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Horn trying to keep weight in check
By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs) is doing his best to keep his weight down while the coronavirus outbreak has stopped him doing his regular workouts with trainer Glenn Rushton as he waits for the rescheduled date for his clash with fellow Australian IBF #6, WBO #9 light middleweight Tim Tszyu (15-0, 11 KOs) in Townsville, Queensland.
“Food comes into the mind as an excitement at times like this when you have nothing else to do but I really need to try as hard as I cannot to think about that,” Horn told Main Event Boxing podcast’s host Ben Damon. “I’m probably one of those people that’s really going to struggle at this point in time. If I put too much (weight) on it’s going to be absolute hell and I won’t be able to get ready in the time frame of eight weeks.
“(I’m) trying to support the businesses as well that might be going under from all this havoc that’s happening – if I can find healthy options on the outside at restaurants I’ll definitely be trying to do that.”
Horn is not training with his trainer Glenn Rushton while following government rules of isolating at home.
“That’s a tough one. I was talking to Glenn about that today. I don’t have a bag at home and basically I’m not going to Glenn’s at the moment so none of that’s happening and the social distancing rule with the padwork – that shouldn’t be happening – so not much boxing has been happening and I don’t know how long until I do start.
“Once sport starts back up again, people are going to be dying to see something. Everyone will be glued to television screens watching sports or going to venues to watch sports that they haven’t been able to watch for a very long time. I’ve fought in front of big crowds like that and it does lift you to another level and Tim will experience that as well so I know I’m going to get the very, very best Tim Tszyu when I do fight him.”
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Horn-Tszyu on August 26
By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn will clash with IBF#7 light middleweight Tim Tszyu on August 26 in Townsville, Queensland with a capacity attendance of 16,000 approved by the Queensland Government.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am,” Horn said. “To finally have a new date and to know I’ll be fighting in Townsville in front of a home crowd is just great. I’m also proud that this fight will do its bit to help Queensland’s economy get moving again and especially North Queensland.”
Tim Tszyu stated, “I’m really excited for this fight. My Dad fought in front of packed Townsville Stadium. I hope to put on a great show for everyone.”
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Interview: Jeff Horn
By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Former WBO welterweight champion Jeff “The Hornet” Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs), who will clash with IBF #6 light middleweight Tim Tszyu (15-0, 11 KOs) on August 26, spoke to Peter Maniatis about representing Australia at the 2012 London Olympics, defeating two-time world title challenger Noufell Ben Rabah in his seventh fight, defeating legendary Manny Pacquiao in 2017, losing to pound-for-pound best Terrence Crawford in 2018 and much more.
LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS
”The London 2012 Olympics were exciting times. It was a big moment in my career. It was something I had been training for my whole boxing career. I had only been boxing four or five years so I was pretty lucky to make those Olympics in that short of time. There were some big names fighting. Anthony Joshua was one of them. Denys Berinchyk (Silver Medalist) of the Ukraine who beat me in the quarter-finals was another big name. I went alright – I won my first two fights (Gilbert Choombe of Zambia and Abderrazak Houya of Tunisia) and but Berinchyk I guess was too much for me in the end.
MARTIAL ARTS
“I first started in Martial Arts. I trained with Glenn Rushton in Scorpion Martial Arts. I never went for the Black Belt. I was never interested the whole belt side of it.
BEATING NOUFELL BEN RABAH
“I had won the Australian title ( in 2013 as a professional) and I knew I had to go on to bigger and better things so in my seventh professional fight I took on some tougher opposition when two-time world challenger Noufell Ben Rabah (37-3 )happened. That fight came out of nowhere. I fought him in Perth in a winner take all fight. I think it was AUD$6000 for us in the end. That was my biggest payday for awhile. I was pretty confident – you have to be. As a fighter you are confident in your ability. I had got rid of Sam Colomban ( KO 1) – who was meant to be a tough fight. I thought I should be able to beat Ben Rabah. (Horn WPTS Rabah)
BOXING ON JOSEPH PARKER UNDERCARDS
“It was great and that’s all I knew in that era boxing on (Fox televised) Joseph Parker undercards in New Zealand. I was used to fighting on undercards and I was chuffed on Joseph Parker undercards because I knew how popular he was and he is a great guy. I thought ‘this is awesome fighting just before him’ so I knew people would be watching. It was exciting times.
