'Strange behaviour': Bizarre feud erupts in Aussie boxing showdown

·Sports Reporter

24 August 2020 at 2:20 am·3-min read

Jeff Horn (pictured right) posing for a portrait and Tim Tszyu (pictured left) looking on during training. — Jeff Horn (pictured right) and Tim Tszyu (pictured left) will go head-to-head on Wednesday. (Getty Images)

Tim Tszyu’s promoter has accused Jeff Horn’s camp of ‘strange behaviour’ in the lead up to the much-hyped Aussie showdown on Wednesday.

Former WBO welterweight champion Horn meets unbeaten world-ranked super welterweight Tsyzu at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Tszyu to start favourite against the man who upset Manny Pacquiao three years ago.

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There have been plenty of sideshows ahead of the bout, with Monday's press conference beginning with another faux argument about who should walk out second.

It's likely Horn will get the honour despite Tszyu being the current Australian belt holder.

Australian boxer Jeff Horn hits the pads with trainer Glenn Rushton during a training session at the Stretton Boxing Club on August 17, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. Horn will next fight against Tim Tszyu in Townsville on August 26th. (Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)

“I do think I probably deserve to walk out second to Tim,” Horn said at the final press conference.

“I’ve won the belts that are sitting in front of him before. I’ve won better belts than what he’s got.”

But last week, Tszyu’s promoter Matt Rose accused Horn’s camp of ‘strange behaviour’ in an interview with Fox Sports.

The promoters once again put off the decision about who would walk out second in the fight.

Despite the odd argument, Horn was sure he would ‘ragdoll’ Tszyu around in their super welterweight battle in Townsville.

Horn says he will ‘ragdoll’ Tszyu

But Horn's suggestion he'll "ragdoll" Tszyu was shrugged off by the younger fighter, who says he's happy to "bang it out" and win ugly on Wednesday.

Horn, now 32, will trade on that stadium experience and his awkward, bustling style against the son of Australian boxing great Kostya.

Having dropped a division for the super welterweight fight, Horn was surprised to hear Tszyu claim he was already within 500g of the 70kg mark 24 hours out from Tuesday's weigh-in.

The Brisbane boxer expects to blow out to 75kg by fight night and insinuated Tszyu, unbeaten in 15 fights, may've stripped too soon.

Tim Tszyu and Jack Brubaker embrace after their Super Welterweight fight at ICC Sydney Theatre on December 06, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

"I think it's silly; I don't know if he's lying, but telling me he's only 70.5kg ... I'll be throwing him around like a ragdoll if he's that light," Horn said.

"It's a massive size difference, I can't believe him ... how crazy to (already) be 70.5 for a 69.85 fight."

The 25-year-old laughed off the suggestion he'd be giving away a size difference though, claiming he will be able to stack it back on with the help of a Vietnamese feast after weigh in.

"I'll be even heavier (than Horn), let's say that," he said.

"Ragdoll, what's that mean? If he wants to play those games we will play those games as well, it's quite simple.

"It's a fight; we're not ballerinas in there.

"He's going to be punching me, I'm going to be punching him of course, he's not going to be patting my head."

"Sometimes you want to get into a war ... if it gets dirty it gets dirty, I can bang it out."

Tszyu could retire Horn with victory while Jeff Fenech has tipped a knockout victory for the elder statesman.

But there remains plenty of respect between the two boxers.

"I don't want to ever say I'm going to knock a guy out," Horn said.

"I've got a lot of respect for his family, his dad's an absolute legend ... it's going to be very tough fight and an even tougher fight for Tim Tszyu."

With AAP