Boxing Results: Tim Tszyu destroys Steve Spark in 3rd round knock out

By Boxing News - 07/07/2021 - Comments

By Jeff Aronow: Undefeated junior middleweight contender Tim Tszyu (19-0, 15 KOs) picked up an easy victory in stopping replacement opponent Stevie Spark (12-2, 11 KOs) in the third round on Wednesday night in a scheduled 10 round fight at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

The 26-year-old Tszyu landed a powerful left to the body that sent Spark down on the canvas. At that point, the referee stopped the contest because Spark was too hurt to get back up. Moments before, Tszyu had dropped the 24-year-old Spark with a similar body shot.

The time of the stoppage was at 2:22 of the third.  With the victory, Tszyu captured the vacant Commonwealth 154-lb title and retained his WBO Global belt. After the fight, Tszyu looked at the crowd and shrugged his shoulders.

The motivated but limited undersized Spark was brought in on a week’s notice to replace Michael Zerafa after he pulled out. It was clear immediately that Spark didn’t belong inside the same ring with the much bigger and more powerful Tszyu.

Although Spark was landing shots on Tszyu, they did not affect him because he lacked the power to bother him. The first two rounds were fairly close, with Tszyu getting the better of the action with his harder shots.

In the third, Tszyu landed a massive body shot that sent Spark down on the canvas in pain. After getting back to his feet, Spark went all out, throwing some nice combinations that Tszyu easily took.

Tszyu then nailed Spark with another big body shot that sent him down face-first on the canvas. The referee then halted the fight.

YouTube video

Overall it was an excellent performance by Tszyu in displaying his powerful body punching. It’s too bad that Zerafa wasn’t in there tonight, as that would have been more interesting to see how quickly Tszyu could have stopped him.

Tszyu ranked #1 WBO, #3 WBC at 154. It’s time for him to be stepped up for a world title shot against the July 17th undisputed championship winner between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano.

Jermell will need to decide whether to vacate the WBO title or give Tszyu a title shot if he defeats Castano on July 17th.

If Charlo chooses not to give Tszyu a title shot, it would be interesting to see Tim challenge WBA ‘regular’ 154-lb champion, Erislandy Lara.

That guy would be an excellent option for Tszyu to show whether he’s got the talent to capture a world title at this stage in his career.

Other results on tonights’ card:

WBO Asia Pacific super featherweight contender Joe Noynay (19-2-2, 8 KOs) defeated Liam Wilson (9-1, 6 KOs) by a fifth round knockout. The heavy-handed Noynay knocked Wilson down four times in the contest. He put him down once in round one, two times in the fourth, and then a final time in the fifth. The time of the stoppage was at 2:40 of the fifth.

Junior middleweight journeyman Wade Ryan (19-9 KOs) beat Troy O’Meley (11-2, 2 KOs) by a sixth round stoppage. The fight was halted after the sixth round when O’Meley opted not to continue.

  • Sam Ah See TKO 1 Czar Amonsot
  • Linn Sandstrom Draw 6 Natalie Hills
  • Miles Zalewski TKO 5 Lee Fook