Showing posts with label Kostya Tszyu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kostya Tszyu. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Has Tszyu Put The Jr. Middleweight Division On Notice?

 

The career of undefeated Jr. Middleweight contender Tim Tszyu has seen him quickly progress from a prospect following in the footsteps of his father the longtime former Jr. Welterweight world champion and Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, to a contender, who appears to be on the cusp of challenging for a world championship of his own. In just eighteen professional bouts over nearly five years as a professional, the twenty-six year old Tszyu has developed a reputation as a “Knockout Artist.” Much like his father, the twenty-six year old Tszyu has the ability and punching power to end a fight at any time with either hand. Tszyu’s progression in his career thus far has largely been highlighted by victories over former WBO Welterweight world champion Jeff Horn and former world title challenger Dennis Hogan. Two fights, which Tszyu scored knockout wins.

 

Recently however, Tszyu had a question asked of him that in some ways is one that is asked of many fighters regardless of their standing in the sport. How would he adapt to a change in opposition on relatively limited notice? This observer is referring to the recent circumstances Tszyu found himself in when his scheduled bout against Michael Zerafa on July 7th was changed when Zerafa pulled out of the fight in the week prior due to concerns over the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic and newly enacted restrictions in Australia. Although promoters did have the go ahead to stage the fight at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, Australia, Zerafa citing concerns opted to withdraw from the bout leaving Tszyu in need of an opponent or to postpone the bout until such time that the circumstances of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis could improve and the bout with Zerafa could presumably be rescheduled.

 

While circumstances like this in a fighter being in need of an opponent on short notice is not new throughout all of combat sports when such instances occur, the situation is certainly not ideal for a fighter or the fighter’s team. It is those circumstances however, that could provide an opportunity for an opponent to step in. Although the fighter who is in the position of having to step into a fight with a limited window of time to prepare is almost always at a disadvantage, there remains the element of the unknown that makes a fight intriguing. Fortunately for Tszyu, he would find an opponent on one week’s notice, enter Steve Spark.

 

Even though Spark had faced limited opposition going into this fight with Tszyu, what made his introduction into this equation interesting was that in his thirteen previous professional bouts, Spark had scored knockouts in eleven of his twelve career victories having lost one bout in his second pro bout via majority decision. Any time a fighter registers a career knockout percentage of over 80%, it does give an impression that they could at minimum provide a test even under circumstances of taking a fight on short notice.

 

In some ways however, what occurred when the two fighters squared off resembled Tszyu’s fight with Dennis Hogan earlier this year. A systematic attack where Tszyu gradually walked his opponent down getting in close and not allowing Spark space to maneuver. As was the case in his bout with Hogan, the focal point of Tszyu’s attack was to his opponent’s body. What should not be overlooked however, is while this process for Tszyu was relatively straightforward in its execution, he also took some punches from a “Game “ Spark who did try to make a fight of it. Even though the offense Spark was able to land was not able to hurt Tszyu nor discourage him from coming forward, it did show Tszyu’s ability to take a punch while sticking to his fight plan.

 

Ultimately, it would be Tszyu’s steady pressure and body attack that broke Spark down as two knockdowns in round three, both as a result of left hooks to the body would bring an end to the fight. While this amounted to a “Stay Busy” fight both in regard to the circumstances that led to it as well as what occurred inside the ring for Tszyu, he did show the ability to adapt as well as the ability to take a punch. Under circumstances which could give a fighter more pressure and circumstances where some fighters have been caught off guard, Tszyu’s performance in this fight is really all one could ask for if you’re on Tszyu’s management team and are trying to position him for a world championship bout.

 

Although a fight with Michael Zerafa could still happen, the question is whether Tim Tszyu should be in line to challenge for a world championship? With a unification bout between Jermell Charlo, the IBF/WBA/WBC Jr. Middleweight world champion and WBO world champion Brian Castano scheduled to take place on July 17th and Tszyu being rated number one currently in the World Boxing Organization’s (WBO) Jr. Middleweight ratings and rated number three by both the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) respectively, it may be a question of whether Tszyu will be next in line amongst the rotation of mandatory challengers for the winner of that fight, which will further unify the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division.

