NIKITA Tszyu cannot fight beyond six rounds according to the nation’s youngest boxing champion, who also sees “fear” in the eyes of a fighter who Australian punters are surprisingly tipping to be upset, and knocked cold, on Wednesday night.
In what shaped as easily the biggest fight of Tszyu’s breakout career, Fox Sports Australia can reveal 75 per cent of punters are tipping him to be kayoed by undefeated super welterweight champ Dylan Biggs.
The staggering revelation comes as both camps traded barbs following Tuesday’s intense weigh-ins and staredown – with Team Tszyu calling out Biggs and his crew for turning the week into a “soap opera”.
Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings also suggested Biggs would never be invited onto a No Limit showcase again, given his lack of help to selling the biggest fight of his own career.
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According to TAB official Rohan Welsh however, Aussie punters are swelling in support of the underdog – with almost all the money coming for the $7.50 result of Biggs via KO.
In the Method of Result market, which is proving easily the most popular with TAB, a staggering 75% are backing the reigning Australian champ, who is still only 21, by finish.
Already Biggs has said he will become the first man to stop a Tszyu on Australian soil, and doubled down on that promise after the weigh-ins at Newcastle Civic Theatre.
Asked what he saw in the eyes of his rival during the staredown, Biggs responded simply: “Fear”.
Pushed on why, he continued: “I think he’s just realised there is zero chance he can rattle me.
“Mentally and physically, I’m unbreakable.
“(During the staredown) he said may the best man win. And I plan on it.”
“I don’t see this fight going to decision.
“It’s going to be stopped, and it will be me who stops him.”
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The champ also suggested Tszyu, who has never fought beyond six rounds, will gas in Wednesday night’s title fight which is slated to go 10 rounds
“Watch him fade as the fight goes on,” Biggs insisted.
“He builds until maybe the fourth, fifth, sixth round, then he starts fading.
“The fight just gets the better of him.
“He starts to slow down, tires, the opponent starts to come back on.
“But by that time he’s usually sorted them out.”
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After days of headlines questioning the scales, judges and which fighter will walk last, Tszyu and Jennings also took aim at the ‘Beaudesert Storm’ fight crew.
Jennings accused the incumbent champ of doing nothing to sell the fight, and suggested his ‘anti-media’ attitude would ensure he was never invited on a big national card again.
“It’s been an absolute soap opera,” Jennings said of the Aussie title build up.
“Every day another drama, another complaint, another whinge, another moan.
“End of the day, the boys respect each other. And Nikita knows he’s in for a tough fight.
“But all that other noise tells us one thing … someone is parked in somebody’s headspace.
“That’s all I can put it down to.
“We’ve been pretty silent apart other than the first day (when the ring walk issue was first raised by Fox Sports Australia) and we made a comment.
“Now every day, it’s something different.
“Today it was the scales. Yesterday the officials. It’s non-stop.
“That tells us maybe they’re trying to take a bit of pressure off their 21-year-old who is struggling under the lights.
“Who walks out first, walks out second, who gets on the scales first, gets on second, who plays their music first … give it break.”
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Jennings also took aim at Biggs, who he accused of not trying to sell the fight during not only the Monday press conference, or previous interviews, but Main Event’s usual ‘Face Off’ interview between the two fighters.
“The fighters have a commitment to sell these events,” Jennings continued.
“So if they choose to come here, zip up and say nothing so be it. But don’t expect to be on these big cards ever again.
“Somebody has to pay the bills and you gotta sell these bloody things …”
At which point he turned to Tszyu, stood to his right facing a media scrum, and continued: “This kid has carried this fight the whole way.
“The other kid doesn’t want to talk.
“Doesn’t want to do a video promo.
“And that’s fine. That’s him.
“But don’t expect everyone to say Nikita is in the wrong because he’s carried it.
“His name is on the bill first because he’s carried it.
“Respect the promoters too. They pay the bills.
“So if you want to turn up, zip up and say nothing then be it on you whether you get another opportunity to be on this stage.”
At which point Tszyu simply grinned and added: “Well said”.
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Quizzed on suggestions he wasn’t selling the fight, Biggs shrugged: “Are they surprised I’m not a media guy?
“I wasn’t one to begin with.
“I’ve always said I hate the media. I’ve never been one to sell fights and I think it’s my skills in the ring should be doing the talking not all this publicity.”
His manager Brendan Smith also disagreed with Jennings’ comments, adding “I have no idea why he would say that”.
“Because Dylan has done everything asked of him,” he stressed.
“Everything.
“But who knows?
“Maybe he is taking a shot because Dylan is actually taking the limelight?
“Dylan’s just a respectful, young man who has done way more than his share of selling this fight.
“He’s held strong on everything thrown at him, too. He’s done a wonderful job.”
Asked about the betting, Welsh said: “It certainly hasn’t been the pile on for Tszyu we anticipated.
“The majority of money has come in TAB’s Method of Result market and the bulk of support is not for the favourite.
“Biggs holds over 75% of the outlays to win by knockout or TKO there, compared to Tszyu with around 18%.”
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