Jeff Horn vs. Tim Tszyu in the works for April 18 in Australia

By Boxing News - 01/15/2020 - Comments

By Dan Ambrose: Negotiations are underway for a domestic level clash between Australian junior middleweights Jeff Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs) and Tim Tszyu (15-0, 11 KOs) for April 18, according to Mike Coppinger. The fight will likely take place in their native Australia.

Tszyu is ranked #7 IBF, #9 WBO at junior middleweight, but his opposition has been lower level fighters during his short 4-year professional career. Facing former WBO welterweight champion Horn might be an overreach for Tszyu.

Horn with big advantage in experience over Tszyu

It’s a massive step up in class for Tszyu, and he may not be ready for this kind of an opponent. The 2012 Olympian Horn has mixed with it with some of the best since turning pro in 2013. Horn has wins over Manny Pacquiao, Ali Funeka, Randall Bailey, Ahmed El Mousaoui, Michael Zerafa and Anthony Mundine.

The 31-year-old Horn is coming off a 10 round unanimous decision win over middleweight Zerafa on December 18. Horn won by the scores 98-90, 94-94, 97-92. Horn lost his first fight to Zerafa by a 9th round knockout last August.

At the time, Horn had problems with the move up in facing a hard puncher with a lot of size. The bigger, stronger Zerafa wore Horn down with the fast pace, and eventually stopped him. In the rematch, Horn showed his class by making adjustments, and using his superior boxing skills to defeat Zerafa.

Tszyu’s best wins have come against these mostly obscure fighters:

  • Jack Brubaker
  • Dwight Ritchie
  • Denton Vassell
  • Joel Camilleri

The fight will take place in the 154-lb weight class, and it could be too soon for the 25-year-old Tszyu. He’s the son of former IBF/WBA/WBC light welterweight champion and 1988 Olympian Kostya Tszyu. Tim looks very much like his famous father Kostya, but just a little bit taller at 5’8 1/2″. He also fights a lot like Kostya with the way he throws his shots, and stalks his opponents.

The difference though is Kostya was a better inside fighter, and he had a massive amateur background under his belt when he turned professional in 1992. Tim Tszyu us learning on the job as a pro without the same lengthy amateur background that Kostya had. For that reason, Tim is obviously not in the same spot Kostya was at when he was 25.

“Sources: Jeff Horn and Tim Tszyu closing in on a deal for an April 18 fight in Australia. Will be a major event there, and a big step-up for Tszyu, an undefeated prospect and son of hall of famer Kostya Tszyu. Fight will be at 154 pounds. @ben_damon first,” said @MikeCoppinger.