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Tim Tszyu is, by the standards of boxing, a pretty understated guy. Tony Harrison, whom he will fight for the interim World Super Welter belt in Sydney on Sunday afternoon, is not.
In the shadow of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge for the final press conference, the pair made strikingly different entrances to the main stage, with Harrison strolling on shirtless and Tszyu then making him wait before arriving in a bright red ute and a sharp suit.
It was out of character for Tszyu, and Harrison’s didn’t miss with his assessment: “He got out of that car like a diva!” cried the American star. “You had somebody open the door for you. He’s just different man. I’m not knocking him, I’m just opposite.”
He kept going, explaining why he’d chosen to eschew a shirt for the event as something that he’d do before basketball on local courts back in Detroit.
“When they see me on that sideline with my shirt off, they knew I had next… I meant fucking business,” he said, adding that he’d also do it for the “bitches”.
“Business or bitches. This one? I think Tim knows why my shirt is off.”
It was a suitably bizarre way to end the rollercoaster week of Tony Harrison, a gift that No Limit Boxing will be taking all the way to the bank. In-ring, he’s the only man to have defeated Jermell Charlo, now the undisputed champ at the weight, and out of it, he’s exactly the sort of brash American that puts bums on seats in foreign climes.
Tszyu, who turned up in a sharp suit, said that he wasn’t getting distracted by the antics of his opponent.
“I’m in killer mode,” said the Aussie fighter. “I feel good, I feel like I’m in the zone. The last time I wore a suit to the press conference was for the Jeff Horn fight and the reason I did it was because I was in that mental state. This time I feel it.
“Before, I wasn’t as pumped or interested, but this is the one. This is where I went all in. Four months ago, I put my foot on the pedal and gave everything to it.
“I’m enjoying the ride. It’s part of the game, we’d dealing with so many different personalities in boxing. Some are boring, some are fun, some are flamboyant and some are comedian. There’s some from America and some from Australia. There’s everyone.
“You have to know how to deal with it, and I think I’ve embraced it. I’ve let him go on, run his mouth a little, but at the same time he’s quite respectful.”
Speaking to The Roar, Tszyu embraced his surroundings and the renaissance in the sport in Australia that has seen him join George Kambosos, who fought Devin Haney twice in Melbourne last year, as well as Jai Opetaia, current Cruiserweight champion and Ebanie Bridges, IBF female bantamweight champion, at the top table of world boxing.
“George did an incredible job and fought one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world,” said Tszyu. “What he did for the sport in Australia is great.
“It’s a golden age of boxing. I love it, I love that I get to represent Australia and my hometown on that world level. Look what we’re doing, look at these press conferences. This ain’t a pub show, it’s a proper fight.
“It’s a good feeling. It’s a lot of responsibility for sure. It’s a different feeling, but motivating and more exciting for sure.
“It’s different for him (Harrison) because the Aussies are going to be really, really behind me, but when we get in the ring it’ll be different again. You feel an energy from the crowd but they don’t help you punch – it’s a one on one sport.”
Both Harrison and Charlo also have eyes on a potential shot at Charlo, who will be at ringside on Sunday and likely to fight the winner next. A fight had been scheduled between the champ and the Aussie contender, only for a sparring injury to intervene, with Harrison defeated him, then lost a rematch and would be looking for a trilogy fight.
“I love it,” said Harrison. “That just made this fight a lot more spicy for the both of us. Just to see the Champ with all the belts sitting at ringside, this is the best in boxing. For Jermell to come to the fight is everything – he didn’t have to come. That’s the motivation that both of us need.
He didn’t think much of his opponent, however, taking aim at Tszyu’s record.
“Who’s bones has he broke already?” he jibed. “In 21 fights, who’s bones has he broke? The props of the other guys that he’s fought, that he’s breaking, we parading them in Australia, but stop it man.
“I want the best of Tim. When I talk, I mean business. When I started talking from the beginning in the pressers, he understood that I’m a live dog, I mean business. I have to go run, spar, strip, everything.
“He doesn’t want to get hit, his body doesn’t want to get hit, he’s vulnerable going on his back foot, mostly, so expect the unexpected.
“I think the tough fights I’ve had in the gym prepared me to be so relaxed like I am right now.
“I want everybody’s best. But it’s one fight at a time. Me and Tim, Sunday. I’m going in there to do Tony’s job, and Tony’s job is to kick ass.”