It was a fight that Nikita Tszyu now concedes he was in no condition to accept, but Johnny Lewis believes it could be the making of him.
Tszyu will return to the ring against Darkon Dryden on Saturday as part of an all-day boxing festival at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. As he prepares to put his undefeated record on the line, “The Butcher” has had a chance to reflect on his last performance, a brutal points victory over Ben Horn.
Most pundits expected Tszyu to make short work of the brother of Jeff “The Hornet” Horn, but he was rocked on several occasions in a classic contest that went the distance. Tszyu had to overcome ear surgery in the days leading up to the fight, but didn’t want to elaborate on the injury at the time for fear of taking credit away from Horn.
However, three months on, the son of multiple world champion Kostya Tszyu concedes he shouldn’t have fought.
“The physical condition I was in, I was in no condition to fight,” he said.
“I pushed through because I didn’t want to disappoint the boys at [promoters] No Limit, I didn’t want to [pull out]. I pushed through and it was a good lesson to have that when you’re in struggle street, you have to push through.”
Boxers Nikita Tszyu and Darkon Dryden prepare to do battle.Credit:SMH
Tszyu had made quick work of all of his previous opponents, knocking them out in the opening rounds. However, legendary trainer Lewis – who guided the likes of Kostya Tszyu and Jeff Fenech to world titles – believes it was the type of scrap the youngster needed.
“You hope they learn each fight and I’m sure he learnt a lot from that one,” Lewis said.
“He didn’t lose it but there was a moment there where he was a little bit worried.
“The truth of the matter is he won the fight well and I think he learnt a lot from that.
“Not even the good punchers can [end all fights quickly].
“They need to find an opening for a good shot, you’ve got to play chess.
“That’s one thing he would have learnt. I still look at him as a puncher and will get back on course in due time.
“If the knockout presents itself, I’m sure he will do that.”
Tszyu admitted he got caught up in his own hype, believing he could knock out opponents with a single finishing blow.
“That stuff went into my head, going for that knockout, that one shot,” Tszyu said.
“That’s not how I usually fight, that’s not my normal style.
“I was infected by this idea that I had guns and silencers in my hands. It was great to have that slap in my face, that I’m not invincible, that I don’t have dynamite in my hands.
“I have to be smart and have a tactical approach to things, like I was in the amateurs.”
The Tszyu-Darken fight is one of 20 fights over 10 hours, with other highlights including bouts between Dennis Hogan and Sam Eggington for the IBO super welterweight title, Sam Goodman putting his undefeated record on the line against Jason Cooper and Paulo Aokuso taking on Faris Chevalier.
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