Nikita Tszyu TKOs Dylan Biggs with violent liver punch to claim Australian title
Nikita Tszyu has extended his family’s unbeaten streak on home soil, with eyes now turning towards a Tszyu double-act in Las Vegas against the world’s best.
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Tim and Nikita Tszyu are eyeing up a Las Vegas double act in March after the younger brother’s fifth round knockout of Dylan Biggs in one of the greatest Australian title fights ever.
Tszyu was dropped in the opening round, before fighting back, dropping Biggs with vicious body shots, and forcing referee John Cauchi to stop the action with just one second left in the fifth round.
Tszyu takes home the Australian super-welterweight title Tim once held, and did it in the same city – and with similar body work – that Tim stopped Dennis Hogan and Steve Spark on his rise to a world title.
Now, the Tszyu brothers want to fight in Vegas on the same weekend as the NRL’s season opener in Sin City in early March.
“Vegas, baby!” an ecstatic Tim screamed in the aftermath of Nikita’s win. “You know who I’m chasing. Why not bring Nikita to fight as well?
“We’ll all go to Vegas together.”
Nikita is keen on fighting in Vegas, but said he’d leave the details to his team, making just one demand for his first overseas fight: “Business class, please.”
No Limit boss George Rose is in talks to have Tim fight on the same weekend as the NRL’s opening round of the 2024 season at Allegiant Stadium, and said Nikita would more than likely be on the trip.
“The goal was always to go to Vegas – even before Covid – and Tim still hasn’t had his Vegas moment,” Rose told this masthead. “Vegas is the vibe, Vegas is the talk and the more we put it out there, the more it’s going to happen.
“It’s about balancing their schedules, and we’d happily work with the team to work it out as well.”
Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings said the Vegas trip must go ahead.
“We’re going,” Jennings said. “George, just make it happen.”
In the toughest fight of his professional career to date, Tszyu picked himself up off the canvas after being hit by a big shot in a hectic opening round.
He admitted he was rattled by the early knockdown, but quickly regained composure.
“s**t. That was the first word that came to my head,” he said. “But then I knew I got hit, it’s not the end of the world, it’s only round one and the party’s just begun.
“I always get hit with a shot in the first round. It’s always a big shot.”
Tszyu nearly stopped Biggs in the fourth, with the ropes the only thing holding up the Beaudesert Storm as Tszyu battered him for over a minute.
Biggs was visibly hurt in the fifth and left the ring with a broken wrist after Tszyu’s relentless body work caused the stoppage.
“I felt a weakness in his core and upper body,” Tszyu said. “I felt I could push him around a little bit when he got close.
“In the fourth, I hit him with about 50 punches in the side of the head, but I didn’t notice his hand at all.”
Despite talk of him fighting Nico Ali Walsh – the grandson of Muhammad Ali – Nikita doesn’t have any opponent in mind for his next opponent.
“Couldn’t care less,” he said. “Whoever makes the most sense.”
RECAP ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENED IN NEWCASTLE
NIKITA TSZYU WINS AUSTRALIAN TITLE
Nikita starts strongly, stalking the wounded Biggs around the ring. They both look exhausted, and Biggs is hurt to the midsection. DOWN GOES BIGGS! Body shots drop him with 10 seconds left in the round. Tszyu goes in for the finish and Cauchi calls it off with just seconds left.
ROUND 4
Biggs is doing nice body work, which will be telling if the fight goes to the later rounds. ABSOLUTE CHAOS! Tszyu almost stops Biggs, with only the ropes holding him up at one point. Referee John Cauchi separates them, and Tszyu launches into an all out attack, and batters Biggs for a minute, but can’t land the finishing touch.
ROUND 3
Tszyu starts on the front foot, Biggs is looking to counter. Biggs does good work in close, nice uppercut. A good round for Tszyu who wins the exchanges at distance.
ROUND 2
They’re both throwing with maximum power, and Biggs lost his mouthguard. They both hurt each other too. Surely they can’t keep this up. Incredible opening two rounds.
ROUND 1
Nikita Tszyu is dropped in the first round! Biggs landed a counter shot which stunned Tszyu. A follow up sent him down. Tszyu was rattled several times during the opening two minutes, but finished the first round strong, rocking Biggs in the closing seconds. What a wild start.
After a week of agro about the ringwalks, Tszyu and Biggs are both in the squared circle and we’re underway!
After all that, Biggs walks first no dramas. #TszyuBiggspic.twitter.com/N60tLDgj9E
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) November 22, 2023
9.50PM: HARDMAN’S ALL-TIME STOPPAGE CELEBRATION
The Issac Hardman bandwagon continues gathering steam, after the 27-year-old scored a fifth round knockout of Englishman Troy Coleman.
