The man responsible for managing the careers of both Tim and Kostya Tszyu has warned American Tony Harrison about his growing levels of trash talk, saying: “Look at history … and another loud guy named Zab Judah”.
Almost 22 years to the day since Kostya Tszyu stunned the boxing world with his huge KO win over Judah, Glen Jennings says he now sees history repeating with the Hall of Famer’s son.
Since arriving Down Under on Tuesday, 32-year-old Harrison has done plenty to hype his tilt at the WBO interim super welterweight title against Tim Tszyu on March 12.
Watch undefeated Aussie superstar Tim Tszyu return to the ring for his biggest fight yet versus USA’s former world champion Tony Harrison for an Interim WBO Super Welterweight title LIVE in Sydney on Sunday March 12. BUY TICKETS or ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >
Tszyu and Harrison face-off! | 00:38
On the eve of fight week, the Detroit native has chided Tszyu for not being like the old man, for not taking tough fights, and has even suggested the Sydneysider talk louder if he truly considers himself a contender.
Elsewhere, the undeniably gifted American – and only man to beat Jermell Charlo – has also taken plenty of shots at his younger rival’s fight style, which he has branded basic, the cause of fighters going punch drunk, and comparable to Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.
Yet speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Team Tszyu manager Glen Jennings said all the talk did little more than remind him of a Las Vegas fight week two decades ago.
Back when Tszyu snr, beneath those brightest of MGM lights, looked every inch the Thunder From Down Under — whacking Judah so hard in just the second round of their world title showdown, his outspoken rival dropped to the canvas before trying, completely gone, to rise, stumbling again and then falling back down in what was later dubbed the Chicken Dance.
All of which Jennings, who saw that bout live, and up close, has been thinking about in recent days.
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“I’m actually sitting here right now watching a Tony Harrison interview,” the manager said when contacted this week.
“And I see similarities with Zab Judah.
“Because Zab, he was forever on TV, baiting Kostya, in the lead up to that fight.
“Same as Tony loves a chat, too.
“Doesn’t make much sense. But he loves to talk.
“And that’s OK.
“I like the guy.
“Think he’d be a terrific bloke to have a beer with.
“But if he believes that’s how you need to behave to be a fighter, he’s wrong.
“Delusional.
“And actually strikes me as someone who is maybe a little insecure himself.”
Pushed on Harrison’s verbal assaults on Tszyu, Jennings continued: “Tony has this misconstrued idea that Tim should be calling him all the names under the sun.
“I’ve heard him say it.
“That Tim should be revved up. Animated.
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“He should be yelling, screaming, all that sort of stuff because that’s what championship fighters do.
“And if Tim doesn’t do that then maybe he isn’t a fighter.
“But when I hear that, I smile.
“Because look at history, when there was a Tszyu who also faced another loud guy named Zab Judah.
“Kostya didn’t have much to say at all that week.
“He just took care of business and came home.”
Which became something of a Tszyu signature, right?
“Oh, I remember the Americans would gripe all the time about Kostya,” Jennings continued with a laugh.
“And it’s because he would arrive for fights, say nothing, bash their blokes, then leave.
“That’s why I find it interesting, this suggestion that if Tim isn’t screaming, if he isn’t being intimidating, talking himself up like Tony, that he isn’t a fighter.
“Yes, Tim does talk a little, but it’s not part of his persona.
“And you can’t change a person’s DNA.”
So as for how fight week will roll out?
“Tim isn’t a loudmouth,” Jennings stressed. “He’s a fighter.
“The whole persona of what a fighter really is, it’s Tim Tszyu.
“And Tony Harrison is definitely a great salesman, and we need those guys in the game.
“But not everybody is like that.
“And Kostya’s the greatest example.
“For 10 years, he went and belted everyone in front of him while refusing to (verbally) engage.
“Just wasn’t interested.
“He’d only say ‘see you Saturday night’.”