Tim Tszyu's pointed message to famous dad after 'destructive' win
If Tim Tszyu hadn't already put forward his case for a world title shot before Wednesday night, then he did it in emphatic style against Kiwi opponent Bowyn Morgan.
The 26-year-old Aussie champion floored New Zealander Bowyn Morgan twice in the opening two minutes to retain his WBO Global and IBF Australasian super-welterweight titles.
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In doing so, he edged to within a win of claiming his own cherished belt like his former world champion father Kostya.
After destroying his rival in just two brutal minutes, Tszyu then took an opportunity to speak into the camera towards his famous father, who would have been watching from home in Russia.
“Papa, ty schastliv?” He asked in Kostya's native tongue, meaning “Dad, are you happy?”
Kostya was a renowned knockout puncher, with 25 of his 31 career wins coming via KO and his son was clearly happy to prove to his old man that he has the same killer instinct.
As if his brutal first-round knockout wasn't enough, Tszyu revealed the cold-blooded, single-minded lengths he's prepared to take to secure a world boxing title.
His impressive win on Wednesday night sets up the mouthwatering prospect of a world title showdown with either Brazilian belt holder Patrick Teixeira or Argentine Brian Castano.
Tszyu doesn't care who he faces and still plans to enjoy a Christmas break in Queensland.
"But I'll be training, that's for sure," he said."
"I'm a very goal-driven person. I set myself a goal and the goals keep climbing up, unfortunately.
"But that's what keeps me being so obsessed with my training and that's what allows me to keep getting up each morning."
COVID-19 delays and complications have led to the WBO placing a deadline of January 6 for Teixeira to defend his title against Argentine Castano.
Otherwise Teixeira will be stripped of his title and a fight between Tszyu and Castano for the vacant belt will be ordered.
"This was a world title eliminator for me. There's only two names on the hit-list for me now - Castano and Teixeira," Tszyu said after enhancing his undefeated record to 17 wins, 13 by knockout.
He refused to entertain the prospect of facing Michael Zerafa after his countryman - and one-time equal - approached him immediately after the fight, hoping to jump on the Tszyu gravy train.
"I'm done with Australia. I want the Mexicans, the Americans, the top-level boys," Tszyu said.
"I'm getting more mature. I just turned 26, I haven't even reached my peak. I've got another three or four years before I reach my peak.
"That's why I want the best experience, to fight the best fighters right now."
Tszyu ready to take on world’s best
Plenty of boxing experts agreed that Tszyu looked ready for a world title charge.
“Curious to see where Tim Tszyu fits in with the rest of the loaded 154-pound division, but he has yet to disappoint,” Boxing Scene’s senior writer Jake Donovan said.
“Another cold, calculated knockout for the second-generation boxer who destroys Bowyn Morgan in 1st round.”
Main Event’s Ben Damon called Tszyu's win another "destructive performance", following on from his ninth round stoppage of former world champion Jeff Horn.
“A dominant, destructive performance from Tszyu and his world title shot could be next,” he said.
“He has blasted Morgan out of Bankwest Stadium. It was allowed to continue and he got it done in devastating fashion.”
Sports writer Paul Kent said on Main Event's coverage of the fight that Tszyu's latest win would surely enhance his standing around the world.
“I’m a little stunned by it. To do that the way he did it tonight. It’s going to make a lot of people make a lot of noise,” Kent said.
“That wakes up the boxing world. There’s nothing like a fighter who can finish fights.
“He’s got a big, big international future.”
Tszyu said if Teixiera or Castano weren't prepared to fight in Australia, he'd jump on the first flight to South America to take on either of them.
But he hoped his world title fight would be in Australia, most likely Sydney again.
"If we're doing shows like this, why wouldn't they (come)? You can fight in front of no-one in America or fight here in front of a big crowd," he said.
Tszyu's manager Glen Jennings was hopeful a deal could be sorted in early January for a world title fight in Australia to be staged in late March or early April.
with AAP
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