 

While current International Boxing Organization (IBO) world champion Erislandy Lara for now is on the outside of this unification process and even though some do not hold the IBO in high regard and see the Charlo-Castano as a bout for the Undisputed Jr. Middleweight world championship, if a showdown between the winner of that fight and Lara is not in the immediate plans to fully unify the division, it will be interesting to see if Tszyu can upset any potential plans when he does get his opportunity. An opportunity that this observer feels he has earned.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter:www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

 

 

Friday, April 2, 2021

After Stopping Hogan, Will Tszyu Get A World Championship Bout?


The 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division has been one that has seen many notable battles through the years. In recent times, it has seen Jermell Charlo emerge as the division’s central figure after scoring a knockout of Jeison Rosario last September to unify the WBC, WBA, and IBF world championships. Although Charlo has yet to become undisputed world champion in the division, as the only unified champion currently at 154lbs., the natural question that usually is asked after a fighter emerges victorious from a unification bout is who might be the next challenger.

 

A potential candidate that has made a strong argument for himself is undefeated top contender Tim Tszyu. Tszyu, the son of former longtime Jr. Welterweight world champion and Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, has emerged as a fast-rising contender in the division. Much like his father, Tszyu has also developed a reputation for having an ability to score knockouts. The marquee victory for Tszyu thus far came in August of last year when he stopped former WBO Welterweight world champion Jeff Horn in eight rounds.

 

Tszyu’s victory over Horn moved him into position as a top ten rated contender in the WBO, IBF, and WBO. Although Tszyu is currently the top contender in the WBO Jr. Middleweight ratings, a world championship currently held by Brian Castano, his number three rating in the IBF and number seven rating in the WBA could make him a potential opponent for Charlo. After defeating Horn, Tszyu scored a first round knockout of Bowyn Morgen in December of last year.

 

This led to what some felt would be another potential test in the form of former two-time world title challenger Dennis Hogan on March 31st in Newcastle, Australia. Hogan, who entered the bout with a record of 28-3-1, with 7 Knockouts compared to Tszyu’s 17-0, with 13 Knockouts, had previously lost in world championship bouts to former Jr. Middleweight world champion Jaime Mungia and Jermell Charlo’s brother Jermall at Middleweight. 

 

Even though it is insulting to give any fighter the label of a “Gatekeeper” because anything can happen when two fighters get into the ring, Hogan’s experience as a fighter who came up short in two world title bouts did make him in some ways an ideal opponent for a fighter in Tszyu’s position.  The type of fighter that can be used by a contender’s handlers to gage how close their charge might be to challenging for a world championship.

 

Tszyu’s approach in this fight can be described as one that was systematic as he applied consistent pressure on Hogan from the outset. An offensive output that seemed to have an emphasis on hooks to the body, gradually broke through Hogan’s defense as he was never really able to find his rhythm due to Tszyu’s pressure. This ultimately created an opening for Tszyu to land a flush left uppercut to the head of Hogan that sent him down in round five. Hogan’s corner elected to throw towel in shortly after Hogan got up from the knockdown as Tszyu pressed forward with follow up punches.

 

The ending of this fight was somewhat anti-climatic and can simply be described as a fighter showing patience and taking advantage of an opening once it presented itself. Tszyu’s performance however, was as good as one could expect from a fighter that has built the momentum he has and appears to be on the verge of fighting for a world championship. There was not much that one could point to as a potential reason why Tszyu should be held back in terms of what took place in the ring.

 

In terms of what might be a potential roadblock outside of the ring, in this observer’s view it will likely come down to whether or not promoters on opposite sides of the spectrum can work together to make a fight for a world championship happen for Tszyu. With a record that now stands at 18-0, with 14 Knockouts and having established a career knockout percentage of nearly 78%, it may be hard to say Tszyu hasn’t earned a chance at either Jermell Charlo or Brian Castano. The only questions that might remain are which world champion is available and whether or not a deal can be made that will determine whether or not Tim Tszyu will challenge for a world championship in his next fight.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison