What’s next for Australia’s biggest boxing stars in 2024?

We’ve already seen plenty of good fights in 2024, and there are many more on the way. But what lies ahead of Australia’s biggest and best boxers, BRENDAN BRADFORD breaks it all down.

Tim Tszyu will be back in action in August in Los Angeles. Picture: Steve Marcus/Getty Images

It’s been a hectic start to 2024 for Australia’s best boxers.

We’ve seen world title bouts, eliminators and domestic grudge matches, as well as knockouts, upsets and blood baths.

With a brief respite in the boxing schedule on the domestic front, we look ahead to what could be next for some of Australia’s biggest stars.

TIM TSZYU

Tszyu has a dangerous fight with former welterweight knockout artist Vergil Ortiz on one of the best cards of 2024 in Los Angeles on August 3 (August 4 in Australia). The card also features Terence Crawford fighting Israil Madrimov, with a heavyweight clash between former unified world champion Andy Ruiz and Jarrell Miller on the billing as well.

Tszyu has spent the last couple of weeks training with his dad, Kostya, in Thailand in preparation.

A stray elbow from Sebastian Fundora left Tim Tszyu a bloody mess in March. Picture: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

JAI OPETAIA

Opetaia is fresh off a courageous unanimous decision win over Mairis Briedis in Saudi Arabia last weekend.

The victory saw Opetaia win back the IBF cruiserweight world title he was stripped of in December.

He’ll be watching next month’s WBO world title fight between champion Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe before attempting to line up a unification bout with the winner.

Opetaia (R) won back his IBF cruiserweight world title last weekend. Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

SAM GOODMAN

Goodman is the number one ranked super-bantamweight with the WBO and IBF and will likely fight Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue later this year.

Goodman confronted Inoue in the ring following ‘The Monster’s’ win over Luis Nery earlier this month, but Inoue will likely face Irish-Australian TJ Doheny in September.

In the meantime, Goodman will headline a card in Australia against another elite world-level opponent.

Goodman and coach Joel Keegan will then travel to Colorado to train alongside Terence Crawford in preparation for the biggest fight of his life against Inoue.

NIKITA TSZYU

‘The Butcher’ defended his Australian super-welterweight title in a hard-fought scrap against tough Italian Danilo Creati in April.

After a long camp, including a few weeks in Las Vegas alongside Tim, Nikita needed some time off to let his hands rest up.

Koen Mazoudier is the front-runner to fight for Nikita’s title, but the younger Tszyu brother has been attracting plenty of attention from overseas promoters as well.

Nikita Tszyu has emerged as a PPV star. Picture: No Limit Boxing

JASON MOLONEY

Moloney most recently lost his WBO bantamweight world title to Yoshiki Takei in Japan.

The fight was in front of 55,000 people at the Tokyo Dome on Naoya Inoue’s undercard.

Moloney and twin brother Andrew are preparing for the opening of their brand new gym in Tweed Heads, before the 33-year-old plans another run at a 118 pound world title.

Where to next for the Moloney brothers? Picture: Getty Images

ANDREW MOLONEY

Andrew tearfully announced his retirement from the sport following a split decision defeat to Pedro Guevara in Perth earlier this month.

Moloney has since walked back that retirement announcement, and has a rematch lined up with Guevara.

Moloney fought through a torn biceps in his left arm, which severely limited his output. He has since had surgery on the arm and is already plotting his comeback.

LIAM WILSON

‘Mr Damage’ went toe-to-toe with former world champion Oscar Valdez in March, falling short in a seventh round TKO defeat in Arizona.

Wilson has spoken about wanting to fight George Kambosos in what would be a domestic blockbuster. Kambosos’ promoter Lou di Bella hosed down that idea, but with Wilson moving up to lightweight for his next bout, it remains a possibility.

Expect Wilson to make his 135-pound (lightweight) debut over the next few months against a worthwhile domestic opponent like Uwee Dib or Ibrahim Balla.

Liam Wilson (L) gave it a good crack against Oscar Valdez. Picture: Top Rank/Mikey Williams

GEORGE KAMBOSOS

The Sydneysider is coming off a one-sided defeat to all-time great Vasiliy Lomachenko, but there are still big fights to be made.

A super-lightweight showdown with Teofimo Lopez makes sense after Kambosos’ shock win over the American in 2021. Kambosos would need to earn a couple of wins at 140 pounds before that fight can happen though.

Despite what di Bella says though, don’t count out the possibility of a lightweight showdown with Wilson at some point.

Kambosos was outgunned by Vasiliy Lomachenko. Picture: Top Rank/Mikey Williams

LIAM PARO

The Queenslander is Australia’s next world title contender, but has a very tough task travelling to Puerto Rico to take on Subriel Matias on June 15 (June 16 in Australia).

The hard-hitting Paro is one of Australian boxing’s great hidden talents and is looking to cause a massive boilover in fighting for Matias’ IBF super-lightweight world title.

Liam Paro (L) is Australia’s next world title hope. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

MICHAEL ZERAFA

Zerafa is coming off a one-sided second round knockout to 40-year-old Cuban Erislandy Lara in March.

‘The Pretty Boy’ has been talking about fighting former super-welterweight world champion Liam Smith next.

SKYE NICOLSON

For one week in May, Nicolson was Australia’s only world champion, after winning the WBC featherweight world title over Sarah Mahfoud in April.

Nicolson has fought all over the world since making her professional debut in 2022 and wants to defend the title in Australia.

That could happen as soon as July, and could feature Queensland stars Conor Wallace and Justis Huni on the same card.

Skye Nicolson, Jai Opetaia and Cherneka Johnson are Australia’s only current boxing world champions. Picture: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

MATEO TAPIA

Tapia made his No Limit debut at middleweight in April, and will be back in action over the next few months.

The Sydney-born scrapper is now based in Florida, but there are plenty of domestic fights for him, including against Issac Hardman and Michael Zerafa.

CHERNEKA JOHNSON

‘Sugar Neeks’ won the WBA bantamweight world title over Nina Hughes on the Lomachenko-Kambosos undercard.

Hughes’ camp were furious with the scoring of the fight and the Englishwoman has since enacted her rematch clause.

Originally published as What’s next for Australia’s biggest boxing stars in 2024?