The Tszyu name returns to Newcastle on Wednesday night as Tim follows in his father’s legendary footsteps in a pay-per-view blockbuster in the Steel City, against Queensland-based Irishman Dennis Hogan.
A ‘relaxed’ Tszyu just offered up a pre-fight interview, declaring himself “ready to show the world everything I’ve got.”
But the pair’s pre-fight stoush over betting sponsorship contracts went down to the last minute, with it being finally resolved with around two hours to spare – and Hogan wearing his betting sponsors’ logo on his boxing trunks.
Watch Tim Tszyu v Dennis Hogan only on Main Event, available on Foxtel and Kayo on Wednesday 31 March at 7pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
WHY TIM TSZYU MIGHT BE THE BEST ATHLETE IN AUSTRALIA
TSZYU ‘READY TO SHOW THE WORLD’
In a pre-bout interview in his dressing room, Tszyu declared himself: “Nice and relaxed. Ready to show the world everything I’ve got.”
He promised to: “Hurt him. Hurt him hard.” Asked how, he said with a smile: “Punch him in the face … I believe I’m levels above this bloke”
Asked for a prediction, Tszyu said: “Take him to the deep waters then drown him.”
Hogan said in his own interview: “I’ve come prepared, I’ve got all my ducks in a row and I’m here to win.
“I’m very very hungry … This is my path to a world title shout.”
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HOW TO WATCH
The Tszyu vs. Hogan card will be aired on Foxtel’s Main Event, as well as being available for purchase on Kayo Sports.
Three preliminary fights will air on Fox Sports 503 at 6pm, before the Main Event card gets underway at 7pm.
Also on the card, Koen Mazoudier and Wade Ryan do battle, Tyson Lantry and Paul Fleming promise fireworks, legends Sam Soliman and Sakio Bika face off, while Renold Quinlan and Mateo Tapia do it all again.
READ MORE
AUSSIE ‘HANNIBAL’ EATS UP RIVAL WITH BRUTAL KO AFTER EPIC RING WALK
‘REACHED THAT POINT’: The proof Tim Tszyu has outgrown Australia
‘TAKE US TO COURT’: Hogan doubles down as Tszyu betting row hits worrying stalemate
THE FRUSTRATING ‘BOXING POLITICS’ IN ‘DESPERATE’ TSZYU’S WAY
SHORTS-GATE FINALLY SOLVED
If you were expecting shorts-gate to be resolved before fight night, you were mighty wrong.
According to No Limit Boxing’s Matt Rose, Dennis Hogan’s team is standing firm in their choice to wear fight trunks with a PointsBet sponsorship, despite Sportsbet being the official betting partner of the Steel City Showdown.
At Monday’s press conference Hogan was told by Rose to remove a PointsBet T-shirt, with the Queensland-based Irishman still fuming at Tuesday’s weigh-in.
“I don’t care,” he told reporters. “I’m not coming out unless I’ve got my sponsors on there.
“That’s the deal that was done. Everybody is able to wear their sponsors – this is unacceptable.
“I’ll be wearing them, or I won’t be there. Let me know tonight, so I can go home tomorrow.”
Rose confirmed the issue can only be resolved once Hogan’s team arrives at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre – but it was FINALLY fixed just hours before the fight.
Hogan was seen in his dressing room again wearing the shirt, but removed it before a TV interview.
Then, just two hours before their fight’s expected start time, the issue was finally sorted.
Commentator Ben Damon said: “We can report that the fued’s that been on all week…has been resolved… Hogan will wear his (PointsBet) trunks.”
READ MORE
AUSSIE ‘HANNIBAL’ EATS UP RIVAL WITH BRUTAL KO AFTER EPIC RING WALK
‘REACHED THAT POINT’: The proof Tim Tszyu has outgrown Australia
‘TAKE US TO COURT’: Hogan doubles down as Tszyu betting row hits worrying stalemate
THE FRUSTRATING ‘BOXING POLITICS’ IN ‘DESPERATE’ TSZYU’S WAY
BIG NAMES IN THE HOUSE
Plenty of recognisable stars from the boxing world and beyond are watching on from ring-side!
HOGAN ‘ASTOUNDED’ BY ODDS
And while Hogan has twice fought for world titles, it is the rising star in Tszyu – at 26-years-old, a decade his rival’s senior – who has become an unbackable favourite with the bookies.
After starting at $1.25 odds on Sportsbet, Tszyu has rocketed into $1.11 odds to win the fight – with Hogan a rank outsider at $6. Other odds-makers have Tszyu an even stronger favourite, well inside the $1.10 mark.
A shocked Hogan said those odds are ‘absolutely incredible’.
“Preparing for this has been an absolute treat,” Hogan told Irish broadcaster RTE earlier in the week.
“Tim is the son of a legend. He has had some big wins lately. I am coming off two losses, so I am not going to be the favourite. On paper, that is what it is.
“But the margin, that just astounds me. It is absolutely incredible.”
EARLIER FIGHTS
Mateo Tapia demolished a weary-looking Renold Quinlan in their rematch, a series of of right hands in Rd 4 forcing the referee to step in.
Tapia (now 13-0, 8 KOs) claimed the WBA Oceana title for the Super Middleweight division in his second straight win against the same opponent.
The Mexican-born 22-year-old has been sparring with Tszyu recently, and could earn a shot overseas soon as he continues to rise up the ranks.
Tapia rocked up in a tradie-like high-vis shirt, but that had nothing on Newcastle local Darkon Dryden, who arrived to AC/DC’s Highway to Hell while wearing a Hannibal Lecter mask – then won via knockout against Jason Medawar in their super welterweight title.
AUSSIE ‘HANNIBAL’ EATS UP RIVAL WITH BRUTAL KO AFTER EPIC RING WALK
FULL CARD
Main Event card(red vs. blue)
Dennis Hogan vs. Tim Tszyu — 10 x 3 minute rounds — WBO Global super welterweight title
Koen Mazoudier vs. Wade Ryan — 10 x 3 minute rounds — IBO International and WBA Oceania (interim) super welterweight titles
Tyson Lantry vs. Paul Fleming — 10 x 3 minute rounds — WBA Oceania East West super featherweight title
Sam Soliman vs. Sakio Bika — 8 x 3 minute rounds — catchweight
Renold Quinlan vs. Mateo Tapia — 10 x 3 minute rounds — WBA Oceania super middleweight title
Fox Sports card
Darkon Dryden def. Jason Medawar — via second round TKO — super welterweight
Jason Fawcett def. Alex Carioti — via unanimous decision (40-35 x 2, 39-36) — super welterweight
Linn Sandstrom def. Felicity Loiterton — via unanimous decision (39-37 x 2, 40-36) — super flyweight
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