Stevie ‘The Viking’ Spark 12-1 (11) is oozing confidence ahead of his late call up to face WBO number one junior middleweight contender Tim ‘The Soul Taker’ Tszyu 18-0 (14) for the vacant Commonwealth 154-pound title at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia tonight.
At yesterday’s weigh-in where he scaled 153½ pounds to Tszyu’s 152¾ pounds, Spark whispered in the undefeated 26-year-old Sydneysider’s ear.
“I’m going to end you,” he said with a grin.
Tszyu smiled back and replied “Oh yeah? The fairy-tale is over. It’s just you and me in that ring.”
Toowoomba’s Spark, 24, stepped in as a late replacement for Michael Zerafa 28-4 (17) after the Melburnian refused to travel to New South Wales citing concerns about the state’s latest Covid-19 outbreak.
The big punching Spark is coming off a dominant eight-round decision win over former world-rated welterweight Jack Brubaker 16-4 (8) in Wollongong in April.
“It’s win at all costs,” said Spark, who has fought all but one of his 13 pro bouts at junior welterweight. “It’s the sport of boxing, one punches changes it all and he knows I can punch, he better watch out.”
But Tszyu, who has campaigned almost exclusively at 154-pounds for the past four years, says he has no concerns over Spark’s vaunted power.
“I’m a big super welterweight, so whatever he throws, I’m going to walk right through,” said Tszyu. “Look at the size of my neck, I’m going to walk straight through his punches.”
Spark has been talking a good game, even predicting a knockout victory within the first three frames. Tszyu scoffed at the idea.
“He’s just got big balls, that’s it,” Tszyu said.
“I was letting him know [during the weigh-in] the dream ends, back to reality.
“I know him 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.”
Spark worked with Dennis ‘Hurricane’ Hogan 28-4-1 (7) ahead of the Brisbane-based Irishman’s unsuccessful challenge to Tszyu at the same venue in March. Hogan was stopped in five.
“I was Dennis Hogan’s main sparring partner for that fight. I’ve had a conversation with Dennis and spoken about a few things,” he said.
“Tim is the best that this country has to offer, why wouldn’t I jump at this? I know what Tim has got – he’s very accurate, very sharp, accumulative shots.
“I believe Tim hasn’t seen as much of me, he’s seen one fight with Jack Brubaker. They do talk about me being a knockout artist, but I can also box very well.
“I think Tim as well will get a bit of a shock in this fight with what I possess. He trained for 12 weeks for Zerafa, and now he’s got a spanner thrown in the works.
“He hasn’t trained for a Steven Spark and that’s exciting.”
There is a lot on the line for Tszyu, who looks set to face the winner of the rare four-belt unification bout between WBC, WBA and IBF champion Jermell ‘Iron Man’ Charlo 34-1 (18) and WBO counterpart Brian Castano 17-0-1 (12) at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas on July 17.
“Of course I’m looking to the future, there’s plenty of things ahead,” Tszyu said.
“I’ve got the whole of Australia behind me and I want to welcome Australia on this journey for myself to the world title.
“There’s a long road ahead.”
Spark has his own dreams of success in the sport.
“I’m going to win a world title in this sport no matter what,” he said.
“I’ve got big aspirations. I do believe I will win a world title. I have to take out Tim and then I’ll go back down to my natural weight.”
