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‘Should be ashamed’: Jeff Horn trainer slammed over boxing ‘disgrace’

andrew reid
·4-min read
Pictured here, Jeff Horn was thoroughly outclassed in his defeat to Tim Tszyu.
Jeff Horn looked to be absolutely done by the end of the eighth round. Pic: Getty/Main Event

The boxing world has been left incensed after a controversial end to the blockbuster all-Aussie showdown between Tim Tszyu and Jeff Horn.

Tszyu showed all his class in a dominant win over Horn, but it was the actions of the former world champion's trainer Glenn Rushton that dominated debate after the fight.

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Horn was comprehensively outclassed during Wednesday night's super-welterweight bout in Townsville, with boxing legend Jeff Fenech at one stage tipping Horn not to get through the fourth round, such was Tszyu's dominance in the opening rounds.

However, the former school teacher showed tremendous heart and courage to withstand the onslaught from Tszyu, getting through five more rounds before his corner finally threw in the towel before the start of the ninth round.

By that stage Horn was completely out on his feet, stung countless times by Tszyu's brutal body shots and strikes to the head.

Horn had already been knocked down in the third and sixth rounds and it was clear to most viewers that he was done, yet his trainer Rushton could be heard on the coverage seemingly trying to convince the fighter to give them one more minute in the ninth round in search of a miracle knockout punch.

Horn’s trainer comes under fire

After revealing that he didn't have punch left in him, Horn's team eventually threw in the towel but the conduct of Rushton - who many argued was endangering the health of his fighter - was roundly condemned.

“To hear that corner argue about (stopping), when Jeff Horn couldn’t even answer if he wanted to fight, to tell him to go back out is disgraceful," Fenech said in commentary.

Main Event boxing expert Paul Kent was particularly scathing of Rushton's role in the incident, labelling it "embarrassing" and amateurish.

Seen here, Tim Tszyu celebrates his win over Jeff Horn.
Tim Tszyu showed all his class in an impressive victory. Pic: Getty

“For Glenn Rushton, who is Jeff Horn’s trainer, to be sitting there at the end of the eighth round asking if he wants to fight again, whether he has one more punch in him, whether he has one more minute in him, was absolutely embarrassing to be honest,” Kent said.

“It showed the amateurism that’s been in Jeff Horn’s corner for much of his career.

“The greatness of Jeff Horn is he’s been able to overcome that.

Viewers were equally outraged on social media.

Tszyu's WBO Global and Australian IBF super welterweight title retention sets him on track for a potential world title fight, while a series of bouts in Russia are also on the cards.

The dominant super-welterweight win extend Tszyu's career unbeaten streak to 16, the latest coming on the biggest stage yet at a rowdy Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

The 25-year-old favourite answered plenty of pre-fight questions, defying Horn's awkward, physical style with precision just as his father Kostya had in the same Queensland city 23 years ago.

Horn, 32, and with three losses from his last five fights, faces a tough decision about whether or not to box on.

An emotional Horn said it was time to go home and hug his two daughters, admitting after the fight that he may not "have the hunger" to keep boxing.

with AAP