Nikita Tszyu gaining momentum quicker than anyone in boxing anticipated
A sparring incident last year meant Tim and Nikita Tszyu were banned from ever fighting each other. But after his coming of age win, is Nikita ready to get in the ring again with world champion Tim?
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Nikita Tszyu’s composure after his shock first round knockdown against Dylan Biggs is the clearest sign yet that The Butcher will live up to the pressure and expectation of his fast-tracked pro career.
In just his eighth professional bout, and second as a PPV headliner, Tszyu silenced the doubters by stopping Biggs with a fearsome body attack in the fifth round.
In doing so, he claimed the Australian super-welterweight title, and cemented his spot as a legitimate pay-per-view boxing star.
But it didn’t come easy. Tszyu found himself on the canvas in round one after copping two big right hands from Biggs.
It wasn’t the first time he’s been floored, but the stakes have never been as high.
He was rattled, but clear-eyed and fought back to trouble Biggs later in the round. Tszyu’s southpaw jab was impressive over the following two rounds, before he took a leaf out of older brother Tim’s book and attacked the body.
Two years after Tim transformed Newcastle into Tszyucastle with body shot stoppages of Dennis Hogan and Steve Spark, Nikita applied the same punishment to Biggs, who bravely fought on with a broken hand.
Tim joked later that Nikita is now the second best super welterweight in the country, but the younger brother is gaining momentum quicker than anyone anticipated.
After eight fights, Nikita is a serious pay-per-view headline fighter in his own right. At the same stage of his own development, Tim was still 13 months and five fights away from his first main event pay-per-view bout.
Their team – including mum, Natasha and granddad Boris – will never let them fight each other for real, but if the younger brother’s progress continues on its same trajectory, they may be finally allowed to spar again.
Boris effectively banned them sparring each other last year when Tim left Nikita bloodied and beaten.
It was a sobering experience for the younger sibling, but with improvements he’s made in each fight over the past 12 months, he’s steadily closing the gap on his world champion brother.
And if Tim ever fights a southpaw, like Errol Spence, what better preparation could he receive than sparring the second best super welterweight in the country?
Originally published as Nikita Tszyu gaining momentum quicker than anyone in boxing anticipated
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