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"He’s a hot favorite for this fight. I’m shocked. I kind of want to turn around and put some money on myself. I’m still around and still have the fight left in my belly and I’ll show that against Tim Tszyu," Horn said to the Sydney Morning Herald

"I look at his career and I don’t feel like he’s been tested fully. The tough opponents he has fought have been at the Australian level. That might be a telling factor. Anyway, I'm always happy to beat up a New South Welshman.

"I feel like [junior middleweight] the most comfortable division for me. You have to watch the weight and be very professional to get down there. The body has grown a bit since the welterweight days but it hasn’t grown enough to be an effective middleweight. This is bang on.

"It was easy to make the weight [at middleweight], which wasn’t really that good for me. I’ve always struggled to make weight and that’s probably how I should feel. I have always fought best when I cut weight and watch my diet and keep an eye on what I’m eating."

Tim Tszyu To Jeff Horn: Losing is Not an Option For Me - I Only Win!

Undefeated junior middleweight Tim Tszyu has nothing on his mind outside of his upcoming opponent, former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn.

The Australian rivals will collide on August 26 in Townsville, and the local movement will allow up to 16,000 fans to be in attendance.

Their fight had previously been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Nothing in my life matters besides boxing. I became obsessed [about beating Horn]. It's a sickness. I'm going to win. It meant training three or four times a day. I made a gym in my garage, I was able to learn things, stay in the garage for hours on end trying to perfect my craft," Tszyu told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Being at home all those months, it made me realise that's all I want in life: to win in boxing."

Tszyu, 15-0 and 25-years-old, is taking a big step up in class against Horn.

Horn, 20-2-1 and 32-years-old, has big edge in experience with past fights against Manny Pacquiao, Terence Crawford, Michael Zerafa and others.

Tszyu, the son of highly respected former world champion Kostya Tszyu, is very motivated to make a name his own way in the sport.

He doesn't want to simply be known as the son of a famous fighter. Tszyu wants to create his own legacy - and he feels that goal can only be achieved by doing everything in his power to win.

"It doesn't matter about the occasion, how big the stadium is, I'm truly motivated in victory. All I want in my life is victory," Tszyu said. "It doesn't matter where it is, who it's against, I intend to do the same thing over and over again. Losing is not an option for me. I only win."

tszyu reminds me of james quinn mcdonagh sticks that left out in faces then big straight right, i think if horn has anything left id fancy him to win , but tszyu looks big tough lad with something to prove iam not taken with him aint gonna lie

if Horn doesn't win this, he's well and truly done.

The experience alone should be enough. I like Tszyu 2,0, But he's nothing close to great yet. Still pretty green IMO.

That said, I'm rooting for Tszyu purely because I think it'll be better for Aus boxing in the long run.

Tszyu on Horn: He Beat a Legend, Nothing Personal, I Just Want To Win

On August 26th, the all-Australian showdown pitting former welterweight champion Jeff Horn against Tim Tszyu will finally take place. The venue will be the Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville and fans will be in attendance.

The bout was originally slated was originally slated to take place at the same venue on April 22nd but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lead up to the fight began cordially but after the fight was first postponed the intensity has increased.

A press conference was recently held to announce the new date and Tszyu, the son of International Boxing Hall of Fame member Kostya Tszyu, reiterated that all of his focus is on this fight and getting a victory is all that he is thinking about.

"Again I said before, 'obsessed'. Mentally I am more ready than anything. I am so obsessive with my boxing. I sort of remember back in the day growing up with my dad and how he was and I have taken that turn. This is who I am. This is my sport and this is what I am going to do now," Tszyu explained.

As for the recent exchange of words between the domestic rivals, Tsyzu insists that he really like Horn as a person and that all of his focus is just on making sure he wins the fight.

Some of the press in attendance continued to try to push the angle that there is bad blood between the fighters and Tszyu continued to shut it down.

"I am still friendly. I have nothing against Jeff Horn. He is a great guy. He has done great things. He has beat a legend. There is nothing personal besides the fact that I want to win," explained Tszyu.

I think people sleep on horn a little bit. i think he could be a decent lil contender at 154. Going close enough to get a home town decission vs pac is a great achievement. Loosing to Crawford isnt to shameful. and the zeffer loss, going up 2 weight classes against even a decent guy is very difficult and rarely done. Ringo looked stupid going up 2 classes (admitidly against loma), Brooks got smashed gong up 2 classes (admittedly vs GGG).

