Tszyu drops and dismantles Horn

A new star was born in Australian boxing as Tim Tszyu floored and outclassed former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn in their grudge match at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Wednesday.

A razor sharp Tszyu (16-0, 12 KOs) dropped Horn in the third and the sixth before ‘The Hornet’ was withdrawn after the eighth round. He was simply too strong, youthful and persistent for the awkward Horn.

The victory announced Tszyu as a player on the world scene at 154lbs as he stepped out of his famous father Kostya’s shadow and proved he is a legitimate threat in his own right.

“I just want to let everyone know my name is Tim, not the son,” Tszyu said afterwards. “All respect to Jeff. He’s achieved so much. He’s given Australia this platform. It’s an honour to sell out an event like this stadium, with another fellow Australian. 

“All respect to Jeff again. He was a tough competitor. But look, this is a young man’s sport and I was better this night. I said, ‘Give me competition, someone that could test me, and, you know, it’s sink or swim’. And I’m not going to sink. I’m here to swim.”

A sporting Horn added: “Tim was young, hungry. He’s an absolute champion, so I can’t put anything past him. He’s an absolute legend, so hopefully all of Australia can support him now. He now is the number one in Australia. He wasn’t before this. He was saying he was, but he certainly earned it now. And he’s an absolute champion, and he can fly that flag very proudly for Australia.”

After much hype in the build-up, Horn (20-3-1, 13 KOs) was never at the races as Tszyu sparkled in his biggest test to date.

Horn was dropped by a left hook in the third and a left to the body in the sixth in what soon became a sustained beating, rather than the competitive encounter many expected. It was a relief when the battered Horn was eventually withdrawn.

Now Tszyu, 25, is eyeing a fight with WBO 154lbs champion Patrick Teixeira.

Main image and all photos: DAVE HUNT/AAP/Press Association.