Tim Tszyu is promising to farewell Newcastle tonight by ending the dream of underdog challenger Stevie Spark in brutal fashion as he continues his quest for a world title.
Tszyu will almost certainly be fighting for the final time at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and warned Spark at yesterday's weigh-in he would get a reality check when he steps in the ring against the Australian champion.
"The dream ends tomorrow - it's back to reality,"Tszyu told Spark as the pair shaped up in front of the cameras.
Tszyu's response came after Spark reportedly whispered in his opponent's ear: "I'm going to end you".
"He's got big balls," Tszyu said when asked about Spark stepping up two weight divisions to take the fight on a week's notice after the controversial withdrawal of Michael Zerafa.
Despite believing this time last week he would be taking on Zerafa, Tszyu said he had no issue with re-focusing his attention to Spark [12-1, 11KOs] and has seen plenty of him on video in recent days.
"I'm a professional athlete, a true athlete," Tszyu said.
"There is a switch in me that just went on and I've got this new guy in front of me and that's all I'm thinking about right now. I know him [Spark] inside out. I know every punch he throws, I know every defence he does. I know every movement he does before he does it. I know this guy like a book now."
Asked about Spark's punching power given his knockout record, Tszyu said: "I haven't felt it but at the end of the day, I'm a big super welterweight so whatever he throws, I'm going to just walk through."
Fight promoter Matt Rose said there were still around 300 tickets available for the fight and urged Newcastle boxing fans not to pass up the opportunity.
"This will very likely be the last time Tim Tszyu fights in Newcastle so if you were there last time or you haven't seen him yet, don't miss out," he said. "It's a terrific opportunity to see the best boxing in Australia and hopefully we can create a similar atmosphere that we saw last time here in Newcastle."
"It was the best live boxing event I've ever experienced. Although we are only going to be half full because of COVID, we are hoping to create that and there's tickets left so people who are thinking about coming should get here."