One of the biggest characters in Australian boxing, the Headsplitter did a celebratory victory lap outside the ring, receiving congratulations from Tim Tszyu and Anthony Mundine before he returned to the ring and promptly took his pants off.
That’s becoming something of a trademark for the Queenslander, who holds his trunks up to get his sponsors exposure on TV.
After his second win on a No Limit card, Hardman says he’s looking at taking on more overseas opponents, after running out of local fighters.
“I’m here, I’m ready, but no one wants it,” he said. “I think one of the cowards is in the crowd. I’m not even going to say his name.”
For the record, that man is former Australian super-welterweight champion, and one-time opponent of Tim Tszyu, Joel Camilleri.
“International is the way forward,” Hardman continued. “Maybe something with Tim. Let’s hit him with the one-two Timmy Tszyu.”
Hardman dominated most of the fight, dropping Coleman in the fourth round, before forcing the stoppage in the fifth.
9.10PM: KO LEAVES TSZYU SHOCKED
Brandon Grach just became the new front-runner for knockout of the year, leaving rising star Liam Taliva’a unconscious in a monstrous second round knockout.
Grach landed a one-two, then sparked Taliva’a out with a lightning quick left hook.
There were scary scenes in the immediate aftermath as Taliva’a remained on his back for a minute as ringside officials tended to him. The Sydneysider was unable to get back to his feet as Grach’s hand was raised, but eventually left the ring on his own.
After the worrying scenes in the ring, Taliva’a’s mum was escorted backstage and sat with her son in his dressing room.
It was the wildest three minutes and four seconds of the night.
The knockout was so shocking it even caught Nikita Tszyu’s attention. Tszyu was getting his hands wrapped at the time, but was seen on dressing room cameras with a stunned expression as Taliva’a lay on the mat.
Grach was just seconds away from being knocked out in the first round when Taliva’a landed a furious flurry of punches.
After slumping to the canvas, Grach regained his feet and immediately sent Taliva’a to the mat for the first time in the final seconds of the round.
The bout ended just moments after the second round began, with local boy Grach receiving a massive ovation.
It’s Grach’s second upset win in just his second professional fight, after scoring a decision over Johan Linde – a former Olympian and economics adviser to Dominic Perrottet.
8.59PM: FATHI’S THREAT AFTER SHOCK LOSS
Mounir Fathi is considering walking away from boxing after losing a hugely controversial decision to Queensland excitement machine Joel Pavlides.
In a high-octane six-round fight, Pavlides emerged with a UD victory with scores of 58-56 on all three cards.
The result was met with a smattering of boos and shocked silence at Newcastle Entertainment Centre, and the Billy Dib trained Fathi was incensed immediately afterwards.
“Look at me, it’s like I’ve just had a shower, I’m clean. No marks,” Fathi told this masthead. “Look at him. Look at his face.
“Boxing is business, it’s shit. If this is boxing, I’m finished boxing.”
Other members of Fathi’s team claimed “they wanted Pavlides to win”, while Dib couldn’t comprehend the judges’ verdict.
“Honestly, I can’t believe it. Absolute garbage,” he told this masthead. “What were they watching? And for Joel to carry on like he won the fight, that’s a joke.
“He fought well, he didn’t win that fight. He took punishment.
“Mounir hurt him multiple times. At worst it was four rounds to two to Mounir. I can’t believe it.”
8.03PM: TSZYU ON WALKOUT STANDOFF
Nikita Tszyu has flipped the script in the lead-up up to his super welterweight clash against Dylan Biggs, hiding his intentions shoul;d Biggs stick to his word and refuse to walk to the ring first tonight.
“I’ve said this from the start, I couldn’t care less if I walk out first (or) walk out second,” he said.
“I’m listening to the call. When MainEvent and Fox Sports tell me to walk out I’ll walk out.
“That’s never been an issue. He’s the one that’s been creating all this drama, all this nonsense.
“I feel like it’s their tactic to try and get in my head, but they’re just burning themselves out.”
Don’t blink 👀#TszyuBiggspic.twitter.com/gUROz8yvL1
— No Limit Boxing (@NoLimit_Boxing) November 21, 2023
7.24PM: CHOC’S WORDS OF WISDOM TO BIGGS
Anthony Mundine has warned Dylan Biggs to “stay in his lane” as controversy continues to swirl over who should walk second to the ring for tonight’s main event.
Biggs’ team believes he should be given the honour of walking second as the current Australian champion.
