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Stevie Spark Was 'Serving Beers' At His Local Pub When He Received The Phone Call To Face Tim Tszyu

Stevie Spark Was 'Serving Beers' At His Local Pub When He Received The Phone Call To Face Tim Tszyu

Spark took the fight on one week's notice following Michael Zerafa's late withdrawal.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

Stevie Spark has revealed that he was pouring beers at his local pub when he received the "once in a lifetime call" to face Tim Tszyu next week.

When Michael Zerafa pulled out of the all-Aussie bout at the last minute, promoters searched frantically to find a replacement.

And, well, it seems they've stumbled upon a bloke more than willing to step up to the plate - on one week's notice too.

24-year-old Spark, who is fresh off the back of a big win over Jack Brubaker, was working a shift at a club in his hometown of Toowoomba when he received a rather surprising phone call.

Thankfully, Spark was doing what we've all been guilty of in past bar jobs which is secretly checking our phones behind the manager's back, otherwise he would have missed the call.

"I was at work. I was at Club Glenvale. A nice little club out there and serving beers," Spark told Fox Sports Australia.

No Limit Boxing

"I got a call from Brendon (Smith - Spark's trainer and manager) and he said, 'how are you feeling, how are you going?'

"I said, 'what's up?'

"He said, 'I've just got an interesting call from George Rose. He wants to know if you'll fight Tim Tszyu.'

"I said 'OK, what's the money?' And we got talking. So, I said 'OK', so I left work, and we had a conversation and after about half-an-hour I said, 'OK, we're on, let's do it'."

But, as you can probably imagine with someone who takes a fight on 168 hours notice, Spark hasn't been in a full fight camp ahead of his bout against Tszyu - not that he seems too bothered though.

"I wasn't in fight camp, that's for sure," he added.

Instagram/@steviespark/@nolimit_aus

"But at the end of the day, you don't forget how to throw punches.

"The only thing there is timing.

"I know the risks. I'll go in there with all guns blazing and give it my all. I can't pass up an opportunity like this.

"These sorts of things come once in a lifetime and if I knew I turned it down, in five years' time I would be wondering what happened if I fought Tim.

"I've always thought about fighting Tim.

"I used to say to 'Brenno', I had this feeling me and him would fight.

"It's crazy how it's all worked out. It could turn out to be one of the greatest upsets in boxing history in Australia.

"Not many people are giving me a chance. I understand that, but I've got more of a chance than Michael Zerafa because he didn't even show up.

"I'm confident and I'm coming down to hopefully cause an upset."

Whichever way the fight goes down next Wednesday, Spark has certainly earned the respect of the entire boxing community here in Australia for having the plums to step in on such short notice.

What a warrior.

Featured Image Credit: PA/Instagram/@steviespark

Topics: Tim Tszyu, Boxing News, Boxing, Australia