History repeats as ‘bloodthirsty’ Nikita Tszyu ‘hurt badly’ in boxing classic
In his first fight of the year, Nikita Tszyu was rocked by an Italian veteran as he put on a clinic to escap an unthinkable upset.
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Nikita Tszyu has produced another classic, defeating Italy’s Danilo Creati in an absolute barnburner in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Defending his Australian super welterweight title for the first time, Tszyu came out firing and dominated the early rounds and a knockout looked likely.
But Creati hung in there and unleashed a savage right hand in the sixth round that rocked Tszyu and flipped the fight on its head.
An upset briefly looked on the cards but the fight went the distance and the judges gave Tszyu the victory via unanimous decision (100-88, 99-90, 100-89).
The result takes Tszyu’s record to 9-0 (7KOs).
For the third time, the 26-year-old Aussie found himself in an all out war at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.
He’s now been taken the distance by Creati and Ben Horn, while Jack Brubaker held his own at the same venue last year.
With older brother Tim cheering him on ringside, Nikita poured on countless punches in a career best performance Main Event commentator Ben Damon described as “faultless”.
“That was a tough one,” Tszyu said after the fight.
“It was very tricky. He could honestly take a shot. I felt I hurt him early and I felt I could have stopped him but he kept enduring and every shot he recovered from. Hats off to him.
“The Hordern, I always get rocked here. What’s with this place.”
There are a range of potential opponents next in line for Tszyu, including forgotten golden boy of Australian boxing and former Jeff Fenech prodigy Brock Jarvis.
Ben Hussain, Wade Ryan and Koen Mazoudier are other Aussie super welterweights he could fight next.
Nikita Tszyu vs Danilo Creati round updates:
Round 1: Here we go. Nikita Tszyu lands a couple of blows flush on Creati’s head and the Italian’s face is already red under his left eye.
Creati is a tricky customer but Tszyu is already on top in this 10-rounder.
Ben Damon said on Main Event: “Creati very confident. Low hands, sticking the hands out creating a target.”
“The Butcher is in a bloodthirsty mood tonight.”
Round 2: Nikita lands a big shot that rocked Creati and nearly sent him to the canvas.
Ben Damon said: “He has been perfect so far. Ruthless as a bit of blood trickles and you know he’ll like that.
“Nikita Tszyu is in a horrible, nasty mood.”
Round 3: We’re only three rounds in and there’s already talk of Creati’s corner throwing in the towel.
Tszyu is doing what he does, peppering Creati with shots in another round of punishment. This has got another Nikita knockout written all over it.
Ben Damon described Tszyu’s “hurricane-like performance” as “faultless”.
Harry Garside added: “This is the best Nikita we’ve seen.”
Round 4: Tszyu lands more body shots and while Creati has landed a couple of blows, he’s a dead man walking here. The Italian veteran is showing immense toughness to stay standing.
Round 5: Creati had some strong moments in that round and is somehow hanging in there.
Tszyu is connecting with some brutal hooks and uppercuts on Creati’s head, but the underdog had a decent round there.
Round 6: Creati landed a good left hand as the fight settled into a slower rhythm.
It was a scrappy battle in the clinches until Creati unleashed a savage right hand that rocked Tszyu, forcing the Aussie champ to hold on for dead life.
“This could be one of the great upsets,” Ben Damon exclaimed on Main Event.
“Now he’s hurt and he’s hurt badly. Danilo Creati shocks everyone in this building. What an incredible moment.”
Round 7: Nikita jumps up from his stool and responds with a solid round. It’s another war in the Hordern.
Round 8: Tszyu is searching for the kill but Creati is showing why he’s never been stopped before. Tszyu landed two huge shots but this fight might go the distance now.
Round 9: Tszyu landed more blows and nearly ended the fight before the bell, only for Creati to steady himself and show he’s made of seriously tough stuff.
Round 10: Another menacing three minutes from Nikita Tszyu, who peppered Creati with more punches.
Creati had tape dangling from his glove but the referee let the fight continue.
10.35pm - Big upset in co-main
Libya’s Malik Zinad has claimed an upset victory via majority decision (114-114, 111-117 x 2) over Jerome Pampellone in the IBF light heavyweight world title eliminator.
It was an old fashioned war that went the full 12 rounds and both fighters showed they had serious granite chins.
“I’m a future world champion trust me,” said Zinnad after celebrating on the ropes.
Nikita Tszyu is next in the ring for the main event.
9.30pm - Backstage Nikita scene says it all
It’s no secret Nikita Tszyu is a quirky unit and he proved that again with some unusual backstage antics before his fight.
Looking relaxed backstage in the dressing room with his brother Tim, grandfather Boris and trainer Igor — Nikita threw some punches at a pot plant in the corner.
