Takeshi Inoue puts Tim Tszyu and Michael Zerafa on notice with sparring footage

Inoue and Zerafa have been locked in a war of words leading into the WBO's No. 7 ranked super welterweight's clash with Tszyu in Sydney on Wednesday night.

So Inoue's camp has shared a short video of his sparring session with Zerafa in 2016 which he says is proof he dominated the controversial Australian middleweight, who he has already branded a "liar" and "childlike".

Both Zerafa and Inoue have claimed they had the upper hand during a Tokyo sparring session.

Inoue claims he dominated the rounds before Zerafa quit and walked out of the gym while sparring training partner Kazuto Takesako, but the Victorian says he battered the Japanese duo.

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"That's absolutely not the case at all," Inoue said through an interpreter.

"If anything, I feel that I had the upper hand. In fact, we've got video from that sparring session right here. We've got the video to prove it.

"Think about how I have improved in that time and what I'm going to do in the ring. There's no comparison. I've gotten a lot stronger and I plan to show that and demonstrate that against my opponent Tim Tszyu.

"It doesn't mean anything to me, what [Zerafa] is saying, he's just saying it selfishly."

Zerafa still claims he wants a fight with Tszyu despite pulling out of their scheduled bout in Newcastle this year on seven days' notice, citing quarantine concerns.

Stevie Spark stepped in to save the day but Tszyu wasted little time in tearing up the script for the Cinderella story as he continued his climb up the world rankings.

Inoue took one final look into Tszyu's eyes when the pair faced off at Tuesday's weigh-in and doubled down on his vow to break his fancied rival's spirit in pursuit of a knockout victory.

"I still believe that I am stronger than he is, and more powerful," Inoue said.

"I see myself breaking his spirit and finishing him. I do still believe I will win by knockout.

"I'll now just be recovering, getting all my energy back in, eating some good food and relaxing. I feel confident I can make this a really good fight."

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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