Tim Tszyu has picked himself off the canvas to claim a unanimous decision over Terrell Gausha in his US debut.
In a brutal 12-round contest at The Armory in Minneapolis, Tszyu took charge from the fifth round onwards, when he was unlucky not to score a knockdown of his own after a vicious body shot.
The judges all awarded Tszyu the fight by scores of 114-113, 116-111 and 115-112 to maintain his unbeaten record at 21-0 and earn victory in his US debut.
However, this was by far the toughest test the 27-year-old has faced thus far in his career.
"It was good that I faced adversity for the first time," Tszyu said in the ring after the fight.
"A simple flash knockdown, [he] got me with the perfect timing.
"I got back up and I dug deep."
Tszyu came away with the victory, but will face questions over his defence as Gausha repeatedly split his guard with the jab and exposed his tendency to walk onto shots.
Tszyu said that he needed to improve on "everything" after the fight, while praising his opponent for his toughness.
Despite getting the job done, the precision and effectiveness of the jab of Gausha — who was Tszyu's strongest opponent to date but still a class below the division's best — could be cause for concern for the Australian's camp if, as expected, he fights for a world title next.
In an explosive first round, the 34-year-old American worked that jab to perfection, keeping Tszyu at arms length before slamming a right into his chin, who went down hard and was perhaps fortunate to hang on until the bell.
Tszyu was worried by the jab throughout, leaving him vulnerable to the right hand that stunned the Australian on a couple of occasions all the way through to the final bell.
However, once Tszyu found his range and started to pound away with some typically devastating body shots, the punches coming his way lost their power.
Tszyu should have been awarded a knockdown in the fifth when a devastating blow to the body wobbled Gausha enough that he sat on the canvas.
Later in the round, the weight of Tszyu's shots caused the American to flounder on the ropes desperately before escaping at the bell.
Tszyu looked for the knockdown towards the end of the contest, but Gausha dug in and withstood a barrage of punishment to leave the ring on his feet.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
By Simon Smale
'I couldn't care less': Tszyu on his next opponent
More from Tim Tszyu.
"I've beaten one hell of an opponent, if you ask him, I reckon I gave him the toughest fight out of everyone.
"See his face as well, and the way he was breathing, his body shots, the way he was gassing
"I think I gave him one hell of a fight.
Tszyu says that he didn't underestimate Gausha at all, saying "He was one tough son of a bitch".
Tszyu says that he does not mind who out of Brian Castaño or Jermel Charlo he fights next in a world title fight.
"Charlo-Castaño, whoever, I couldn't care less.
He also says that he's looking forward to more big fight nights in America soon.
"I'm sure we're going to do it again, I'm pretty keen on this whole America thing," he said.
"I think I was a bit relaxed. I was too relaxed."
By Simon Smale
Tim Tszyu battling illness during camp
Ben Damon is speaking with Tim Tszyu on Main Event.
"There was definitely some shit thoughts going through your head at that time [during the knockdown], but you know what, you just have to get up.
"It's not how hard you fall its how you can fall and get back up.
"In the first three rounds everything's flash, everything's quick
"You sorta blink and you're down and you think, f***, how did that happen?
"I just wanted to see the shots and try catch them and, again, it's all a learning lesson you know.
Tszyu then reveals that he's had a cold during training camp over the past two weeks and that might have impacted him.
"I had one hell of a prep man, three days before the fight I was coughing like a dog.
"The weight was a problem as well, I stuck through, got back up, faced adversity in the training camp in the fight, I got the job done against a world rated opponent.
"I was horrible, I couldn't breathe. it's still in my lungs.
"For the two weeks I was here in America it was hard work
"I didn't want media finding out and making excuses."
Interesting that he says the weight was a problem there and gets that out there.
By Simon Smale
Well done Tim. I wonder though, he struggled to make the weight, will he stay at Super Welterweight and pursue Castano, or go up to Middleweight
-Revd Robert
Will be interesting to see though, as I think that is the natural progression for him.
By Simon Smale
Tim needs to watch out taking so many punches, as a harder hitting fighter would have spelt real trouble for him. BUT, he just proved he can take a punch :) Well done Timmy Tszyu.
-John
Couldn't agree more, John.
He has been able to walk onto punches up to now because he's had a tendency to fight smaller men.
Now he's in with the big boys and they hit hard.
Audience comment by David
The Tszyu dynasty leaves a trail of the eviscerated.
Audience comment by Jf
Thanks for the wonderful descriptive analysis and commentary Simon
By Simon Smale
Tszyu 'a tough f***ing fighter': Terrell Gausha
Here's the beaten fighter.
"I felt that I had him in trouble," he says.
"I tried to jump on him but he a tough f***ing fighter man, I mean, a tough fighter, sorry."
"I take my hat off to him, he came prepared, I was ready for 12 hard rounds too.
"I got a little too excited, I tried to jump on him, but he was in shape, so he recovered pretty good.
"He just pressed the action ... I knew he was going to come like that, that's why we train hard."
By Simon Smale
'That's a great lesson': Tim Tszyu
Here's Tim Tszyu
"It was all so quick," he says.
"It was good that I faced adversity for the first time.
"All credit to my opponent, he's one hell of a warrior and just a true gentleman
On the knockdown in the first round.
"A simple flash knockdown, got me with the perfect timing.
"That's a great lesson for myself.
"I got back up and I dug deep.
On whether he felt like the fifth was when he got control back.
"I was just enjoying myself. I felt in control the whole fight.
"He kept landing shots and I just thought, f*** it, I'm gunna keep coming forward and keep fighting.
"I put the pressure on, I didn't take one step backwards."
What does he have to learn?
"Everything," he said.
"There's a lot more to learn
"This sport, there's so much to learn ... I need to keep fighting warriors like Terrell Gausha."
Audience comment by ABCfreeofLNP
Yay!!! what a great fighter is Mr Tszyu :)
Audience comment by Reggie
Congratulations Tim, great effort to win on points in America is truely a awesome effort
Audience comment by John
Well done Tim!!!!!<br>He's done us proud. Watch out Brian Castano in the future.
By Simon Smale
Tim Tszyu wins by unanimous decision!
114-113, 116-111, 115-112
By Simon Smale
We wait for the judges scorecards
The pair smile and embrace at the end.
I have it 117-112, but there were some close rounds.
It's whether a judge likes a fighter dominating the ring and being the aggressor, like Tszyu did, or rewards the defence and counter punching of Gausha.
Audience comment by John
yep, great commentary Simon, really well described <br>
Audience comment by John
Yes Simon, who knows, and it is in the USA..........<br>
Audience comment by Jf
Been enough close-enough rounds that a judge, looking only for what he wants to see, will still give it to Gausha
By Simon Smale
Tszyu vs Gausha, Round 12
Final round, I think Tszyu has done enough.
BANG! Big shot to the body, Gausha was bent over double in the corner, saying he was OK, but those body shots are just so concussive.
You can hear the shots slapping into Gausha's body here, as Tszyu really turns on the power in the corner.
Gausha comes back with a shot with his right, but that's another powerful shot.
One-two-three alternating shots to the head, but the guard is good and solid.
Gausha lands with a solid right!
Another two shots from Tszyu and those hurt Gausha.
BANG! More power shots to the body but Gausha is coming back with some power punches of his own of the back foot.
Overhand right from Tszyu lands.
More body shots land, but Gausha keeps coming, Tszyu now throws Gausha into the corner and the ropes buckle, Tszyu landing at will.
BIG LEFT HOOK FROM GAUSHA!
Is Tszyu hanging on at the end?
The bell goes!
Good fight!
