Tszyu flips switch in fiery moment before ‘life or death’ fight
Nikita Tszyu unleashed his aggression after successfully making weight on the Gold Coast, sparking a fiery confrontation with rival Ben Mahoney ahead of Wednesday night’s blockbuster IBF super-welterweight world title eliminator.
The unbeaten Sydneysider showcased a more fiery demeanour during the intense moment, Tszyu marching toward his rival with his hands raised and getting right in Mahoney’s face.
Nikita Tszyu and Benny Mahoney’s face off got fiery. Chris Hyde
The move prompted Mahoney to shove Tszyu away by the neck and spit out a couple of choice words. As officials hovered around, the two men resumed their head-to-head staredown.
“I have nothing to say,” Tszyu said when asked for his final words to Mahoney.
“We are going to fight tomorrow night.”
Tszyu later explained that his sudden shift in attitude toward his opponent Mahoney is to be expected after his gruelling training.
“It always happens after the weight cuts,” Tszyu said further.
“The torture brings something out of me. The fight’s just around the corner.
“The realisation that we are fighting tomorrow, he wants to put pain on me. I want to hurt him.
“I will be victorious. Boxing, yes it’s a sport, but to me it’s life or death.”
In contrast to Tszyu’s intensity, Mahoney appeared relaxed in front of his home crowd.
The boxer from Queensland brushed off the weigh-in intensity, acknowledging the ‘tension’ between the two camps while maintaining his cool.
“He knows I’m not scared of him,” said Mahoney.
“There’s a lot of tension between us.
“Nobody would think I’m a fighter. I’m like this 24/7, but I’ll turn on the moment I walk out. I’ll turn it off the second I get out of there.
“You can expect an angry Mahoney tomorrow.”
Wednesday night’s fight card features two other title fights, with Callum Peters and Blake Wells competing for the IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title and Kirra Ruston and Saundre Simmons fighting for the IBF Pan Pacific light heavyweight title.