TOUGH OPPONENTS
“I started taking on some really tough opposition (Randall Bailey and Ali Funeka in 2016) in Brisbane (with Bob Arum in attendance). There were some tough guys but I was still beating them and stopping a couple of them. It really made my confidence grow. I really had trust in my ability and what I could do as a boxer. I think I was like everyone else when I got the call that I was going to fight Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane – I said what? Is this real? Is this some TV prank?
MANNY PACQUIAO
“Manny Pacquiao was a superstar – he was the whole way through during our preparations. Meeting him in the flesh and seeing him that he is just normal. Just looking at him there was nothing special about him as you do with anyone else. It’s like – I can beat this guy. If I move the way I move and be unpredictable and I know that’s how Pacquiao fights as well. I am bigger than this guy and I can use that against him – I can win this fight. I just had full trust in my ability at that stage.
“Manny seemed very blasé (when he was at press conferences) in Australia. I thought very highly of Pacquiao in boxing for a long time. He was one of my idols. Pacquiao was extraordinary to watch. His demeanor around the sport. He seemed like a really nice guy but he could fight like a little monster. I wanted to be like that. To fight him and try and beat him – that was GOLD.
“I was a bit frustrated (at press conferences) The way Manny was on his phone and out of it and not interested. It gave me the feeling he was that confident he didn’t really care. He really didn’t know who he was fighting. They have picked a guy from Australia for me – I will knock him over very quickly. That’s a good ten million in his pocket and see you later. And I thought to myself – I am going to make this extremely difficult for you. I wasn’t going down without a fight.
“I didn’t get any congratulations from Manny after the 2017 fight – I might have got a pat on the back. He was saying to me ‘break’ at the start of the fight – I automatically went back the first time. I thought he doesn’t like me doing that so maybe I should keep clinching because I don’t have to listen to him. I only have to listen to the referee.
“I would have been keen on a rematch. I would have to get the offer to consider it. There was never an offer for a rematch with Manny in the Philippines or anywhere.
“I was worried that after I beat Manny that (people would say) he has had it and that Manny was done – you got him at the right time but he has won the world title and beat some decent guys (Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman). I am very happy and proud of Manny and proud of myself because I did beat Pacquiao.
“I remember the paparazzi coming to my house. I said what are you doing. The photographer said I want you to do something natural like putting out your garbage bins. I actually did that for him and it wasn’t even bin day.
TERRENCE CRAWFORD
“Gary Corcoran was a very tough guy. He gave me a tough fight that’s for sure. I have high respect for him. Then it was off to Las Vegas (in 2018) to fight Terrence Crawford. That was a tough fight – very tough. I was stopped in the ninth round. That brutal ninth round that I keep having (also in Manny Pacquiao fight). I probably did it wrong by staying in one of the main casinos and I had a lot of people around. I think that sapped a lot of energy. I had a newborn child at that stage. She was in the same room as us even though we asked for multiple rooms. It was just one big room and we had her over in the corner. So there were a lot of things I could have done a little bit better leading into that fight. Just staying in a hotel room wasn’t the smartest move and I just felt like we were the underdogs. We were treated like we weren’t going to win that fight. I guess he had everything and they were trying to show we had nothing.
