Mahoney found an effective solution to Tszyu’s southpaw stance. He used his jab to set the distance, moved outside Tszyu’s lead foot and sent his right hand through the center whenever Tszyu advanced without punching.

Tszyu responded by attacking the body. His digging left hands were meant to slow Mahoney’s movement and reduce his activity, but Mahoney rarely allowed him to work without responding. Returning punches immediately prevented Tszyu from settling into a comfortable attacking rhythm.

A clash of heads opened a cut above Tszyu’s right eye in the third. The injury did not prevent him from taking portions of the middle rounds, but he never established sustained command.

The final four rounds strengthened Mahoney’s case. He increased his activity, landed clean right hands and forced Tszyu to fight at a faster pace. The favorite’s punch rate began to fall as the rounds accumulated, giving Mahoney more opportunities to lead exchanges rather than wait for counters.

Tszyu had regularly overwhelmed earlier opponents before the final bell. Mahoney denied him that type of result and tested his ability to maintain the same pressure late. The bigger puncher remained dangerous, but his body attack never produced the decline he had been working toward.

“I do believe I won that fight. I thought I came home nice and strong,” Mahoney said, as quoted by PerthNow. “He’s a f***ing warrior. All the respect for him.”

Tszyu’s forward movement and more forceful single shots gave his work greater visual impact. Mahoney was less imposing, but he often landed the cleaner combinations and dictated the pace with his jab.

That contrast helps explain why the scoring varied so sharply. A judge favoring pressure and visible force could lean toward Tszyu. Giving him nine rounds still ignored how often Mahoney disrupted his attacks and closed exchanges.

Mahoney’s view was supported by the fighter who received the favorable card. Tszyu admitted afterward that he had Mahoney winning by one or two rounds and believed the Gold Coast fighter “edged it.”

The draw leaves the IBF without a clear winner to advance toward champion Josh Kelly. Tszyu did not prove that he was ready for that opportunity, while Mahoney showed he belongs at this level without receiving the decision his performance deserved.

A rematch would settle the issue. Until then, Mahoney has the stronger argument that he was denied advancement by the draw.