Only real problem for horn is he has taken a lot of punishment in the pac, craw and 2 zeffer fights, but other than that he is gritty and defiantly could have a crack at the top 154s. Im glad this fight got pushed back to give horns head a bit more recovery time.

gregregegg wrote: ↑27 Jul 2020, 10:06 I think people sleep on horn a little bit. i think he could be a decent lil contender at 154. Going close enough to get a home town decission vs pac is a great achievement. Loosing to Crawford isnt to shameful. and the zeffer loss, going up 2 weight classes against even a decent guy is very difficult and rarely done. Ringo looked stupid going up 2 classes (admitidly against loma), Brooks got smashed gong up 2 classes (admittedly vs GGG).

Only real problem for horn is he has taken a lot of punishment in the pac, craw and 2 zeffer fights, but other than that he is gritty and defiantly could have a crack at the top 154s. Im glad this fight got pushed back to give horns head a bit more recovery time.

i think horn beat pac on my card fairly, i like him a very decent boxer which i mean world boxer, shame he came out of aus a little late as he could of had some bigger wins iam sure

ESPN+ will stream the biggest bout on Australia’s boxing schedule and a heavyweight fight that could lead to an important domestic showdown in England.

Boxing Scene has been informed that ESPN’s $5-per-month streaming service will offer the Jeff Horn-Tim Tszyu and Daniel Dubois-Erik Pfeifer fights live during the last week of August. Horn-Tszyu will be streamed live in the early-morning hours of August 26 in the United States, three days before ESPN+ will offer the Dubois-Pheifer fight.

Tim Tszyu: Horn Didn't Win Two Seconds of Crawford Fight

But the 25-year-old is not impressed with Horn's record - and he believes his Australian rival does not have the tools of a world class fighter.

He says Horn's one-sided loss to Terence Crawford is proof that he doesn't have the class to stay at the top.

"There's a lot of things that separate Jeff, an average world champion professional boxer, from a world class contender," Tszyu said to AAP. "Becoming a world champion is one thing, but staying world champion is another thing.

"He's reached his highs and he doesn't have the characteristics to stay as a world champion. I mean, look at what Crawford did to him. I don't think Horn even won two or three seconds of that fight. That just proves the different class. That's the difference [between me and him]. Once I win a world title, I will stay a champion. I will show the two different classes we're at right now.

"I'm proud of what my dad achieved. He's the greatest boxer in Australian and Russian sports history. I do everything that he's done. There's a blueprint. If I could do half of what he did, I'm going to be a great in this sport."

Interesting fight for sure, although Horny is a limited guy he's also got a lot of experience at a higher level and is probably a lot better suited to 154 instead of 160 where the Zerafa loss was. tSZYU looks solid but can't really say he's some obvious world level guy about to explode, he hasn't really shown THAT great of talent. So he could well get more than he bar ginned for. Should be good

Tszyu: I will be world champ

IBF #6, WBO #9, WBC #12 light middleweight Tim Tszyu (15-0, 11 KOs) will clash with former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs) at the Bank Stadium in Townsville, Queensland on August 26.

“There’s a lot of things that separate Jeff, an average world champion professional boxer, from a world class contender,” Tszyu told AAP. “Becoming a world champion is one thing, but staying world champion is another thing…once I win a world title, I will stay a champion. I will show the two different classes we’re at right now.”

JEFF HORN VS TIM TSZYU TICKETS

Tickets are on sale now!

Hit the link here for pre-sale packages and the like.

You can also head to Ticketmaster for information as well.

HOW MUCH ARE HORN-TSZYU TICKETS?

The cheapest adult tickets are going for as little as $29, which will give you a restricted view at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

The most expensive Ticket on Ticketmaster is going for $108.93, but those are going quick.

HOW TO WATCH JEFF HORN VS TIM TSZYU

The biggest domestic boxing match of 2020 will be shown live on Main Event pay per view.

It'll cost $59.95, which is on par with their premium fight sports events.

You can order it here.

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

Mundine, Fenech Back Jeff Horn To Defeat Tim Tszyu, Explain Why

Former world champions and Australian legends, Jeff Fenech and Anthony Mundine, are backing Horn to win.

"Early on I was convinced Tim Tszyu could win the fight, but the more I've watched and studied, my opinion has changed," Fenech told Sporting News.

