Tim Tszyu, the current interim WBO Super Welterweight world champion, has dawned as the clear contender to Jermell Charlo’s titles after his latest performance against former WBC champion, Tony Harrison. In a contest that seemed evenly-matched prior to the fight, Tszyu came through with a thoroughly well-done job in a match that saw the Australian contender stop Harrison in the ninth round of their twelve-round fight. Their championship match for the interim WBO title was held at the Qudos Bank Arena in New South Wales, Australia.
Having endured a fair portion of criticism from his opponent, Tony Harrison (29-4-1, 21 KO’s), Tim Tszyu (22-0, 16 KO’s) remained as calm and collected as he was during his interviews and pressers, during his match with Harrison. The first round started with Harrison establishing his famed jab and barely taking the round as he tried to feel Tszyu out while boxing at range.
The second round, however, showed an indication of what would happen with Tszyu successfully applying the pressure style of fighting that has led to his current unbeaten record. Though the second round was far from dangerous to either fighter, it offered a brief glimpse into the future with how Harrison seemed unable to properly guard or evade Tszyu’s powerful shots, while Harrison himself couldn’t seem to hurt Tszyu every time he managed to land.
The subsequent rounds proved to go widely in favor of Tim Tszyu with him continously coming forward and displaying how effective he was on the inside. Using his jab, Tszyu set up his combinations fairly well, and even with a limited punch output at times his shots always seemed too quick and powerful for Harrison to defend against.
Harrison was mostly reduced to fighting on the back foot while backing away from Tszyu who used that opportunity to put him on the ropes. Whether on the outside or inside, Tony Harrison seemed bereft of any idea to beat Tszyu as his punches failed to do the proper damage, while Tszyu also showed a decent amount of ability in defending himself against Harrison’s punches. Because of how soft Harrison’s blows seemed, Tszyu was able to gradually break down Harrison over the rounds.
To make matters worse, Tony Harrison seemed stunned by every landed blow of Tszyu, and often retreated into a corner or the ropes which also did not do him any favors. By around the fourth round, it seemed apparent that Harrison had nothing left in his toolbox to deal with, and Tszyu comfortably won his rounds while also sparing some of his energy by not throwing too much, but just enough to clearly hurt Harrison.
By the closing minute of the ninth round, Harrison seemed weary and damaged, and after being dazed by a right hook, he could offer no answers to repeated right blows from Tszyu. This became even worse after Tszyu had him caught on the ropes and devastated his chins with a series of right uppercuts that eventually dropped him. Though Harrison beat the ten-count that followed, the referee stopped the match after Harrison legs proved to be too unsteady to continue fighting.
Tim Tszyu won the plaudits of a victory by technical knockout in the ninth round, and he won the interim WBO Junior Middleweight/Super Welterweight title which makes him eligible to become undisputed champion’s – Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KO’s) – next opponent. Charlo, who is currently out through a hand injury, is expected to face Tszyu immediately after recovering. The match between Tony Harrison and Tim Tszyu was set up as a result of Charlo’s injury, as the latter was already poised to face Charlo before the undisputed champion suffered his injury.
Tszyu and Charlo are now set to resume the fight that was originally planned, with Jermell Charlo holding all the cards as to where the fight will be held – which will likely be in his home country of the United States of America.
The rest of the division has now been put on notice following Tim Tszyu’s performance against a former world champion. Despite the momentously dominant win in front of what was a sold-out arena, Tszyu did face an opponent that had already been stopped thrice before getting in the ring. Though Harrison was likely his best opponent, there are doubts as to how fit and ready Harrison was given he had been close to retirement following his second fight with Jermell Charlo, and clearly proved to be in decline.
However, Tim Tszyu still impressed with his performance which heavily upset the pre-match odds that had his fight with Harrison be considered a 50/50 bout. With Harrison having taunted Tszyu earlier of needing to beat him, i.e. “the best that beat the best”, Tszyu seemed elated following the match as with his victory over an American opponent that many considered to be one of the best in the division.
With a confident cry of “what is my motherf*****g name?!”, Tszyu both blasted and honored the label of just being the son of a boxing legend – Kostya Tszyu in his case, while also making sure pay homage to the family name that made his father become one of the most renowned fighters to come out of Australia. With his performance and his outcry, Tim Tszyu has certainly established himself as fighter to watch in the future as he will continue to prepare himself for a blockbuster fight with undisputed Junior Middleweight champion, Jermell Charlo.