MICHAEL ZERAFA
“I took the Michael Zerafa fight (August 2019) because I knew that was probably the toughest fight I could take in Australia. I took a few shortcuts. The diet wasn’t 100% on point. There were tiny little things you would shave off here and there and those little things add up to a percentage and that’s a percentage you cannot let go against top opposition like Michael Zerafa because he definitely proved himself that night he was a force to be reckoned with. ( Zerafa TKO9 Horn) I knew I had fought better opposition and I knew I could beat him. I was very angry the way he (Zerafa) was talking about me and my trainer (Glenn Rushton) as well. Just kind of demeaning us. Saying we had done nothing and we were not very good. I said I want a rematch. I wanted to prove that I could do a lot better then what I did in that first fight. (Horn defeated majority points decision Zerafa in the December 2019 rematch)
JEFF HORN VS TIM TSZYU
WBO #5 Jeff Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs) will be in action against IBF #6, WBO #9, WBC #12 Tim Tszyu (15-0, 11 KOs) on August 26 at the Bank Stadium in Townsville that is predicted to have a capacity attendance of 16,000 that will be televised on Foxtel Main Event Pay-Per-View
Promoters: D&L Events Dean Lonergan &
No Limit Boxing Promotions Matt Rose.
Matchmaker: Stuart Duncan
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ESPN picks up Horn-Tszyu clash
Former welterweight world champion and Manny Pacquiao conqueror Jeff “The Hornet” Horn will face Tim Tszyu in a 10-round junior middleweight bout Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, Australia. A socially distanced crowd of more than 16,000 fans are expected for Horn-Tszyu, which will headline a special edition of Breakfast and Boxing exclusively on ESPN+ (5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT).
Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs), from Brisbane, toppled Pacquiao in July 2017 via unanimous decision to win the WBO welterweight world title. Horn-Pacquiao, the Top Rank on ESPN series premier, peaked at 4.4 million viewers. Horn defended his title once before losing via ninth-round stoppage to Terence “Bud” Crawford in June 2018. He is 2-1 since the Crawford loss, most recently splitting a pair of action classics against countryman Michael Zerafa in 2019.
Tszyu (15-0, 11 KO), the Sydney-born son of legendary former world champion Kostya Tszyu, returns from a nearly nine-month layoff. He graduated from prospect to contender in 2019, closing out the year in December with a fourth-round TKO over Jack Brubaker that streamed live on ESPN+.
The Horn-Tszyu stream will also include unbeaten junior lightweight prospect Liam Wilson (6-0, 4 KOs) against Jackson Woods (4-1-1, 4 KOs) in an eight-rounder, former Australian 154-pound champion Joel Camilleri (18-6-1, 8 KOs) versus Adam Copland (5-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round middleweight bout, and Australian middleweight prospect Issac “The Headsplitter” Hardman (6-0, 5 KOs ) against seven-year veteran Jamie Weetch (12-3, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder.
Top Rank also announced two more ESPN+ boxing streams.
The action continues the same day as Horn-Tszyu at 2 p.m. ET, as MTK Global returns with a closed-door card from Production Park Studios in Wakefield, England. In the 10-round main event, Belfast’s Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (11-0, 6 KOs) will battle Louis Greene (12-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant WBO European welterweight title.
In other action on the Crocker-Greene stream, British and Commonwealth bantamweight champion Lee McGregor (8-0, 6 KOs) moves up to junior featherweight to fight Ryan Walker (11-1, 2 KOs) in a 10-rounder; junior welterweight prospect Gary Cully (10-0, 5 KOs) takes on Craig Woodruff (10-5, 4 KOs) in an eight-round junior welterweight tilt; middleweight Fearghus Quinn turns pro in a six-rounder against Robbie Chapman (6-3, 0 KOs); and Darren Tetley (20-0, 9 KOs) fights Liam Taylor (21-1-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round British welterweight title eliminator.
On Sunday, August 23, MTK Global presents a special Sunday show live from Almaty, Kazakhstan, which will showcase the professional debut of former Kazakh amateur superstar Kamshybek Kunkabayev. The two-time World Championships silver medalist (2017 & 2019), will make his professional debut in an eight-round cruiserweight bout against Issa Akberbayev (20-1, 15 KOs). Kunkabayev also won a pair of Asian Championships silver medals, while Akberbayev, a 6-foot-3 puncher who currently resides in Almaty, hopes to rebound from his first career defeat.
