The gamble paid off well.
Tim Tszyu knocked out former belt fighter Tony Harrison in the ninth round in a scheduled 154-pound 12-round bout on Saturday (Sunday in Australia) to set up a bout with the uncontested champion. argue with Jermell Charlo.
A meeting with Charlo has been set. That means he doesn’t have to risk fighting Harrison, the only one to defeat Charlo.
However, he made it. And now, after a devastating stop in his toughest test yet, the fight with Charlo is even bigger before it was postponed after Charlo broke his arm in practice. And Tszyu has more valuable experience.
AMAZING@Tim_Tszyu predicted he would stop Harrison in round 9 and he DOES#TszyuHarrison pic.twitter.com/XHDW2Tll0B
– SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) March 12, 2023
Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) was then asked in the ring if he had a message for Charlo.
“The message was clearly delivered,” he said to cheers from his hometown fans in Sydney. “… You know what happens next. I’m going to America.”
Tszyu’s strategy against Harrison is neither surprising nor complicated: keep the pressure on his American counterpart, which gradually wears him down.
Harrison (29-4-1, 21 KOs) has had some success, especially with his long and fast stab, but it’s Tszyu who pulls off the harder, neater shots. more – mostly right-handed headers – round after round.
Harrison was staggered by a right-hander about a minute into the third round, although the crafty veteran was able to survive the remainder of the round.
Tszyu is just getting started.
Harrison tries to move in the middle, an attempt to stop Tszyu’s attack. However, the Australian continued to attack as the match entered the final rounds, which slowed Harrison down and created a devastating finish.
About a minute into Round 9, Tszyu unleashed a series of perfectly placed, punishing volleys like you’ve ever seen – including some headbutts to the right – before Harrison finally fell. canvas.
He was able to get up before the count of 10 but referee Danrex Tapdasan took a good look at him and decided he was not strong enough to continue.
The official stop time is 2:43.
The judges all had the same score after eight rounds, 77-75 for Tszyu, five rounds left with three. Boxing Junkie went 78-74, six rounds to two, for the winner.
Of course, Tszyu assures that it doesn’t matter in the end.
One of Tszyu’s duties is to make a name for himself in the sport in which his father, Kostya Tszyu, built a career in the Hall of Fame. He’s taken an important step in that direction in front of his family, friends, and fans.
“Just one sentence: What is my birth mother’s name?! What is my mother’s name?! he screams to the crowd and the world, who better understand who he is after his most impressive performance.
And it could get even better. Or not.
Charlo, who knocked out Harrison in their rematch, is considered one of the best boxers in the world by the pound. He had superior skill, experience, and punching power, the last of which Harrison lacked.
The champion works as a television analyst for the fight. He has said a lot that he is one level above his two-time opponent.
“My movement, my style, my power will make him do completely different things,” Charlo said shortly after the game. Then he added, “Dude, I’m ready. … I’m a different animal in that, I’m a different warrior than Tony.”
Tszyu is also clearly different from Harrison.