But as the bigger name and the A-side of the promotion, Tszyu’s camp demands he walks second.
Asked for his thoughts, Mundine – who walked second when he fought then-Australian middleweight champion Marc Bargero in 2001 – said Biggs should know where he stands.
“Nikita’s given him the opportunity to put him on a stage like this,” Mundine said from ringside in Newcastle. “It’s an opportunity to catapult his career and popularity within the sport.
“He’s gotta know who he is and stay in his lane. And that’s the B-side lane.
“That’s just that.”
Is this the Knockout of the Year? We'll let you decide.
— Aus-Boxing.com (@ausboxing) November 22, 2023
Mark Schleibs detonated this left hook on Shamal Ram Anuj. #ozboxing#boxing#TszyuBiggspic.twitter.com/PsA3zIo1Rt
6.57PM: ‘I MISS HIS VOICE, I MISS HIS HUGS’
Mark Schleibs has broken down in tears talking about the son he hasn’t seen in nine months following his contender for knockout of the year against Shamal Ram Anuj.
The Melbourne fighter landed a beautiful right hand on Anuj’s chin in the fifth round, sending the Fijian slumping into the corner.
Referee Les Fear didn’t bother with a count as Schleibs found the nearest camera and shouted, “I love you Oscar”.
Speaking afterwards, Schleibs revealed more details about the heartache he has been going through.
“Nine months without my kid, crying every day before training,” the 30-year-old said through tears. “My mum in and out of the psych ward, looking after her.
“It’s a lot of relief. There’s a lot of pressure.
“We risk it all to fail and succeed.”
Schleibs proudly showed off the ‘World’s Coolest Dad’ hat his son, Oscar, gave to him for Father’s Day, before sending him a message.
“I love you, Oscar, I hope you’re proud of me, son, because as long as you love me I’m always going to be a world champion,” he said. “I miss his voice. I miss his hugs.
“It kills me. This win is only temporary. I’m going to miss him tomorrow, I’m going to cry about him tomorrow, it’s the same old shit.
“Until I get some money behind me, I just hope this inspires all fathers who are going through what I’m going through to give them strength to keep going on.
“Our boys and our daughters are waiting on the other side.”
6.04PM: PUNTER’S CLOSE CALL WITH TSZYU
Nothing much phases Nikita Tszyu.
None of the personal attacks, or the drama over who walks first tonight gets under his skin.
It’s water off a duck’s back.
But, mention his dogs, and his mood changes abruptly. Lucifer, Hunter and Carlos are off limits.
That was clear at Monday’s press conference, when Tszyu thought Dylan Biggs was having a crack at his husky, Lucifer.
“No one messes with my dogs,” Tszyu told this masthead. “My dogs are beautiful. No one messes with them.”
There will be blood…🩸#TszyuBiggs 🔪🥩 🥛 pic.twitter.com/gyaH3tnxme
— No Limit Boxing (@NoLimit_Boxing) November 13, 2023
One poor dog owner found that out the hard way earlier this year.
Just a week after stopping Jack Brubaker in his pay-per-view headline debut, Tszyu – still sporting a nasty shiner from a head clash – was at the dog park with his French Bulldog Carlos.
“Carlos started humping this other dog, but this dog was twice as big as him – it was a staffy – so I thought it was fine,” Tszyu said. “But the owner got really pissed off and nearly kicked Carlos.
“He had this rescue dog, a big Staffy, and I just had this little French Bulldog, full of energy, and he tried to kick Carlos.
“I snapped, I was triggered.
“I was about to grab him by the neck, before I remembered I’m a professional athlete. So I just screamed at him for a little bit.
“He would’ve been like, ‘what the hell, this kid with a bruised eye is trying to fight me over a dog’ and he eventually walked off.”
4.44PM: TSZYU’S LATEST CHARLO SETBACK
A potential world title showdown between Tim Tszyu and Jermell Charlo has taken another hit after the American this week vacated his IBF super-welterweight belt rather than face his mandatory challenger Bakhram Murtazaliev.
The move leaves Charlo holding just the WBC and WBA belts, while Tszyu is the WBO world champion.
Meanwhile, Murtazaliev will likely fight Jack Culcay for the vacant IBF title.
Tszyu was scheduled to fight Charlo for all four belts early this year before the American injured his hand, then moved up two weight classes for a big-money bout with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Tszyu still wants to fight Charlo, but will set his sights on fighting the winner of Murtazaliev and Culcay next year first.
“We still want Charlo, but vacating the IBF title indicates to me that there’s not much desire to fight,” Tszyu’s manager Glenn Jennings told this masthead. “If the guy doesn’t want to fight, he doesn’t want to fight.
