Tim Tze are fighting Sebastian Fundora Recognizing that we are living in a relative golden age of Australian boxing on Saturday, I was asked to write about some of the continent's fighters and Australian fighting culture, present and past. . appreciate.
Tszyu, George Kambosos Jr., Jay Opetaia and the brothers jason and Andrew Moloney These are proofs that Australia produces world-class talent. Every time a country produces fighters who reach and maintain a world-class level, it's a boon not only for the sport within that country, but around the world. Australia's boxing tradition was built on fighters such as: Jeff Fenech, Kostya Tszyu, Lionel Rose, jeff harding And today's fighters can build on it.
But the current story is a little skewed.and Vasily Lomachenko Two years later, in May, we faced Kambosos in Perth. Devin Haney He fought Lomachenko twice in Australia. Naoya Inoue All of the battles in Oz later this year follow a pattern that has actually been around for a while. bernard hopkins traveled to Canada twice to fight jean pascal Because Canada, like Australia, recognizes the value of building local fans and selling tickets at the gate. In 2024, Nebraska will probably be the only state in the U.S. terrence crawford It always attracts a large local following.
Australia has always had world class fighters. But the country is likely benefiting (again) from an entire generation of skilled fighters making a name for themselves at once, as did Lomachenko and the Ukrainian fighter corps he led. Oleksandr Usyk. The healthiest for boxing are fighters who have strong local and regional fans who will pay to watch their fights.
Tim's father, Kostya Tsi, was a great, great martial artist. I remember watching him grow up through the Eastern European boxing system and become a star in Australia when he was an amateur.
Fenech in his first match Azuma Nelsonin 1991 I thought: Wow, no one does this in Nelson.. Fennec entered there with the attitude of fearing the devil and hung it on Nelson. The draw was an unfair result for Fenech, but Nelson proved just how great he is by rising to the occasion and gaining the upper hand in the rematch. (Incidentally, Nelson is another example of a champion who traveled to Australia to fight a popular Australian fighter.) But the rematch doesn't negate Fenech's performance in the first fight.
Tim Tse appears to have a great chance to join the ranks of Australia's great players, but ironically, he is so dangerous that he will be difficult to match.Saturday’s fight is a really interesting fight – I think Fundora might be more difficult. Keith Thurman, I already thought he was a difficult opponent. I also think Tszyu has to look dominant and assert himself.
If he doesn't, and it's an uphill battle, questions will naturally be asked about Tszyu's future. But it might also make him an easier match. Tszyu has already experienced some of this phenomenon as of last year Jermell Charlo He skipped one of the fights that boxing fans wanted to see the most, the second-generation Australian star, and instead faced him. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. (Charlo being allowed to move up two weight classes and Canelo ruining the super middleweight division is a topic for another day).
Opetaia is my favorite fighter. He is also a classy and nice person. I spoke to him and his team in Saudi Arabia in December, and those around Opetaia understand that he needs to learn. Good news: They want to teach him. I can see him eventually reaching heavyweight and doing even more positive things for Australian boxing.
Russ Amber is the founder and CEO of Rival Boxing, as well as a highly respected trainer (both professional and amateur), gym owner, cutman, entrepreneur, He is also a broadcaster and one of the best hand rappers in boxing. work. Vasily Lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk, Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith are among the many top boxers Russ works with.
