Darkon Dryden has promised “there is going to be blood” in his fight against Nikita Tszyu as the Novocastrian looks to bring his rival’s hype train to a shuddering halt.
Dryden (4-0, 4KO) takes on Tszyu (3-0, 2KO) in the co-main event on an epic Super Saturday card at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.
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Tszyu has previously spoken about his almost-sadistic love for making opponents bleed, a feat he has already accomplished in his fledgling professional career.
However, Dryden isn’t of the same bizarre mentality as his rival, but promised there will be some claret dripping from both of their faces on Saturday.
“I wouldn’t say it (the blood) gives me a rush,” Dryden told foxsports.com.au.
“I don’t even know how truthful he (Tszyu is). It’s all well and good when saying that to the cameras.
“I think there’s going to be blood in our fight. Southpaw vs orthodox means blood. We’re both knockout artists and I can’t see it going any other way.”
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Dryden enters the fight on the back of a camp where, for once, he has emerged unscathed and no niggling injuries to report.
But it is also his first scrap in over 18 months and Dryden, by his own admission, is “sick of waiting around” for fight night.
Despite the lengthy lay-off, Dryden remains adamant he will finish Tszyu before the final bell tolls.
“I’ve just got the game plan in my head,” Dryden said.
“It’s a lot of holes I see, but I’m sure he sees a lot of holes in me. We’re going to find each other in the second or third round and we’ll see how the fight goes, if it stays a chess match or turns into a barnburner.”
It’s a gutsy call from the man who Sportsbet has priced as a $8 outsider.
But even if Dryden is “expected to lose”, he’s got everything to gain.
“There’s no pressure on me, it’s all on him,” Dryden said.
“Is he going to crumble? Is he going to fall? I’m expected to lose, but I’m going to put up a fight and I genuinely see myself stopping him.”
