Tim Tszyu has jetted to the United States to test himself, and really, gamble on his own ability.
Tszyu takes an undefeated record (20-0), a growing reputation, and a surname that resonates all over the world into his US debut on Sunday (AEDT), in a fight that brings with it as much risk as it does reward.
As for the reward, it’s expected the Australian will pocket in excess of $1 million for stepping foot in the ring in Minneapolis.
It’s an indicator of Tszyu’s status in the sport; the 27-year-old believed to be making far more for this non-title fight than what Brian Castano and Patrick Teixeira took home when they went toe-to-toe for the WBO super welterweight belt last year.
Watch Tim Tszyu vs Terrell Gausha LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday 27th March from 11am AEDT. ORDER NOW >
While fellow Aussie and current lightweight champion of the world George Kambosos Jr. chugged along at a fraction of Tszyu’s pay packet early on in his US adventure, Tszyu has parachuted in, and landed in a pool of cash.
Tszyu’s payday is believed to be in line with what he has taken home for stadium shows in Australia.
After crossing off every name available to him in his home country, Tszyu faces the biggest test of his career in former Olympian Terrell Gausha, who has fought some of the best the division has to offer.
A loss would be devastating. A win would set Tszyu up with a near-impregnable case as next in line for a title shot.
Gausha’s team have labelled their opponent a “one-trick pony” and “not his father”, but like many of Tszyu’s past dancing partners who were left in a spin, they could be in for a rude awakening.
“He’s not going to mess around and play tip and tap,” Nikita Tszyu told foxsports.com.au of his brother’s plans. “He’s going in there to seriously hurt him.”
Tszyu has made relatively light work of each and every opponent who was, at the time, considered a ‘step up’.
It’s made that discussion a difficult one with the benefit of hindsight.
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Jeff Horn was supposed to be the final test of Tszyu’s legitimacy. But the man who dethroned Manny Pacquiao was so outclassed that it forced us to question just how high that hurdle really was.
The same can be said for Dennis Hogan, who had fought — and for many, aside from the judges, beaten — Jaime Munguia back in 2019 when they duelled for the WBO belt.
But in March of 2021, Tszyu finished Hogan in five rounds after an uppercut left him with a tongue split down the middle.
Tszyu’s most recent opponent, Takeshi Inoue, was the first in a while to go the distance with the Australian. But really, that spoke more to the Japanese star’s granite chin than any real Tszyu struggle.
On Sunday, Tszyu will take another one of those ‘steps’ against Gausha.
He’s not expected to trip.
Watch Tim Tszyu vs Terrell Gausha LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday 27th March from 11am AEDT. ORDER NOW >
