CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

The last time Australian boxing died, and that weird couple of years after Jeff Fenech hung up the gloves – it was resuscitated once again by another eccentric Sydney personality in the shape of Kostya Tszyu.

“The Thunder From Down Under” as he was known, put Australian boxing back on the map with a career that saw 31 wins out of 34 fights – 25 by knock out.

However, it wasn’t just his elite speed and mathematical boxing mind that won the hearts of Australia. He also had a gloious ratty.

Tim Tszyu will challenge Australian super welterweight title holder Joel Camilleri at Sydney’s Star Casino tonight in his debut as a headline pay-per-view fighter.

While Johnny Lewis, the iconic trainer of both his old man and Fenech, believes that the prodigal son has just what it takes to match his old man’s record. Punters believe he might even break it.

And in some ways he already has.

Arriving at yesterday’s weigh-in, Tim Tszyu was sporting a 101 centremetre rats tail. Roughly 70 centremetres longer than anything his dad ever rocked.

We reached out to Betoota’s go-to boxing authority and the owner of Kerrod’s Boxing Gym, Kerrod Keithington, who spoke to reporters during his 7-hour warm up at the Lord Kidman Hotel – the only pub in town showing tonight’s fight.

“He’s got it in the bag” says Kerrod.

“Look at that ratty. He can’t lose. This is just what I said when I first saw Kostya”

“With that ratty alone, Tim can save Australian boxing”

In the final dash to rescue boxing from the still waters left behind after Mundine lost to the charisma vaccum Jeff Horn sometime last year, tonight’s fight will be broadcast in thousands of pubs across the country – and many more homes.

As was expected, there is an ex-rugby league player on the undercard in the shape of Justin Hodges – who is fighting someone who also looks like an ex-rugby league player.

MORE TO COME.