Sydney sensation Mateo Tapia to fly the flag with Tim Tszyu for Australian boxing with historic double header in Florida

Meet the Sydney sensation who will help Tim Tszyu deliver a one-two punch for Australian boxing. World-title hopeful Mateo Tapia will be the Aussie support act for Tszyu on a historic card in Florida.

Mateo Tapia will fight on Tim Tszyu’s card in Florida. Picture: Russell Freeman/Getty Images

Australian boxing is dominating America once again with former world champion Tim Tszyu to headline a green-and-gold double header in the United States.

This masthead can reveal Sydney sensation Mateo Tapia will join Tszyu in flying the flag for Australian boxing on another historic fight card in Florida slated for Sunday, October 20 (AEST).

Tszyu will fight for the IBF super welterweight world title against Russian champ Bakhram Murtazaliev, while Tapia takes on Venezuelan dangerman Endry Saavedra at middleweight.

It continues the stunning rise of Australian boxing, which had three fighters — Tszyu, Michael Zerafa and Liam Wilson — contend for world titles in the space of 48 hours in Las Vegas and Arizona in March.

Unbeaten Mateo Tapia (left) is rated one of the rising stars of Australian boxing.

Now Australia has clinched another big-fight quinella in America, with Tapia primed for the greatest test of his career in his quest to emulate Tszyu by winning a world title.

The 26-year-old Sydneysider is unbeaten in 17 fights and rated a future world champion, prompting Australia’s No.1 promoters No Limit to add Tapia to their stable in February.

Tszyu (24-1) will return to the ring for the first time since his controversial loss to Sebastian Fundora and No Limit confirmed they have brokered a double-header in Florida that will also feature Tapia.

“This is another coup for Australian boxing,” said No Limit boss Matt Rose.

“Not only is Tim Tszyu going back to the US, which is awesome, but this is a huge opportunity for Mateo Tapia to show his class on the world stage.

“We’ve been in talks for some time and we’ve been able to get two Aussies on the card, which is fabulous.

“It will be a huge day for Australian boxing and hopefully the moment when Tim becomes a world champion again.”

Tapia, who has Mexican blood, underlined his class in April when he handed Venezuela’s Keiber Gonzalez (21-1) the first loss of his career with a 10-round unanimous win at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.

Tim Tszyu is ready to return to America to avenge his loss to Sebastian Fundora.

Now he faces another classy Venezuelan in Saavedra, a former Olympian who stopped Queenslander Issac Hardman in an eight-round masterclass in Wollongong in March.

Tapia is ranked No.11 with the WBO, while Saavedra is No.7, with Rose adamant Australia’s No.1 middleweight has the tools to conquer the world.

“Mateo is our next world champion,” Rose said.

“He is an outstanding talent.

“His story is brilliant. He is the first ever Australian-Mexican boxer — his dad is full Mexican and his mum is Australian — so the fans will go nuts about him in Mexico when they see him on the world stage.

Tapia is unbeaten in 17 fights and rated Australia’s next world champion.

“They’re fighting for the WBO Intercontinental belt and most likely the IBF Intercontinental as well.

“That’s two very significant regional belts and if he beats Saavedra, Mateo could be ranked in the top three.

“Mateo is not far away from a world-title shot ... another two or three fights and he’ll be ready.”

The tough-as-nails Murtazaliev is unbeaten in 22 fights, but Tszyu is confident he will hit back quickly from his Fundora shock and become a two-time world champion.

“He has that Russian upbringing, so he’s old school,” Tszyu said.

“He’s good. He’s world champion for a reason, but I believe I’m better.”

Originally published as Sydney sensation Mateo Tapia to fly the flag with Tim Tszyu for Australian boxing with historic double header in Florida