This was published 4 years ago
We’re going to call time on the blog this afternoon.
Thanks very much for joining Adrian and I - you were rewarded with a cracking fight and another important win for Tim Tszyu as he continues to eye off a world title.
Stay tuned for Adrian’s report, which will land imminently, and for all the wash-up in the days to come.
Cheers and have a great day.
Main Event has also just spoken to Nikita Tszyu, Tim’s older brother (and a fighter in his own right) who watched the bout from Sydney with his family.
Nikita is looking on the bright side when it comes to that first-round slip-up.
“That was stressful, way too stressful,” he said.
“The energy in the room was really, really quiet. There was literally silence. Nothing was said, all you could hear was people breathing. We were really worried because it was a shot he didn’t see coming.
“But it’s a good lesson for him, because he got to test himself, he got to dig deep, he got to communicate with his inner warrior. That’s a very special thing to be able to overcome. It’s actually quite good he did something like that and didn’t get too hurt, and was able to push on. It’s not good to just have easy fights where you walk through people. You want to challenge yourself.
A reminder that getting up off the canvas and winning is a Tszyu family trait.
Tim Tszyu was also asked about the upcoming unification fight between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano on May 14 for all four junior middleweight straps. Tszyu is the mandatory challenger.
“Honestly I don’t care [who wins],” he told Main Event.
“I’m going to have a rest. I’ve missed my girlfriend, I’ve missed my dog, so I’m going to come back home, spend a couple of days at home, and then start training again. I don’t know what the boys have got planned but Charlo-Castano, I’ll be here in LA watching the fight ringside. Whoever, man. I couldn’t care less.”
He also spoke about what it felt like to finally fight in America.
Tim Tszyu has just admitted to Main Event’s Ben Damon that he had a serious issue with a cold or flu in the days leading up to the fight.
“I had one hell of a prep, man,” he said.
“Two days before the fight I was coughing like a dog. It was horrible. I couldn’t breathe.
“Even now, man, it’s still in my lungs. For the two weeks I was here in America it was hard work but I was trying to drink water, trying to get through it, trying to not show it to noone. I didn’t want no media finding out and having excuses and s--t like that. It is what it is.
“Weight was a problem as well. But you know what, I stuck through, got back up, faced adversity in the training camp, in the fight, and I got the job done against a world-rated opponent who’s got a big future.”
The vanquished fighter can only give credit where it’s due to Tszyu, who is now unbeaten in 21 fights.
“I felt I had him in trouble,” Gausha said of his round-one knockdown.
“I tried to jump on him but he’s a tough, tough f---king fighter. I take my hat off to him. He came prepared. I was ready for 12 hard rounds, too.
“I got a little too excited, I tried to jump on him, but he was in shape so he recovered pretty good. He just pressed the action. I knew he was going to come like that. We train hard for that.
“I hope I gave the fans a great show. I hate losing, but I went out like a champion.”
Tszyu was also just asked about that round-one knockdown, which was a big surprise and, as it turns out, absolutely not a hint at how the rest of the fight would play out. He said it was a “great lesson” for himself.
As for what else he has to learn? “Everything and anything,” he told the announcer.
“There’s a lot more to learn. This sport, there’s so much to learn, you’ve got to keep going, keep training hard, keep improving and keep fighting warriors like Terell Gausha.”
Tim Tszyu has just spoken after having his arm raised in victory.
“It was all so quick,” he told the in-ring announcer.
“It was good that I faced adversity for the first time and I was able to come back. I dug deep. All respect to my opponent, who is one hell of a warrior and a true gentleman.
“I was just enjoying myself, I felt in control the whole time. I kept the pressure on. I wasn’t going to back down. He kept landing shots, I was like, f--k it, i’m going to keep coming forward and keep fighting.”
We have a result... here are how the judges had it.
The first - 114-113. The second - 116-111. The third - 115-112.
All three had hit for Tim Tszyu, who remains undefeated, and has now made a big statement on US soil.