Tim Tszyu proved he was the real deal on Sunday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
Tszyu dropped former 154-pound champion Tony Harrison in the ninth round. After getting up, referee Danrex Tapdasan did not like what he saw from Harrison and called off the action at 2:43 of the ninth, and Tszyu would become the interim WBO 154-pound champion.
At the time of the stoppage, all three judges had the fight 77-75 for Tszyu.
At times, Harrison(29-4-1, 21 KOs) did a decent job with his jab, but he could not keep the relentless Tszyu(22-0, 16 KOs) off of him. The Australian native landed 128 power shots and landed them at a high percentage(45%).
Before the fight, Tszyu said the ninth round would be the round he would “drown” Harrison, and boy, he was right. The 28-year-old landed a big right hand with just over a minute to go in the round, and Harrison would back up against the ropes. Tsyzu started to land some vicious uppercuts, eventually dropping Harrison and ending the night.
Tszyu had initially been scheduled to face undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo in a January clash before Charlo was forced to withdraw due to a hand injury, and now that should happen later this year as Charlo, who called the fight for Showtime, said he would be ready to return in the summer.
After the fight, Tsyzu, who is trying to do at 154 what his legendary father, Kostya, did at 140, becoming an undisputed champion, made it clear that he wants Charlo next.
“The message was sent clearly,” Tszyu said. “You know what’s up. You know what’s next. I’m coming. I’m coming to Vegas! I’m coming to America!”
Harrison gave all the credit to Tsyzu.
“The better man won tonight,” Harrison said. “He’s on to bigger and better things, and I don’t know where I’ll go from here.”
It should be interesting to see what Harrison does next. He did not appear to have the legs he once possessed in this fight, so you wonder where he goes next. Regarding Tszyu, who beat the only fighter to beat Charlo in Harrison, his battle with Charlo should have a lot of action and be a lot fun.
Can he beat Charlo? Probably not, but he will be game, and he will be ready to go.
