Tim Tszyu has revealed he was “coughing like a dog” in the days leading up to his stunning American debut victory over Terrell Gausha.
Tszyu dominated his opponent over 12 brutal rounds to win by unanimous decision in what was his first foray into fighting outside Australia.
While the judges were unanimous in their verdict, there was some suspect cards entered after Tszyu clearly beat Gausha into submission in the final few rounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Aussie Tszyu wins American debut in brutal fashion
The cards read 114-113, 116-111, 115-112 in favour of the Aussie, but how one of them only gave him victory by one round is a mystery – although fighting an American in the US, it’s no surprise.
After the win, Tszyu revealed he had been ill leading up to the bout.
Experts had questioned how he looked out of energy when stepping onto the scales at the weigh-in.
“I had one hell of a prep, man. Two days before the fight I was coughing like a dog,” Tszyu told Main Event.
“Weight was a problem as well, but I stuck through, got back up, faced adversity in training camp, in the fight, and I got the job done against a world-rated opponent.
“It was horrible. I couldn’t breathe. Even now, it’s still in my lungs.
“For the two weeks I was here in America it was hard work. But I was trying to drink water, trying to not show it to anyone,
“I didn’t want media finding out and having excuses and s–t like that.”
Tszyu was knocked down in the opening round by a brutal Gausha right hand, and it looked like the Aussie was going to be out of his American debut quicksmart.
But he rallied, knocked down Gausha a couple of rounds later, and then dominated the late rounds with some heavy body shots that his opponent will be feeling for weeks to come.
“Oh man, there were some s–t thoughts going through your head,” he said of the knockdown.
“But it’s not how hard you fall, it’s how you can fall and get back up.
“Everything is quick. You sort of blink and then you’re down and you go ‘f–k how did that happen?’.
“It’s all a lesson.”
Tszyu is eyeing a title fight with Brian Castano or Jermell Charlo in America.
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