanout. One ref gave it 92-98 – that’s eight rounds to me – plus he received a degree taken off him. What the f**okay is that.
“Then the opposite ref offers in 92-97? What’s that? It’s ridiculous.
“It’s actually irritating. I’ve seen it occur to my group, and it’s the identical judges. One choose particularly, I received’t say his title, however one choose there, have at all times given us a foul go. All the time. It’s disgusting, it truly is. It’s f***ed.
“One thing’s fishy.”
Hardman confronted officers afterwards in an indignant method and needed to be calmed down.
Murdock 27-2 (19KO) inflicted the second defeat of Hardman’s profession and was in tears afterward.
Murdock established his jab within the first spherical and was capable of get round Hardman’s gloves with hooks within the second.
Murdock’s accuracy continued to dictate the following two rounds, earlier than Hardman lastly determined to up the ante and land some telling blows within the fifth with Murdock backed up in opposition to the ropes.
There was some sturdy exchanges within the center rounds as each males discovered a house for his or her hooks.
Murdock landed some telling uppercuts within the late rounds and took the choice 97-92, 97-92, 93-96, with Hardman (13-2, 11KO) shaking his head on the end result.
– with Jamie Pandaram and Brendan Bradford
1.27PM: WHERE’S TONY?
One half of this world title left it late.
Regardless of leaving his lodge at The Star at 12.30pm, Tony Harrison rocked up simply 90 minutes earlier than the struggle at Qudos Financial institution Enviornment.
“Tony Harrison is nowhere to be seen,” Ben Damon reported ringside. “He was scheduled to reach fairly some time in the past. We’re not fairly positive what’s taking place however hopefully he turns up.”
Perhaps he was seeing the websites round The Star like Wenty Park or Tremendous Bowl on Dixon.
12.40PM: ‘I HAVEN’T WATCHED IT’
Tim Tszyu is within the constructing – however he missed brother Nikita’s brutal stoppage.
“I simply rocked up, bro, I’ve been within the automobile so I haven’t watched it (Nikita’s struggle).
Nikita declared his devastating stoppage of Bo Belbin was “simply the entrée” for his brother’s world title struggle later this afternoon.
The youthful Tszyu dropped beforehand unbeaten Belbin (7-1, 5KO) within the fourth spherical, then relentlessly unloaded a barrage earlier than referee Will Soulos stepped in to avoid wasting the Tasmanian from additional punishment.
“That was simply the entrée for the principle course later,” Tszyu mentioned, referencing his brother’s interim WBO super-welterweight title struggle in opposition to Tony Harrison.
“Tim’s about to convey house a world title, and also you’re all right here to witness it.”
Nikita Tszyu (5-0, 4KO) is predicted to struggle Benjamin Bommber subsequent in Melbourne.
– with Jamie Pandaram
ROBBED: JUDGES SLAMMED OVER DECISION
Boxing’s stink has left an unsightly mark on one of many fights of the yr.
Rivals Ben Mahoney and Koen Mazoudier fought to a 10-round cut up attract a good 10-round bout for the WBA Oceania super-welterweight title.They each believed they’d received and known as for a right away rematch. One choose scored it for Mahoney, the opposite for Mazoudier, and the third had it 95-95.
“It’s a fairly disappointing efficiency from the judges to be sincere,” Paul Kent lamented.
“I assumed Mahoney received the struggle. He definitely received extra rounds so far as I used to be involved. “Listening to Barry (Michael) throughout the name I assumed he was spot on and I feel most of us noticed it that manner. Mahoney managed the struggle for for much longer durations than Koen Mazoudier did.
“We heard Mahoney’s (Queenslander) nook throughout the struggle say ‘We’re in NSW, we’re in his crowd, we’re going to get robbed’ and I inform what that’s prophetic.”
– with Jamie Pandaram
11.25AM: WATCH ONEFOUR WARM-UP
Jarome Luai will likely be filthy! The Panthers celebrity and OneFour stan is ringside for the fights however he received’t be seeing his boys carry out immediately.
What’s worse for the polarising five-eighth is OneFour had even warmed up their pipes in preparation for Paulo Aokuso’s walkout.
10.53AM: ONEFOUR CREW KO’D BY POLICE
Our professional ringside Jamie Pandaram with an replace on controversial drill crew OneFour who deliberate to stroll co-main occasion fighter Paulo Aokuso to the ring.
Infamous NSW gang squad Raptor has scored a late knock out on their long-running rival, canning the deliberate walkout. Heavy-handed? Presumably. Pac walked Iron Mike to the ring and OneFour doesn’t a candle to Makaveli!
FULL STORY HERE
10.30AM: ‘SELL THAT TOOTH ON EBAY’
Legendary struggle caller Michael ‘The Voice’ Schiavello on the decision is a pleasant shock – and he’s on fireplace early.
‘Aussie Russian’ Imam Khataev kicks the prelims off with a bang, starching ‘Korean Jake Paul’ Gi Sung Gwak with a left hook that despatched the South Korean’s tooth 4 rows deep at Qudos Financial institution Enviornment.
“Take a look at that left hook that completed him,” Aussie boxing royalty Barry Michael mentioned. “What a fantastic brief left hook. Flush on the chin.”
“I feel somebody within the viewers ringside has a memento of Gwak’s tooth they’ll take house,” Schiavello boomed as gradual mo replays present Gwak’s piano key flying.
“A memento of Gwak’s decrease canine.”
Khataev has set the tone for this dynamite card.
KOSTYA’S PREDICTION
Boxing legend Kostya Tszyu believes his son Tim is able to construct on the household’s Australian sporting legacy by tormenting Tony Harrison on Sunday to grow to be a world champion.
