Nikita Tszyu stuns with brutal first-round KO as rival tackled by ref

Nikita Tszyu is following in his brother’s footsteps as he continues to clear out the local market, making short work of a highly-touted rival.

The referee came to Benjamin Bommber's rescue. Photo: Fox Sports

Nikita Tszyu has made his first fight in Melbourne a short one, knocking out Benjamin Bommber almost as soon as the fight started.

Bommber burst out of the blocks, landing a massive shot early but from there it was all Tszyu as the 25-year-old made a massive statement.

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Fighting at close quarters, Tszyu unloaded a brutal combination which left Bommber held up by the ropes.

But in his defence, Bommber is a tough hombre and stayed mostly on his feet with the referee needing to essentially tackle the fighter to the ground after waving off the fight.

It was the first loss of Bommber’s career, while Tszyu rises to 6-0 as he makes waves of his own in the sport and emerges out of the substantial shadow of his brother.

“A first round knockout — What a statement that is,” Main Event boxing commentator Ben Damon said.

“After taking big shots early, Tszyu found the power of his own and look what it means to him.

“Menacing stuff from ‘The Butcher’.”

The referee put his body on the line. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Damon also called Bommber “one tough dude”.

Tszyu had said the fight would be a chess match, but he delivered a beat down.

“You get what you get,” Tszyu said.

“That went out in a flash, I was hoping it’d go a little longer.

“I saw the victim and the hunter instinct inside of me went into kill mode.

“If I see someone wounded, I want to hurt them. It’s just instincts.”

Nikita Tszyu scores first round knockout, ref tackles Ben Bommber to save him from Tszyu's onslaught. Nikita moves to 6-0. #ParkerOpelu

— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) May 24, 2023

Tszyu’s are generational.
After Tim Tszyu becomes undisputed after beating Charlo
Nikita won’t be far off 🏆

— jupiter (@jupgod7) May 24, 2023

Tszyu then called out his next fight, with his tongue firmly in cheek.

“There’s one person in this arena that I’ve had my eye on, and that’s Tyson Fury, the Gypsy King,” Tszyu said.

However, he cheekily added: “Just joking, don’t kill me!”

Ruthless from Nikita. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Tim Tszyu was as animated as the world has ever seen him as he celebrated with his brother and showed just what it meant.

The elder Tszyu brother rated the performance ten out of ten.

“I’m a proud brother, Nikita did a tremendous job,” Tim said.

“Over the moon, the night belongs to him. He’s the man.”

Tim also promised to be back to Melbourne, 20 years after his father had fought at the arena.

Former world champion Jeff Horn called Nikita a “dangerous puncher”.