The scheduled five-fight stream kicks off on ESPN+ at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT and also includes:
Lightweight contender Viktor Kotochigov (11-0, 4 KOs), who defended the WBC International belt last December, will fight Belarusian veteran Andrei Isayeu (30-17, 9 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
In an eight-round junior middleweight bout, 2019 Asian Championships gold medalist and 2019 World Championships bronze medalist Tursynbay Kulakhmet will make his pro debut against former amateur star Sagadat Rakhmankul (6-1, 4 KOs), who has won three consecutive fights since his lone pro defeat.
In an eight-round clash of undefeated middleweights, Abay Tolesh (5-0, 3 KOs) will take on southpaw Saparbay Aidarov (4-0, 2 KOs).
Nurtas Azhbenov (9-0, 4 KOs), who has won three of his last four via first-round stoppage, will fight Shovkat Khalilov (7-2, 1 KO) in an eight-rounder at junior welterweight.
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Horn/Tszyu Tonite. For Free. Undercard starts at 9PM NZ time on SKY
Horn, Tszyu make weight, controversy erupts
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By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Jeff Horn 153.4 (69.6kg) vs. Tim Tszyu 152.3 (69.1kg)
(IBF Australasian/WBO global jr middleweight titles)
Venue: Bank Stadium, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Promoters: Dean Lonergan and Matt Rose
TV: Main Event PPV (Australia), ESPN+ USA
Notes: Horn arrived at the weigh-in late.
Things heated up when Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton told reporters that there are conflicts of interest involving two of the judges and Tszyu. Rushton alleged that Tszyu trained at a gym owned by judge Chris Condon, whom Rushton claimed was formerly a cornerman for Tim’s father Kostya Tszyu. Rushton also alleged that judge Phil Holiday has been heard saying Tszyu will win on cuts. Both judges will still be working the fight as of now.
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This article surprised me, I'd have thought Kosta would of been at all of his boys fights. Great read by the way, thanks. Really looking forward to the fight.
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Tszyu dominates and stops Horn in eight
By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
In a grudge showdown, IBF #6, WBO #9, WBC #12 light middleweight Tim Tszyu (16-0, 12 KOs) scored a dominating eighth round TKO over former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn (20-3-1, 13 KOs) on Wednesday night at Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Tszyu rocked Horn in round three, then floored Horn with a left hook. Tszyu continued to punish Horn as the bout progressed. Horn went to a knee after a body shot in round six. The beatdown lasted for two more rounds before the bout was finally halted after round eight.
“I want everyone to know my name’s Tim, not ‘the son,’” said Tszyu afterward. “This is a young man’s sport and I was better this time…it was an honor to share the ring with Jeff.”
Horn stated, “Tim was young, hungry, he’s an absolute champion…he’s now is the #1 in Australia. He wasn’t before this. He was saying he was but he certainly earned it now.”
Tszyu retains his IBF Australasian and WBO global belts.
Unbeaten middleweight Issac Hardman (7-0, 6 KOs) blasted out formerly world-ranked Jamie Weetch (12-3, 5 KOs) in the first round. Time was 2:20. Weetch down twice.
Unbeaten lightweight Liam Wilson (7-0, 5 KOs) knocked out 2012 Olympian Jackson Woods (4-2-1, 4 KOs) in round two. Time 2:42. Wilson dropped Woods in both rounds one and two.
Middleweight Joel Camilleri (19-6-1, 8 KOs) outboxed Adam Copland (5-2, 3 KOs) over eight rounds. Camilleri dropped Copland in round two and went on to win 79-73, 78-73, 79-73.
Female super bantamweight Shannon O’Connell (19-6-1, 10 KOs) stopped previously unbeaten Kylie Fulmer (7-1, 6 KOs) in round seven to claim the vacant Australian belt.
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