"I love Tim, I love his family and I've known him since birth, but I don't think he's fought someone like Jeff Horn. He hasn't fought someone who's as rough and tough as Jeff Horn. Although Tim says he's got a plan for everybody, Mike Tyson said it best: everyone's got a plan until they get hit in the face."

"Tim's got all the skills and ability in the world, but I just don't know if he's got the roughness or toughness that Jeff Horn's going to bring into the ring. Jeff just came back from death row and beat Michael Zerafa, he beat the great Manny Pacquiao. He's fighting a young kid who's really determined, but Tim's fighting someone stronger than anyone he's ever fought. Horn throws punches from angles that aren't normal."

Mundine captured world titles at weights as high as super middleweight. In the second to final bout of his pro career, he was stopped by Horn in one round in 2018.

He believes the young Tszyu is biting off more than he can chew at the moment.

“It’s the first real test for Tsyzu. He’s a good young talent but doesn’t have the experience,” Mundine told Sporting News.

“Why Horn is so effective is because of his unconventional style. He comes from all different angles, he uses his elbows, his head and he can crack. He’s got some power. He's so unconventional. He fights like he's drunk, which is good sometimes, because you don't know what you're going to get.

“Timmy will be ready for it physically – he’s very fit and he prepares well – but can he withstand that onslaught? Horn needs to be the playground bully. Come with that style and belief, have a good chin and get off the power shots. Tie up when necessary and continue bringing the onslaught. I’m leaning slightly towards Jeff, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Tim can do it.”

Ndou: Tszyu will defeat Horn

Two-time world champion Lovemore Ndou has predicted IBF #6, WBO #9, WBC #12 light middleweight Tim Tszyu (15-0, 11 KOs) will defeat former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs) when they clash on August 26 at the Bank Stadium in Townsville that will be televised on Foxtel Main Event via Pay-Per-View.

“Tim Tszyu has the skills to defeat Jeff Horn on August 26,” Ndou told Fightnews.com®. “Tszyu is very accurate and precise with his punches and also has good power. He is the only boxer in Australia that I go to see in action because I think he will be a world champion when he does get that opportunity.

“Tim actually was putting me through punches on the pads a few years ago at the Tszyu Academy when I was preparing for a comeback fight. He was a good trainer also.

“I trained with his father Kostya under Hall of Fame trainer Johnny Lewis. I sparred many rounds with Kostya and I see many of the same skills his father possessed in Tim.

“Horn had that win over Manny Pacquiao in 2017 but only because Pacman took him too cheap and I think had not prepared himself for that fight. He came to Australia only seven days before the fight. Pacquiao was on his phone at press conferences. He wasn’t motivated for Horn and paid the price.

“Horn boxed liked an amateur when Terrence Crawford stopped him in Las Vegas to take the title.

“Horn was stopped by Michael Zerafa in 2019 and in their rematch he was out on his feet in round nine against Zerafa when the referee gave Horn time to recover by inspecting his cut eye. Zerafa should have been crowned the winner.

“Tszyu will take Horn to school on August 26 in Townsville.”

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑12 Aug 2020, 16:55 Interesting fight for sure, although Horny is a limited guy he's also got a lot of experience at a higher level and is probably a lot better suited to 154 instead of 160 where the Zerafa loss was. tSZYU looks solid but can't really say he's some obvious world level guy about to explode, he hasn't really shown THAT great of talent. So he could well get more than he bar ginned for. Should be good

splinters maggie ,give us who is gona win ?

Feel like I have been waiting ages for this fight..

brilo33 wrote: ↑22 Aug 2020, 13:15

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑12 Aug 2020, 16:55 Interesting fight for sure, although Horny is a limited guy he's also got a lot of experience at a higher level and is probably a lot better suited to 154 instead of 160 where the Zerafa loss was. tSZYU looks solid but can't really say he's some obvious world level guy about to explode, he hasn't really shown THAT great of talent. So he could well get more than he bar ginned for. Should be good

splinters maggie ,give us who is gona win ?

Timmeh mate, just think Jeff is ragged at this point in his career, even though he's not old

Weigh In Results

Jeff Horn 153.4 (69.6kg) vs. Tim Tszyu 152.3 (69.1kg)

Horn vs Tszyu livestream begins at 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT for a special Aussie edition of Breakfast and Boxing — Lewis Crocker-Louie Greene welterweight battle tops MTK Global show Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET — MTK Global-promoted show from Kazakhstan to stream Sunday starting at 12 p.m. ET

Australia’s most anticipated fistic showdown in years has an American streaming home.

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).