American Tony Harrison has questioned if Team Tszyu are trying to “mind f …” his opening week of preparations Down Under – which has included the former world champ being without a coach for his first three days in Sydney.
While Harrison jetted into Australia on Tuesday for his hyped WBO super welterweight showdown with Tszyu, Fox Sports Australia can reveal older brother LJ – who doubles as his head coach – will only arrive today after being held back by a “family emergency”.
Watch undefeated Aussie superstar Tim Tszyu return to the ring for his biggest fight yet versus USA’s former world champion Tony Harrison for an Interim WBO Super Welterweight title LIVE Sunday March 12. ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >
Despite the delay, Harrison said his family are fine — “everything is good” — and stressed the brief interruption will have no impact on him winning a second gold strap, and dethroning the new face of Australian boxing, at Qudos Bank Arena on March 12.
In fact, the Detroit native warned “s … jumps up” from the moment LJ walks into his camp at The Star.
“Because my brother is my mother…ing dog,” Harrison grinned.
“And when he gets here, we live and acting
“(Laughs) I’m still talking a little low now. But when he gets here, s … jumps up.”
While his missing brother has raised some eyebrows this week, the bigger question mark continues to be the presence in Harrison’s entourage of Charles Conwell — that undefeated American prodigy who, apart from being a top five contender in the same division as Tszyu, was also sounded out by the Australian’s team for sparring late last year.
Tszyu and Harrison face-off! | 00:38
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As revealed on Thursday, Team Tszyu were surprised when Harrison arrived Down Under accompanied by the same fighter they initially sought, back in October, as a sparring partner for their since abandoned championship showdown with division king, Jermell Charlo.
Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings has even questioned the motives of bringing out a fighter who, like Tszyu and Harrison, is wanting a shot at all four belts held by Charlo.
A 2016 Olympian, Conwell is now ranked only one spot behind Harrison in the WBO rankings, at No.4, while also sitting No.2 with the WBC and No.3 with the IBF.
“So why is he here?” Jennings asked.
“He’s not here to spar. You’re not sparring a killer like Conwell this close to a fight.
“So why bring him out?
“I know (No Limit promoter) Matty Rose got the shock of his life when Charles showed up. We were surprised too.
“Maybe Tony is playing tricks.”
Tszyu and Harrison ready to fight! | 03:00
Jennings also revealed how, rather than deliberately rejecting an offer to spar Tszyu back in October, Conwell was physically unable to take their offer because of injury.
The manager said that only days before flying out for Tszyu’s nine-week US camp, they received word Conwell had received a nasty head cut in a November win over Juan Carlos Abreu.
“A week before we arrived in the States, word came through from a third party that Charles had been badly hurt in his fight,” Jennings said.
“Suffered a bad cut on his face.
“So while he had been one of several fighters on our list, we were told he wasn’t capable of sparring Tim.”
Harrison, meanwhile, questioned if Team Tszyu were simply building up the whole storyline to try and unsettle him, stressing he and Conwell (18-0) have been close for five years.
“S … makes no sense,” Harrison said of Tszyu wanting to spar his longtime friend. “I don’t even know why they think that would be a mind f … for me.”
In fact, the American labelled Conwell the perfect sparring partner for a Tszyu fight.
“When it comes to the things Tim Tszyu does well, throwing a lot of punches in sets — one, two, three, boom, boom, boom — Charles does exactly the same,” Harrison said.
“Just a lot better.
“From being an Olympian, putting on pressure, he’s a lot smaller, compact like Tim … he’s just a lot better at doing everything he does. A much better Tim Tszyu.
“And he’s been my guy for five years.
“Every time I have an orthodox opponent I bring Charles in because he pushes me and challenges me that much.
“We know each other like the back of our hands.”
Harrison also suggested the atmosphere in his camp was about to go to another level today with the arrival of his brother.
“Nobody knows me better,” the former champ said.
“And everything is fine (back home). My brother actually could’ve come out next day but there were no more flights available.
“But when he gets here, it’s on the flow.”