“Tim and I spoke about it this morning and I just said to keep on letting him know we want the fight, and Tim sent him a message this morning.
“Tim’s a fighter, the rest of them are hiding, and we have to pull them out of their holes.”
Charlo vacating is a setback in the short-term, but if Tszyu can unify the WBO and IBF titles, he’ll be perfectly positioned for a big-money bout with Charlo in the future, provided Charlo doesn’t move up to middleweight.
“Charlo says he only wants big fights, and Tim is by far the biggest fight left at 154 pounds,” Jennings said. “We’ll go after the winner of Murtazaliev and Culcay. We want the belts.”
Tszyu plans on fighting three times next year, and is hoping to defend the WBO title, possibly against Erickson Lubin, in Las Vegas in March – the same weekend as the NRL’s double header in Sin City.
The 26-2 Lubin’s only two losses were in world title fights against Charlo and Sebastian Fundora.
“There’s no better launch pad for Tim into the American market than that weekend,” Jennings said. “Most likely a defence of the WBO title.
“Lubin would be perfect.”
BIGGS TIPPED TO SNAP TSZYU FAMILY’S STREAK
– Peter Badel
Unheralded champion Dylan Biggs will pull off a Queensland Origin-style boilover by breaking the Tszyu family’s incredible 47-fight winning streak on Australian soil.
That’s the prediction of Nikita Tszyu’s own No Limit stablemate Issac Hardman, who believes the talent and technical purity of Biggs will prevail in the pay-per-view blockbuster in Newcastle on Wednesday night.
Biggs (10-0, 7KO) will put his Australian super welterweight title on the line against Tszyu (7-0, 6K0) when the unbeaten young guns throw down in what shapes as the domestic fight of the year.
Biggs must not only overcome Nikita. The all-action Queenslander must also conquer the most formidable track record in Australian boxing history.
The Tszyu trinity of father Kostya and his sons, world champion Tim and rising star Nikita, has won all 47 fights it has contested in Australia, while the famous boxing family is 11-0 in Newcastle.
However, fellow Queenslander Hardman believes the “Beaudesert Storm” will rain on the Tszyu parade and inflict the first loss of New South Welshman Nikita’s promising career in an Origin-style showdown.
“I am with No Limit, they are my promoters, so they won’t like hearing this ... but Dylan Biggs gets Nikita,” said Hardman, who will face England’s Troy Coleman as the co-main event on the Fox Sports-No Limit card.
“Dylan and myself are the big hitters from Queensland and we’re going down to NSW to upset the locals in ‘Tszyu-castle’.
“I would love for Nikita to brain Dylan and put him out unconscious because Dylan beat my best mate Dan Hill to win the Australian title earlier this year.
“I am friendly with Nikita and Tim and Team Tszyu are a great, professional crew but Dylan Biggs is f--king good.
“I see it going two ways.
“Nikita is super explosive and powerful and he has to get the job done within one to four rounds.
“If not, then Dylan’s maturity, fitness and boxing IQ will shine through.
“Either Nikita gets him out early or Dylan wins a decision but I am edging towards Biggs.”
At 21, Biggs is Australia’s youngest champion who underlined his status as one of rising stars of the sport in July when he hammered Hill in an eight-round war to snatch the domestic super welterweight title.
However, Tszyu, 25, produced the finest win of his career in August when he stopped Jack Brubaker in his pay-per-view debut after he withstood a monster right hand that could have finished him in the third round.
“This is where I get to show the Australian public what I can really do,” Nikita said. “This is the big moment where I make it or break it.”
Biggs said Tszyu 3.0 was for the first time facing a dangerous opponent with no fear of the famous surname.
“His past opponents have quit,” Biggs said. “They turn up on the night but they don’t turn up to win. They are afraid.
“The show, the promotion and bright lights get to them but I’m different.
“There’s no quit in me. I have the numbers. I have the title.
“A win here slingshots my career to the next stage ... I’m not losing my belt.”
Biggs’s manager Brendon Smith is predicting an all-out boxing war and doesn’t believe the 10-round title fight will go the distance.
“Both these boys talk about boxing skill but there will be fireworks, 100 per cent,” he said.
“There will be moments in this fight when they are full-on exchanging and going blow for blow.
“Nikita has great power but I have never seen Dylan wobbled or hurt. He has a great chin.
“It will come down to hunger and who steps up when it matters most.
“I believe Dylan wants it most.”
Originally published as Nikita Tszyu TKOs Dylan Biggs with violent liver punch to claim Australian title
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