It’s almost tradition at this point of the Tim Tszyu journey.
Leading into the fight, his opponent lashes the amount of hype surrounding the son of a former champion, questions the legitimacy of the 26-year-old’s rise, and promises to set the record straight.
For Dennis Hogan, that involved slamming the oddsmakers, predicting a knockout, and leaning on his resume of high-profile fights.
But after being stopped within five rounds against Tszyu on Wednesday night, the Queensland-based Irishman had only one thing to say.
“It was very respectful,” Tszyu explained post-fight. “He just said, ‘The hype is real.’
“He said that to me too,” Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings added, “and it’s a wonderful little statement.
“I won’t use the language, but Dennis said, ‘Yeah, the hype is real.’
“He was very respectful.”
The 36-year-old Hogan, ten years Tszyu’s senior, had only been beaten at world title level previously, but was outclassed and outpowered inside the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.