Talking to Information Corp from Russia, the ‘Thunder from Down Beneath’ has little doubt Tim Tszyu (21-0, 15KO) has the tactical smarts to outclass Harrison (29-3-1, 21KO) of their world-title blockbuster at Sydney’s Qudos Financial institution Enviornment.
“That is Tim’s time,” mentioned Tszyu Snr (31-2, 25KO), who says his son has inherited his soul-destroying precision punching. “He can beat Harrison.”
READ THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW HERE
TIM TSZYU EARNS LEGEND STATUS
The Day by day Telegraph and Foremost Occasion boxing professional Paul Kent imagine Tim Tszyu’s world title struggle in opposition to Tony Harrison will likely be etched in Australian boxing folklore.
Kenty – not one for flippant statements – has nailed it. And whereas it has lacked the construct up of the blockbusters earlier than it, there’s an actual sense Australia may have a brand new world champion in a few hours.
“It’s vital on plenty of ranges,” Kent mentioned on the pre-fight panel. “Clearly from Tim’s standpoint it’s a world titlefight and it’s the awakening of his profession as a world champion hopefully.
“However on one other degree, this (struggle) sits on the highest rung of all these world title fights we’ve had and I’m speaking concerning the massive fights: Jeff Horn and Manny Pacquiao, and it goes again to when Barry Michael fought Lester Ellis and Jeff Fenech was combating and main the revolution in Australian boxing; Inexperienced-Mundine – it’s at that degree.
“It’s going to be a milestone second in Australian sport I imagine.”
MAIN CARD
Tim Tszyu vs. Tony Harrison — 12 rounds, tremendous welterweight – interim WBO tremendous welterweight title
Paulo Aokuso def Yunieski Gonzalez by way of unanimous determination – vacant IBO Intercontinental mild heavyweight title
Sam Goodman def TJ Doheny by way of unanimous determination – WBO ‘Oriental’ tremendous bantamweight title
Rohan Murdock def Issac Hardman by way of cut up determination – vacant IBF Australasian tremendous middleweight title
Nikita Tszyu def Bo Belbin by way of TKO
UNDERCARD
Ben Mahoney-Koen Mazoudier cut up draw – WBA Oceania tremendous welterweight title
Shanell Dargan def Courtney Martin by way of unanimous determination
Imam Khataev def Gi Sung Gwak by way of KO
SOUTH KOREA’S ‘ANSWER TO JAKE PAUL’
Nikita Tszyu is planning a rare 5 fights in 2023 and might be in line for the Australian title subsequent.
The youthful brother of Tim Tszyu, Nikita begins the Foremost Occasion undercard at Qudos Financial institution Enviornment on Sunday in opposition to undefeated Tasmanian Bo Belbin in a six spherical super-welterweight conflict.
However it may be revealed that plans are already in place for Nikita to struggle rising star Benjamin Bommber in Melbourne inside two months if he defeats Belbin.
Tszyu’s administration group imagine he’ll be ready to struggle for the Australian title held by Victor Nagbe inside two fights, and plan to maintain him extraordinarily energetic this yr as they fast-track him in the direction of a world rating.
Normally, busy fighters can have as much as three fights a yr, however Nikita Tszyu (4-0, 3KO) is hoping to comply with Tim in the direction of a world title shot sooner.
Tim claimed the Australian super-welterweight title in his thirteenth skilled struggle, in opposition to Joel Camilleri, however the plan is for Nikita to win it inside seven professional bouts.
In the meantime, the Fox Sports activities televised bouts to open the Tim Tszyu versus Tony Harrison interim WBO title struggle will function South Korea’s model of Jake Paul.
Gi Sung Gwak, who fights Russian Imam Khataev, was a member of South Korea’s nationwide gaming group earlier than he grew to become a professional boxer.
The 29-year-old was taking part in on-line video video games in opposition to rivals from around the globe, with audiences within the tens of millions, earlier than deciding on a starkly totally different pursuit 5 years in the past.
“I used to be knowledgeable gamer, however I used to be getting too fats, so I began boxing coaching to get match,” he mentioned.
“It began as a interest, however I actually preferred it, so I made a decision to show skilled three years in the past.”
He has since recorded victories in all 4 of his fights, three by knockout, within the light-heavyweight division.
However big-punching 28-year-old Khataev can also be undefeated, with two knockout wins from as many fights.
WHO IS ON THE UNDERCARD?
PRELIMS (from 10am)
Koen Mazoudier vs. Ben Mahoney — 10 rounds, tremendous welterweight – WBA Oceania tremendous welterweight title
Shanell Dargan vs. Courtney Martin — 4 rounds, featherweight
Imam Khataev vs. Gi Sung Gwak — 8 rounds, mild heavyweight
MAIN CARD (from noon AEDT)
Tim Tszyu vs. Tony Harrison — 12 rounds, tremendous welterweight – interim WBO tremendous welterweight title
Paulo Aokuso vs. Yunieski Gonzalez — 10 rounds, mild heavyweight – vacant IBO Intercontinental mild heavyweight title
Sam Goodman vs. TJ Doheny — 10 rounds, tremendous bantamweight – WBO ‘Oriental’ tremendous bantamweight title
Issac Hardman vs. Rohan Murdock — 10 rounds, tremendous middleweight – vacant IBF Australasian tremendous middleweight title
Nikita Tszyu vs. Bo Belbin — 6 rounds, tremendous welterweight
Initially printed as Tim Tszyu destroys Tony Harrison to win WBO tremendous welterweight title
