- Nikita Tszyu took Aussie super welter title from Dylan Biggs
- Younger Tszyu won by fifth-round technical knockout
- Tim is keen to fight on same card with his brother in Sin City
World champion boxer Tim Tszyu has opened up about his plans to stage the biggest fight of his career in Las Vegas with his brother Nikita on the card after his TKO win over Dylan Biggs on Wednesday night.
The younger of the two Tszyus stopped Biggs in the fifth round with a vicious body shot despite being knocked down in the first and took the national super welterweight belt.
His victory in just his eighth professional fight should open a lot of doors for the 25-year-old – and if Tim gets his way, one of them will lead to the bright lights of Sin City in March next year.
Tim was being interviewed in the ring just after the bout when he yelled, ‘Vegas, baby! You know who I’m chasing. Why not bring Nikita to fight as well? We’ll all go to Vegas together.’
Tim Tszyu (pictured celebrating with Nikita after his win over Dylan Biggs) is keen to fight on the same card with his brother in Las Vegas on March 3
If the card becomes reality, it’ll be held on the same day as the NRL’s double header in Sin City, which will feature the Brisbane Broncos (pictured), Roosters, Manly and Souths
The rival he was referring to is Jermell Charlo, who was the undisputed world champion at super welter before vacating the IBF title. He remains the WBC and WBA champion.
Tszyu has been chasing a fight with him for years, with the American constantly turning him down because he believes the Aussie doesn’t have a big enough name in the sport – although the Sydneysider‘s camp will tell anyone who cares to listen that it’s really because he’s scared.
Tim’s promoter, No Limit Boxing, wants to hold an America vs Australia card on March 3 in Vegas – the same day NRL teams Manly, Souths, the Roosters and Brisbane play in a double header in the US gambling mecca.
He’s already in training for the fight and is leaving for a camp in Thailand on Saturday to get into top shape – even though no opponent has been announced.
Tim (left) will soon hit his training camp in Thailand to get ready for his fight in America – with boxing promoter George Rose keen to get Muhammad Ali’s grandson Nico Ali Walsh lined up to fight Nikita
The WBO super welterweight world champion would love to fight Jermell Charlo after chasing the American for years – but there is a back-up plan in place
While Charlo would be his preferred choice, and huge names like Terence Crawford and Errol Spence have been mentioned, another more realistic possibility has cropped up in the form of American Erickson Lubin.
Boasting a 26-2 record with 18 of those victories coming by knockout, he’s earned his nickname of ‘The Hammer’ and shapes as a good match-up for the Aussie, with No Limit boss George Rose saying the southpaw is ‘absolutely in the mix’ for the bout.
Asked if Lubin is his preferred option, Tszyu said: ‘Whoever, but March 2 is the date I want.
Nikita’s TKO win over Dylan Biggs (pictured) saw him capture the Australian title in just his eighth professional fight
And in response to a question about getting Nikita on the card, he told Fox Sports: ‘That’s what boxing is about, it’s about the names you beat, the moments you create. That’s the most important thing.’
A big question mark remains over who Nikita could fight should his brother’s dream become a reality.
He’s a complete unknown in the States, but there’s a chance he could face Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali Walsh, with No Limit’s Rose confirming he’s interested in making the fight happen.
Ali Walsh fights at middleweight – one class above Tszyu – and his record stands at 8-1, with five knockout victories to his name.
