Tim Tszyu continued his seemingly relentless march to a 154lbs world title shot with a third-round dismissal of late-sub Steve Spark at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Australia on Wednesday.
Tszyu (19-0, 15 KOs) had been set to meet Michael Zerafa in a grudge match before his Aussie rival withdrew last week over apparent concerns about Covid-19 in the fight location.
The late change mattered little to Tszyu. Australian Spark suffered a swollen right eye in the short time the fight lasted before a spilled ice bucket in the underdog’s corner interrupted the bout but couldn’t delay the inevitable.
An outgunned Spark (12-2, 11 KOs) was eventually down from a left hook body shot in the third before another left hook to the liver dropped him again and ended proceedings. Tszyu earned the vacant Commonwealth title with the victory.
Earlier, world-rated super-featherweight Joe ‘Jawbreaker’ Noynay (19-2-2, 8 KOs) scored four knockdowns en route to a fifth-round KO of Aussie hope Liam Wilson (9-1, 6 KOs).
The WBO Asia Pacific champion from the Philippines scored knockdowns in the first, fourth (twice) and fateful fifth in a marauding display. Southpaw Nonay wreaked havoc with his straight left hand.
Main image: Press Association/Darren Pateman