'Constantly in hunt mode': Jeff Horn learnt about Tim Tszyu the hard way

The son of a gun isn't here because of his last name. He's here because he has all the makings of a future world champion who can clear out the super welterweight division and move up.

Tszyu is taking a major risk when he faces Japanese rival Takeshi Inoue in Sydney on Wednesday. Win, and he should move on to a WBO world title shot. Lose, and his No. 1 ranking disappears without a rematch clause to save it.

Inoue declares he will leave the raging favourite on the canvas. But to do so he must overcome a man Horn says is "constantly in that hunt mode".

The former welterweight world champion has been in the ring with future Hall of Fame candidates Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford, prevailing over the former in an upset for the ages.

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But against Tszyu he seemed outmatched, picked off by the Rockdale fighter at will throughout eight rounds before Horn failed to come out for the ninth.

"He was very good at measuring the gap and just being a guy who is standing there in front of you, but just out of range. He's got the pressure on you but it's harder to tag him than you think it's going to be," Horn said.

"That's the one thing he did have, he just had that presence in the ring that was just constantly in that hunt mode. Even though he wasn't pushing forward all the time, he was just at that gap where you had to be ready and on, or else he was going to be hitting you.

"The only boxing IQ person I can relate him to is Crawford. Other than that, I haven't really fought anyone as composed as he was in that fight. He keeps proving it now that it wasn't a fluke.

"I don't know, he's a bit too big for Crawford but it would definitely be an interesting fight if those two could match up down the track.

"I've definitely got an interest in how Tim goes, especially because he beat me in my last fight. I want to see how he goes and I hope he keeps going and gets that world title."

Stevie Spark was worn down by the accuracy and accumulation of a man he says was always in his face but somehow just out of range.

Wade Ryan and Joel Camilleri, who both feature on Wednesday's card, took Tszyu the distance. Ryan dropped a young Tszyu in 2017 before losing via decision. Camilleri felt like Tszyu had an answer for everything he threw.

Then there's Dennis Hogan, another on the undercard. He should have won a world title when Jaime Munguia scored a controversial decision, then he moved up a division to challenge Jermall Charlo and lasted seven rounds.

But Hogan was comprehensively outclassed, his tongue lacerated by an uppercut, when he was stopped by Tszyu inside five rounds earlier this year.

Nobody works out the Irishman's riddle so easily. Except Tszyu.

The undercard features three of Tszyu's former opponents who, like Horn, learnt the hard way that this Sydneysider is a bona fide world class boxer.

The card also features a victim of Inoue in Nath Nwachukwu, who challenges Ryan in the co-main event for the IBO International super welterweight tile.

Nwachukwu went the distance with Inoue over eight rounds at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall little more than 12 months ago. He knows the task facing Tszyu is no light one.

"I know that Tim is an excellent boxer, he's very tough, we know what he brings to the table," he said through an interpreter.

"But really, having fought him myself, I know a lot about Inoue. I'm hoping Inoue wins so I can get my revenge on him.

"He's a really tough, accomplished opponent. I really learnt a lot from that fight, it was a great experience for developing my own abilities."

BOXING

Wednesday, November 17: Tim Tszyu v Takeshi Inoue at Sydney Super Dome. Tickets from Ticketek. Broadcast live on Main Event.

FIGHT CARD

WBO Global and WBO Asia Pacific super welterweight championships: Tim Tszyu [19-0] v Takeshi Inoue [17-1-1]

IBO International super welterweight championship: Wade Ryan [19-9] v Nath Nwachukwu [7-1-2]

Super welterweight: Joel Camilleri [20-6-1] v Koen Mazoudier [8-2]

Super welterweight: Dennis Hogan [28-4-1] v Tommy Browne [42-7-2]

Heavyweight: Jackson Murray [1-0] v Shant Nercessian [1-4-1]

Bantamweight: Viviana Ruiz Corredor [1-0] v Jacinta Austin [debut]

Welterweight: Alex Lual [2-0] v Trent Girdham [2-0]

Super welterweight: Benjamin Hussein [3-1] v Darwin Sagurit [debut]

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