Brock Jarvis eyes up Nikita Tszyu blockbuster after long-awaited comeback; takes another shot at Hass Hamdan

Brock Jarvis has just lit the fuse on a big Nikita Tszyu domestic rivalry, while the comeback kid takes another shot at a bitter enemy, writes BRENDAN BRADFORD.

Daily Telegraph. 27, November, 2024. Sydney boxer Brock Jarvis, at Bodypunch Gym, at Lakemba, today. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Comeback kid Brock Jarvis vows to stop Adrian Rodriguez in five rounds on Friday night, before looking ahead to a domestic blockbuster with Nikita Tszyu in 2025.

The 27-year-old Sydneysider, who hasn’t fought in 18 months, took another shot at Hass Hamdan too, saying his former mate is “using my name to stay relevant” during his three-year suspension from the sport.

In Friday night’s main event, Jarvis – who will make the unprecedented move up three weight classes from super-lightweight to middleweight – promises to make light work of the 13-10-2 Rodriguez.

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Brock Jarvis vows to stop Adrian Rodriguez in five rounds.. Picture: No Limit Boxing

“He’s experienced, but there’s nothing special there, he’s just a come forward guy,” Jarvis told this masthead. “I’ll stop him in five.

“I’ve got to look good, and move onto the next.

“There’s big fights on the horizon next year. That’s what I’m looking towards. I’m not looking past him, I’m looking through him.”

One of the big fights that has been floated is a domestic middleweight blockbuster with the younger Tszyu brother.

Tszyu most recently stopped Koen Mazoudier in a contender for domestic fight of the year, and has been recovering from surgery since.

A date hasn’t been set for Tszyu’s return, but promoter No Limit is hopeful it will come in the first three months of 2025.

“I will be ready for whenever the call is made,” Jarvis said of fighting Nikita.

“No Limit can ring me up and I’ll be there.

“I have no idea what he’s doing. I’m not interested in what he’s doing.

“When the opportunity presents itself, I’m there. Simple as that.”

Nikita Tszyu most recently stopped Koen Mazoudier. Picture: No Limit Boxing

No Limit CEO George Rose said a Tszyu-Jarvis showdown makes perfect sense for 2025.

“Brock gets huge support here in Australia, and he’s a name,” Rose told this masthead. “Nikita’s the same.

“Nikita’s a local pay-per-view star, and they’re the two most exciting names in the country around this weight division.

“When they were having words recently, I was getting excited about it. It’s a fight we want to make.”

There’s already history between Jarvis and Tszyu too.

“We sparred a couple of times in the amateurs,” Nikita told this masthead in April.

“It was just when he was starting off as well.

“I remember kicking his ass. So, let’s go again.

“We’ll see how much he’s improved. With small 10 ounce gloves (in the pros) and over 10 rounds…Poor Brocky.”

Jarvis also poured cold water on a possible showdown with Hamdan, who ignited their long-simmering rivalry in an interview with this masthead earlier this month.

Hamdan is nearly one year through a three-year suspension in New South Wales for throwing a water bottle at a ringside official while watching his brother in an amateur fight in Sydney in 2023.

“Listen, Hass Hamdan is just trying to keep himself relevant through me,” Jarvis said.

“That’s it. He can’t even fight here in Sydney. He’s got a three-year ban because he threw a water bottle at an official.

Former teammates turned bitter rivals.

Hass Hamdan has called for a domestic blockbuster against the returning Brock Jarvis.#ozboxing#boxingpic.twitter.com/9SePrh1Fi4

— Aus-Boxing.com (@ausboxing) November 29, 2024

“He just revealed the kind of person he is to me. I’ve never had any animosity towards the bloke, and to find out that way that’s how he felt about me, I couldn’t believe it.

“If he’s got ill feelings, I couldn’t care less.”

Asked whether he was excited at the prospect of his one-time mate being at the fights, Jarvis said: “My understanding is he’s not even allowed to be at the fight.

“But I couldn’t give a shit what he does.”

Meanwhile, professional debutant Callum Peters has a new opponent for Friday night’s card after George Webb Rose was denied a license to fight by the Combat Sport Authority of New South Wales.

Paris Olympian Peters will now face Wollongong fighter Mitch Holden as he takes the first steps of his professional career.

JARVIS v RODRIGUEZ: Watch live and free on Kayo Sports & Fox Sport Ch503 from 6pm AEDT on Friday.

Originally published as Brock Jarvis eyes up Nikita Tszyu blockbuster after long-awaited comeback; takes another shot at Hass Hamdan