The most highly anticipated bout in Australia this year will see former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn take on rising star and Australian boxing blueblood Tim Tszyu at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Wednesday night.
There is plenty at stake for both fighters, further to Tszyu’s IBF Australasian and WBO Global light-middleweight titles.
For Horn, a win would breathe life into a career that has only heralded domestic opponents since losing his world title to Terence Crawford more than two years ago.
For Tszyu, a win would catapult the 25-year-old into serious world title calculations, while a loss would be a major hit on his aspirations and progression.
We’ve previewed both fighters, and you can find our Horn vs Tszyu tips and best bets below.
Jeff Horn
There is no doubt that Jeff Horn has flown the flag for Australian boxing for the last five or six years.
His career (23:20-2-1) has been bolstered by big international fights, namely his world championship win over the legendary Manny Pacquiao in 2017, his successful defence against Brit Gary Corcoran, and his tough effort, albeit a TKO loss to arguably the world’s best boxer (pound for pound), Terence Crawford.
Since 2018, Horn has had four fight for two losses, but will take winning form into this bout after turning the tables on Michael Zerafa in their second fight in December last year.
His experience, track record and power are undoubtedly the key to a win over Tim Tszyu, and he will look to take control of the fight in the early rounds.
Tim Tszyu
The son of one of, if not Australia’s best-ever boxer Kostya, big things were on the horizon for Tim Tszyu from the moment that he laced up his first pair of gloves.
What has been a real treat for the Australian boxing fraternity, however, is that he has been able to convert all of his potential into a genuine arsenal of skill, speed and power, and I have little doubt that he will be a world champion in the not-to-distant future.
Tszyu enters this, the biggest fight of his career to date, with an unbeaten record of 15 wins, 11 by way of knock out.
He has a huge amount of upside, and that is undoubtedly the key to a win over thirty-two-year-old Horn.
Horn vs Tszyu Betting
Horn vs Tszyu shapes as one of the most intriguing Australian fights for some time, and there is a genuine case to be built for both fights.
Horn has the runs on the board. He has fought at the top of his weight class, he’s a former world champion, and he is as tough as nails.
Even when clearly beaten, I have little doubt that Horn would have continued to fight Terence Crawford into the final rounds, and that toughness was again on display in his last fight with Zerafa.
Tszyu on the other hand boasts lightning speed, exception skill and superior fitness to most other fighters in the weight class.
This video, which went viral prior to his last fight and win over Jack Brubaker, is a testament to his raw talent.
So quick, we had to watch it twice.@Tim_Tszyu shows off his impressive hand speed with trainer Igor Goloubev earlier today.
Order 👉 https://t.co/JJKxU8DxjT | #ozboxing #boxing | 🎟 @NoLimit_Boxing pic.twitter.com/4SUIt1wvyy
— Aus-Boxing.com (@ausboxing) December 2, 2019
If Horn is to win this fight, I think he’ll need to do it in the first half of the scheduled ten rounds.
I simply cannot look past Tszyu’s speed, and if it goes the distance, I think he’ll score enough points to keep his unbeaten record alive.’
Neds punters can take advantage of a Player Pump for Horn vs Tszyu – $3 for either fighting to win in Rounds 1-6.
Suggested Bets
Player Pump – Either Fighting to win in Rounds 1-6 @ $3 (Max bet $50)
Tim Tszyu to win by Points or Decision @ $2.80