Rockdale fighter Tim Tszyu has won one of his toughest fights to date after getting knocked down in the first round against fellow Australian Wade Ryan.
Tszyu, 22, (7-0) is the eldest son of Australian boxing legend Kostya Tszyu.
The light middleweight continued his rise on Sunday by earning a unanimous decision victory over Wade at The Star in Sydney.
The fight was one of the main attractions during the Johnny Lewis Ultimate Fight Night which also saw former world champion Sakio Bika, from Kogarah, claim a unanimous decision victory.
“It was an exciting fight. The crowd really got into it,” Tszyu said. “It was a good hard test for me and to get the win was the main thing.”
He said when he got knocked down in the first round he knew he had some catching up to do.
“It was like a little flash. I did not see it coming. But it happens, and as soon as I got knocked down I knew I was two points behind and had to catch up.”
He controlled the fight well and was awarded the victory. He hopes to fight again before the end of the year.
His father was not at the fight but spoke to him after the event. “He said these are the fights that you want because they are the ones that test you and take you to the next level. To get knocked down and get back up shows your will and determination.”
Tszyu also picked up his first professional belt – the WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental Light Middleweight title.
Meanwhile, the event was headlined by former world champion Bika (34-7-3).
Bika defeated Serbian Geard Ajetovic as he chases another shot at a world title late in his career. The 38-year-old super middleweight told the Leader he hoped the fight would help him rise up the world rankings.
“I [wanted] to win this fight and my goal is to fight again for the world title.”
His previous fight in July was his first fight in more than two years following a long recovery from a knee injury. “I had two years off with my knee … but I am injury free now.”
Budding Cronulla boxer Jack Brubaker (13-2) lost his welterweight bout to Toowoomba’s Kris George. Brubaker was forced to retire in the sixth round of their fight with a deep cut. The pair are two of the best welterweights in the country.
Brubaker is a plumber by trade and runs his own boxing gym in Miranda, Brubaker Boxing.
