Danny Green Scores Tszyu vs Mahoney Fight in Favour of Nikita

Danny Green has watched it again. No crowd noise, no broadcast chatter, no chaos. Just 12 rounds of Nikita Tszyu and Ben Mahoney, and a remote in his hand.

And he’s adamant: “I’ve again scored it in Nikita Tszyu’s favour. And by two rounds.”

The Australian boxing great has rescored the controversial IBF eliminator on the Gold Coast and, in doing so, backed Tszyu to keep his unbeaten run alive — and to take the next step not with a rematch at home, but with an American debut before Christmas.

Green’s card: Tszyu by two

Seven days after calling the fight from ringside, Green sat down in his West Australian home and went through every second of it for Fox Sports Australia. No commentary. No replays. Just punches.

He gave Mahoney the fast start: rounds one and two to the Gold Coast underdog. He then found only two more frames for him — rounds six and twelve.

Tszyu, in Green’s book, banked four, five, seven, eight, ten and eleven. Rounds three and nine were too tight to split.

Final tally: 116-114 to Nikita Tszyu.

“So it was a tight fight,” Green said. “But after rewatching all 12 rounds without commentary, I’ve again scored it in Nikita Tszyu’s favour. And by two rounds.”

On the night, the official judges could not agree. Phillip Holliday went wide for Tszyu at 117-111. Sabrina Kerr saw it 115-113 for Mahoney. Carl Zappia landed in the middle with a 114-114 draw.

Then came the twist. Standing in the ring with Ben Damon, Tszyu himself said he thought he’d lost. By the post-fight press conference, the Sydneysider was walking that back, explaining the comment as frustration at not getting the stoppage.

Green, though, has stayed consistent. He had Tszyu edging it live. He still has him edging it now.

Why Green sides with ‘The Butcher’

For Green, the story of the fight lies in the weight of the shots, not the volume.

“Mahoney was throwing a lot of punches, and his jab certainly kept him in the game,” he said. “But it was Nikita landing the harder, heavier shots.”

He pointed to Tszyu’s left hand as the key weapon.

“Once Tszyu started finding his groove through rounds four and five, through that middle section he really started chugging,” Green explained. “And overall, I think it was his thudding left hands that proved the difference.

“Nikita also went to the body a lot. And you’ve gotta score those shots …”

Mahoney’s work rate impressed him, but not all of it carried the same value.

“At times too, there was a bit of shoe shining from Mahoney – bap, bap, bap, arm punching. I don’t give a lot of value there,” Green said. “But in saying that, he also landed some solid, cracking shots. And right throughout the fight.

“But I just saw Nikita landing the heavier, harder and more telling blows. And Tszyu definitely came on stronger through rounds seven, eight, nine, ten and eleven.”

Immediately after the bout on Main Event, Green had already flagged the left hand as decisive.

“I just felt that Nikita landed that left hand so often … [but] it’s difficult to score,” he said at the time. “I had Nikita Tszyu winning the fight. Full respect to Ben Mahoney, who I said wouldn’t go past eight rounds. He proved me wrong. It was a magic fight. It’s not pleasant when it ends controversially. I’ll have to watch it again to then score it properly.”

He has. And he hasn’t changed his mind.

Not ready for the sharks – yet

While Green believes Tszyu deserved the nod, he’s just as clear on something else: the 28-year-old isn’t ready for the division’s elite.

This IBF eliminator was meant to set up a shot at super welterweight champion Josh Kelly. The wider conversation also includes names like Sebastian Fundora and Jaron “Boots” Ennis.

Green doesn’t think that step should come now.

“Overall though, Nikita still needs more experience before he steps up to that world title level,” he said. “And I know Nikita will be humble enough to recognize that. Which is great.

“It’s absolutely measured and intelligent of a young fighter to say, ‘no, I need more time before taking on these top dogs … because I’m not quite there yet’.”

Tszyu’s record underlines the point for him.

“And remember, this was only fight number 14 for Nikita,” Green said. “Which also includes the one [against Michael Zerafa] that wasn’t really a fight. So it’s still very early in his career to be taking on world champions. That would be premature.”

Green also saw technical gaps, even in victory.

“I would’ve liked to see Nikita throw his right hook more,” he said. “He’s got a beautiful right hook but just didn’t let it go as much as he could have. And Mahoney had his hands high, so wasn’t really allowing it.”

So no rush to a world title shot.

But no retreat either.

Stateside next? Green says go

The controversy around the draw has naturally sparked calls for a rematch. Two unbeaten Australians, a wild atmosphere on the Gold Coast, and a result that split the room — it sells itself.

Green understands that argument. He just doesn’t think it should stop Tszyu leaving.

As talk grows of a US debut in December, likely on the undercard of American star David Benavidez, the former world champion is all for it.

“I don’t see why not,” Green said. “As long as Nikita keeps improving, keeps testing himself and growing, there is no downside to that.”

In Green’s eyes, Tszyu can chase experience and exposure in the US while still building towards that eventual world-title run. The rematch conversation can wait. The learning curve cannot.

Tim Tszyu’s next move: Lara over Charlo

While weighing in on Nikita’s path, Green also turned his attention to big brother Tim, fresh off a gutsy win over American Errol Spence Jnr.

He wants Tim chasing history again — this time as a two-division world champion.

“I think Erislandy Lara could be the perfect opponent for Tim,” Green said. “Obviously, given Lara’s age, he is well and truly on the back nine.

“And I also think Tim [has the style] to beat him. So there’s a lot to like there. I mean, if Tim Tszyu had stepped on the gas against Spence, I really believe he could have put him away.”

Lara, the WBA middleweight champion, offers a belt, a name and a realistic route to a second division title. For Green, that’s a far more compelling option than chasing Jermell Charlo.

“Whatever Tim does next though, that’s totally up to him,” he said. “But I’d be chasing another world title.

“Because what does Jermell Charlo do for you? What does he bring?

“And I think Tim should definitely be confident after that win over Spence. Maybe he could’ve stepped on the gas and finished. But a win is a win, and it was a great victory.”

So while one Tszyu wrestles with a disputed draw and the prospect of a US launch, the other stands on the brink of a shot at becoming a two-weight world champion.

The judges have had their say. Green has had his. Now the next scorecards will be written not in Australia, but under American lights — and the Tszyu brothers look ready to roll the dice.