13:28
3/11 (US) SHO: Tony Harrison vs Tim Tszyu
- Thread starter patscorpio
- Start date
Harrison: Look At My Role And Obstacles I Had To Jump Over; Tszyu Took The Elevator, I Took The Stairs
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BY JAKE DONOVAN
Published Wed Mar 01, 2023, 01:46 AM EST
Tony Harrison was mostly complimentary of Tim Tszyu during a press conference held to promote and discuss their upcoming fight.
However, the former WBC junior middleweight champ was quick to suggest a touch of privilege has been enjoyed along the way by his upcoming adversary.
“I’m not knocking him being tough,” Harrison noted. “But when you look at my role and the obstacles I had to jump over. I mean, he took the elevator. I took the stairs. Somebody make it make sense to me.”
The two have arrived at the same destination, as top contenders for the undisputed 154-pound championship currently held by Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19KOs).
Harrison is ranked number-one with the WBC, whose title he won from and lost to Charlo in their two-fight series exactly 52 weeks apart from December 2018-December 2019.
Tszyu (21-0, 15KOs)—whose father Kostya is a Hall of Fame former undisputed junior welterweight champion—is the mandatory challenger for the WBO and was due to face Charlo, who was forced to postpone their scheduled January 28 Showtime main event from Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas after he broke his left hand during a pre-Christmas holiday sparring session. Tszyu insisted on being granted a stay-busy affair, which was approved by the WBO as an interim title fight contingent upon his facing the highest ranked available challenger.
It turned out to be Detroit’s Harrison (29-3-1, 21KOs), who recently landed in Sydney as the two will meet on March 12 at Qudos Bank Arena.
Tszyu—who hails from Rockdale, a southern Sydney suburb—was named the WBO junior middleweight mandatory challenger in August 2021, one month after Charlo and then-WBO champ Brian Castano (17-1-2, 12KOs) fought to a split-decision draw in their July 2021 unification bout. Two more fights followed as Tszyu waited out their rematch, eventually won by Charlo via tenth-round knockout last May 14 in Carson, California.
Harrison is the only fighter to hang a loss on Charlo, doing so in a December 2018 unanimous decision victory to claim the WBC 154-pound title. It came after he suffered two prior stoppage defeats at the hands of Willie Nelson in July 2015 and then-unbeaten Jarrett Hurd in their February 2017 vacant title fight. The latter was followed by a three-fight win streak to make his way back to title contention.
An injury suffered by Harrison postponed their June 2019 rematch to later that December, which saw Charlo avenge his lone career defeat and regain his title with an eleventh-round knockout of Harrison.
The post-title run has not been as kind to the 32-year-old contender, who has just fought twice since the pandemic. Harrison was held to a twelve-round draw with Bryant Perrella in April 2021, before he resurfaced with a convincing ten-round win over Sergio Garcia last April 9 in Las Vegas.
“How did he get there- he beat everyone in his backyard,” Harrison questioned, rhetorically. “You know how big his backyard is? This is how big (holds fingers close together). You know how big the backyard is that I’m fighting in?
"I didn’t beat everyone in Detroit. I beat everyone in the United States. I’m just real. I’m not jiving, I’m just being real.”
chunky_mcdaniels
All Star
HTXBreh
Superstar
Are they going to inspect that 'broken' hand thoroughly?
You sound like you hating Harrison faked one Castano faked one it is what it is.FYI I believe em though
chunky_mcdaniels
All Star
Not much to explain. I don’t think Charlo broke his hand.
You sound like you hating Harrison faked one Castano faked one it is what it is.FYI I believe em though
Tsyzu looked to be having a strong camp in LA.
Charlo pulled out when he realised he was behind the 8 ball.
I’ll hate on Charlo plenty. I don’t care. Harrison had him crying in the press conferences.
HTXBreh
Superstar
Charlo injury has just as much evidence as his last two opponents who saud the same thing.
chunky_mcdaniels
All Star
So that makes it acceptable as the undisputed champ? Just cop out before a fight because somebody else did?
HTXBreh
Superstar
No Im saying why are you questioning it when his previous two opponents did the same thing. Both of them were champs so you mad when he gets injured.Just seem like you hate Charlo.
chunky_mcdaniels
All Star
I don’t hate Charlo. But he’s emotionally inept, lacks awareness, struggles to articulate himself due to a shorter than average vocabulary, and if we are honest, he is the product of being a runt twin.
I believe he would have lost that recent fight he skipped. Not because he isn’t the better fighter (I like his boxing prowess, he’s very good) but because he’s fragile.
Oh and fukk all those boxers that fake an injury. I could give two shyts. But go ahead and put on for him. If he’s your guy, then he’s your guy.
HTXBreh
Superstar
You just said a bunch of untrue garbage. He's undisputed and fought to get all thr belts.You judt dont like him.I don’t hate Charlo. But he’s emotionally inept, lacks awareness, struggles to articulate himself due to a shorter than average vocabulary, and if we are honest, he is the product of being a runt twin.
I believe he would have lost that recent fight he skipped. Not because he isn’t the better fighter (I like his boxing prowess, he’s very good) but because he’s fragile.
Oh and fukk all those boxers that fake an injury. I could give two shyts. But go ahead and put on for him. If he’s your guy, then he’s your guy.
chunky_mcdaniels
All Star
HTXBreh
Superstar
You just personally attacked him while also admitting he has boxing skills ,but he would lose just because he's "fragile".Isnt this his first time pulling out because of injury. He's the runt twin but he's undisputed?His vocabulary shorter than average are you a CAC? Tim Tzuyu can barely respond to Harrison is his vocabulary limited?'untrue garbage'
Your finest hour.
Best of luck to you.
chunky_mcdaniels
All Star
Yeah Tsyzu vocabulary is definitely limited.
You assume I’m taking sides. I’m just a boxing nerd. I don’t really care for Charlo or Tsyzu tbh. Im indifferent to both.
HTXBreh
Superstar
You dont know shyt about boxing I bet you didn't know Charlo last two opponents got injured.