“There’s the ‘dark prince’ as he throws a couple of shots at the fern,” Ben Damon said on Main Event.
“An unusual preparation punching trees, but you would expect nothing less from the often bizarre ‘Butcher’ that is Nikita Tszyu.”
8.58pm - Tapia wins title
Mateo Tapia has defeated Keiber Gonzalez via unanimous decision (98-92 x 2, 97-93) to win the vacant WBO global middleweight title.
In the fight of the night so far, Tapia and Gonzalez traded blows for the full 10 rounds before Tapia was given a comfortable win on the scorecards.
CODE Sports’ Brendon Bradford wrote on X: “Phenomenal fight between Mateo Tapia and Keiber Gonzalez. Amazing to watch.”
8.20pm - Hussain gets last minute stoppage
Ben Hussain has secured a stoppage win over Mason Smith in the 10th and final round to retain the WBA Oceania super welterweight title.
Hussain walked out to the ring flanked by several Bulldogs players including Matt Burton, Josh Curran and Bronson Xerri.
Hussain was docked a point for dishing out a second accidental low blow. Smith was dropped late in the fight before referee eventually stepped in to stop the fight.
6.45pm - Tszyu’s ‘headaches’ warning
Nikita Tszyu has arrived at the Hordern and issued a blunt warning to his opponent.
He said “I’m so ready for this”, adding Creati can expect “headaches tomorrow morning”.
6.30pm - Betting plunge on Tszyu
Since his debut, Nikita Tszyu has entered every one of his fights as the near unbackable favourite and it’s no different this time around.
The man nicknamed ‘The Butcher’ is so heavily favoured to get the win, he is paying as low as $1.08 for the victory with betting agency TAB.
Danilo Creati is a rank outsider at $7.50, while Tszyu is a very short priced $1.36 to win via knockout or technical knockout.
He will be hoping to get the win and avoid a double family heartbreak following brother Tim’s gut-wrenching loss to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas last month.
Nikita has shown he can cop a punch, bouncing back from a first round knockdown to defeat Dylan Biggs in trademark style last November.
6pm - Fears after weight-in drama
Nikita Tszyu will be hoping Tuesday’s weigh-in drama doesn’t affect him on fight night.
The Aussie champion rocked up to the weigh-in more than an hour behind schedule and he tipped the scales at 69.82kg – just below the 69.9kg super-welterweight limit.
Tszyu looked gaunt and seriously fatigued after the weigh-in but said there was nothing to worry about.
“There were a few complications making weight this morning, but we got it done,” he said. “The steam room wasn’t really working at home.
“We also had a sauna that we used, and a bath as a back-up, but my body just wasn’t losing weight from the steam room.”
A composed Creati said at Monday’s press conference he hoped to “turn the Butcher into a vegan”.
The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel said on Main Event: “I thought Danilo Creati had some understated cockiness about him. He looked in supreme condition and I thought Nikita looked a little bit gaunt.
“I think Creati looked the fresher fighter and with his height at this weight, he could be a real danger.”
Dan Ginnane said: “I’ve got to say, Danilo very impressive performance at the press conference.
“That’s the man that looks very comfortable with his place in life. I liked his attitude.”
Harry Garside added: “So did I, he looks super relaxed. This is a massive opportunity for him. If he gets up tonight, he sets himself up for the remainder of his career. Obviously an extremely hard opponent in Nikita Tszyu, the Butcher.
“I’m calling it — I know there was a little bit of trouble with Nikita making weight but I reckon this is going to be the most exciting Nikita we’ve seen.
“Coming off the back end of watching his brother in America. He wants to be where his brother is at now. I’m excited to see this one. Creati looks super relaxed and comfortable.”
MAIN CARD (from 7pm on Main Event)
Nikita Tszyu (c) v Danilo Creati — for Australian super welterweight title
Malik Zinad def Jerome Pampellone via majority decision (114-114, 111-117 x 2) — IBF light heavyweight world title eliminator
Clara Lescurat (c) def Linn Sandstrom via unanimous decision (99-91, 97-93, 100-90) — for WBA super flyweight world title
Mateo Tapia def Keiber Gonzalez via unanimous decision (98-92 x 2, 97-93) — for vacant WBO global middleweight title
Benjamin Hussain (c) def Mason Smith via TKO (Round 10) — for WBA Oceania super welterweight title
PRELIMS (from 5:30pm on Channel 503)
Jasmine Parr def Sarah Watt via TKO — super flyweight
Charlie Kazzi def Joe Kara via unanimous decision — lightweight
Shanell Dargan def Christine Gillespie via majority decision — super bantamweight
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