Sunday Sesh: Tim Tszyu lands $10m fight against Jermell Charlo on NRL Vegas weekend

NRL fans heading to Las Vegas for next year’s season-opener can make it a weekend to remember with Tim Tszyu locked in for a $10 million mega fight against Jermell Charlo.

Tim Tszyu is set to headline a $10 million mega fight against Jermell Charlo as part of the NRL’s season launch in Las Vegas next year.

Tszyu’s promoters No Limit Boxing have held meetings in the US in recent days to advance to the final stage for what will be the richest fight of Tszyu’s career.

The plan is for Tszyu to fight on Friday night in Vegas on February 28 – the day before the NRL extravaganza where the Sharks take on four-time premiers Penrith and the Warriors play Canberra.

The Tszyu-Charlo fight will easily sell out on its own, but given about 50,000 Aussies will already be in the US for the rugby league, it will be like a home bout for Tszyu.

Tim Tszyu and Bakhram Murtazaliev at the final weigh-in for Sunday’s fight. Picture: No Limit Boxing

There had been talk of Nikita Tszyu to headline the fight on the same weekend, but the prospect of Tim Tszyu finally getting his hands on Charlo will prove irresistible. Given the Tszyu brothers share so many of the same cornermen, it’s difficult to fight on the same card.

Tim Tszyu is a league tragic and was on hand to help launch the NRL’s first foray into Las Vegas earlier this year. Now he gets a genuine chance to be part of the celebration.

First Tszyu needs to beat IBF super welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando on Sunday.

BOXING: TSZYU V MURTAZALIEV | Tim Tszyu faces off against undefeated IBF super welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev | SUN 20 OCT 10:30AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports

No Limit CEO George Rose said it’s the fight Tim and Aussie fight fans deserve.

“It (Murtazaliev) is the most important fight of Tim’s career,” Rose said.

“A win ensures he’ll get a homecoming fight later in Australia to end the year, before it’s back to sin city to take down Charlo and kick off NRL Vegas weekend.

The NRL’s Vegas kick-off next year promises to be bigger and better. Picture: NRL Photos

“We’ve had those meetings this week and now it’s up to Timmy to get that belt.

“It will be an incredible moment in Australian sporting history. Tim Tszyu smashing Jermell Charlo in front of thousands of travelling NRL and fight fans will be a sight to behold.”

He is also set to have a return bout in Australia in December before turning his attention to Charlo just two months later.

Tszyu has been chasing Charlo for years, having labelled the American a “coward” and a “fraud” earlier this year.

Charlo was scheduled to fight Tszyu in January 2022 but pulled out with an unconfirmed injury. He has not fought since September last year.

Originally published as Sunday Sesh: Tim Tszyu lands $10m fight against Jermell Charlo on NRL Vegas weekend