Aussie boxing sensation Tim Tszyu defeats Irish champ Dennis ‘Hurricane’ Hogan after underdog’s team throws in the towel
- Aussie boxer Tim Tszyu outgunned Dennis Hogan in Newcastle on Wednesday
- Sydney based Tszyu, 26, showed why he is so highly regarded by good judges
- Tszyu is now unbeaten in 18 professional fights, and continues to turn heads
- Father Kostya Tszyu was a champion Australian boxer after moving from Russia
Australian boxing sensation Tim Tszyu has again justified the hype, outclassing Dennis Hogan inside five rounds at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night.
Tszyu, 26, overcame a cut above his eye early on following a head clash to outgun the vastly more experienced Irishman Hogan, who was valiant in defeat.
Sydney based Tszyu produced yet another world class performance in the ring, improving his professional record to 18 wins from as many fights.
A series of impressive body shots in the first few rounds set the tone, before Tszyu went in for the kill in the fifth.
Tim Tszyu (right) punches Dennis Hogan during the WBO Global Super Welterweight title fight on Wednesday
Tim Tszyu celebrates with his wife after winning the WBO Global Super Welterweight title fight
Tim Tszyu celebrates with his trainer after outclassing Dennis Hogan inside five rounds
Tszyu’s brutal left uppercut sealed the result, with Hogan’s trainer throwing in the towel, sparking wild celebrations from the capacity crowd of almost 6000.
‘I knew I was going to take him to the deeper rounds and make him sink. It was only round five, there was more to go. This is not tip-tap, we’re punching each other.
‘I’m going to do some serious damage. This is my kingdom, this is where I take control,’ Tszyu said after the bout.
‘I was warming up only, I could have gone seven more rounds at this pace or more.’
In the lead up to the fight, Tszyu pledged to ‘take Hogan’s soul’ – many would say he did so and more.
Tszyu’s next opponent is likely to be overseas, with the 26-year-old well on the way to becoming a world champion, just like his famous father and fellow champion boxer, Kostya Tszyu.
Pre-bout, a sponsorship row almost resulted in the abandonment of the super welterweight showdown between the two main card fighters.
Hogan initially refused to fight Tszyu in Newcastle because of a sponsorship stand-off.
Hogan was adamant all week that unless he was allowed to wear his betting agency sponsor’s name – PointsBet – on his shorts, he would not enter the ring.
‘I’m not coming out unless I’ve got my sponsors on there,’ Hogan said at Tuesday’s weigh-in, before his management team doubled down with the threat 24 hours later.
‘That’s the deal that we’ve done. Everybody is able to wear their sponsors.
‘It is unacceptable so I’ll be wearing them, or I won’t be there.
‘They supported me through the pandemic…I’ll wear them when I’m about to have my glorious moment.’
Retired boxer Anthony Mundine was among the many onlookers watching Tim Tszyu
Tim Tszyu is the rising star of Australian boxing following an impressive start to his career
Irishman Dennis Hogan initially refused to fight Tim Tszyu in their scheduled super welterweight showdown in Newcastle because of a sponsorship stand-off
The pre-fight issue was eventually resolved after lawyers were called to intervene.
Promoter Matt Rose phoned his team of lawyers and the matter was quickly settled.
In Newcastle, the main card got underway around 10.40pm.
South Sydney Rabbitohs teammates Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker were spotted ringside cheering on Tszyu, as was retired boxing great Anthony Mundine.