The bizarre reason why trash-talking US boxer Tony Harrison appeared shirtless ahead of his world title fight on Sunday against unbeaten local hope and Aussie star Tim Tszyu
- Boxer Tony Harrison was beyond animated on Friday
- Decorated US fighter, 32, is ready for Tim Tszyu bout
- Fight looms as Tszyu’s biggest career test to date
- Bout is in Sydney this Sunday at Qudos Bank Arena
Colourful US boxer Tony Harrison has ominously declared he ‘f***ing means business’ ahead of his world title fight on Sunday against local hope Tim Tszyu as he made a bizarre shirtless appearance at their press conference.
The Detroit-raised boxer, whose record in the ring is an imposing 29-3-1, was at his animated best during the face-off in Sydney on Friday.
Harrison then turned to the question many wanted answered: why wasn’t he wearing a shirt?
‘Back home, I only go shirtless for two reasons,’ he said. ‘When people see me ready [to box] they know I mean f***ing business.
‘The only other reason I’d be shirtless is for the b***hes. I think Tim knows why my shirt is off.’
Tony Harrison arrived shirtless for the official press conference on Friday ahead of his WBO super-welterweight world title fight against Aussie Tim Tszyu on Sunday
Local hope Tszyu laughed off Harrison’s trash-talking, and is confident he can remain unbeaten in the ring in what looms as his biggest career test to date
The mind games then continued, with Harrison stating he ‘likes’ Tszyu as a person, but ‘Tim doesn’t understands how corny he is.’
It followed Tszyu, who is yet to taste defeat across 21 career fights, arriving at the press conference in a snazzy navy suit and designer sunglasses.
Moments earlier, he was spotted in the back seat of a bright red pick-up truck.
And when a car door was then opened for him, it didn’t long for Harrison to mock the son of Australian boxing legend Kostya Tszyu.
Tszyu, 28, who stated earlier this week he has ‘never been fitter’, told Harrison and his entourage: ‘I’m coming to fight. There’s a dog in me right now. I feel like a pit bull.’
He then laughed off Harrison’s claim the capacity crowd at Qudos Bank Arena is due to the pre-bout charisma of the American, stating Sunday will be the ‘Tim Tszyu show.’
Tszyu is risking his unbeaten record – and his path to a unified world title against Jermell Charlo – when he takes on Harrison.
The man they call ‘Super Bad’ is also the only man to have beaten Charlo.
Tszyu and Harrison will do battle for the interim WBO super welterweight belt.
