It is the biggest fight of Tim Tszyu’s career, as the son of Kosta Tszyu is aiming to forge his own path in the sport of boxing as he faces former world champion, Tony Harrison, for the interim WBO super welterweight title, taking place at Qudos Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday, March 12th, in Australia, and in most places in the world being broadcast by Showtime on Saturday, March 11th.
Tszyu is coming in looking to earn his respect in the sport of boxing as the Australian has faced formidable opposition, but still hasn’t gotten universal praise. Tszyu, who was set to face Jermell Charlo in January of this year saw that bout delayed, and refused to wait for a rescheduled bout. Instead he opted to challenge himself against Tony Harrison, a man he views as the second best fighter in the division.
“I was devasted,” said Tim Tszyu on The Last Stand With Brian Custer podcast in promotion of his upcoming fight on Showtime this week. “It was the pinnacle of sport, fighting for the undisputed world championship. It is what it is, I was really devastated.”
Tszyu now might just be facing the most motivated and dangerous Tony Harrison ever, as a loss here for Harrison brings up unpleasant conversations about where Harrison will go next in the sport. Harrison seems to be as focused as ever, and is much taller than Tszyu as Harrison is the size of NBA point guard, at roughly 6’1”, whereas Tim Tszyu is the size of most adult men at 5’8”. It is rare you see a prospect versus an aging contender bout in which so much is on the line. For Tszyu, he wants to be taken seriously as one of the best currently, and for Harrison it is a chance to show he truly is one of the best of his era at 154 lbs, as Harrison attempts to do what legends do, and fend off the younger generation from the top of the division.
Tszyu is now looking at legacy, something this era of boxer seems to care about a lot. With a slew of great Australian fighters right now including Tszyu, George Kambosos Jnr., Ebanie Bridges and the Moloney brothers, it appears that Tszyu wants to bring the biggest possible fights to his native land, and do something we rarely hear in boxing, but hear all the time in golf when it comes to sports washing. Tszyu wants to grow the sport of boxing - and a bout like this very much should in Australia.
“I believe Tony Harrison is the toughest challenge in the super welterweight division right now, just before Charlo,” said Tszyu. “That’s what I wanted. I wanted the big fights. Australia is going mad, they are going crazy. If I bring up a tune-up fight I am disrespecting myself, I am disrespecting the sport of boxing, this is what it is you have to fight to your very potential.”
