Nikita Tszyu has catapulted himself up among Australia’s three most marketable boxers – joining Tim Tszyu and George ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos – after winning his first national title in a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender.
No Limit CEO George Rose has made the claim while also suggesting world champion brother Tim has also confirmed himself the undisputed face of Australian boxing – pointing to a Forbes list outing him as the country’s seventh most Googled person this year.
Australian boxing is currently enjoying an incredible run thanks to the exploits of world champions Tszyu, Kambosos, Jai Opetaia and Jason Moloney.
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Nikita Tszyu, meanwhile, also heads a large crew of breakout stars and title challengers, including Sam Goodman and Liam Wilson — who, together, will headline the final No Limit card of the year tonight.
The Tszyu boys are both set to be rewarded for their incredible years at the 2023 No Limit/Fox Sports boxing awards, to be announced at Sydney’s The Star.
The gongs will be revealed during coverage of rising Aussie star Goodman’s hyped headliner against undefeated Chinese contender Zhong Liu.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Rose said Nikita Tszyu was now “on the podium” when it comes to the country’s biggest boxing Pay-Per-View attractions.
He also said big brother Tim was the undisputed face of Aussie combat sports — pointing to Forbes data which has outed the WBO super welterweight king as the seventh most Googled Australian this year, and fourth highest among current athletes.
On the list released this week, the top two spots were owned by Matildas stars Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler, with Michael Clarke third and Brisbane Broncos poster boy Reece Walsh fourth.
Former Victorian premier Dan Andrews was fifth, with Kanye West’s Aussie wife Bianca Censori in sixth.
Then comes Tszyu, whose blockbuster year has seen him beat former world champion Tony Harrison, Mexico’s Carlos Ocampo and fellow title contender Brian Mendoza.
Younger brother Nikita, meanwhile, has also had an incredible calendar year, defeating Bo Belbin, Benjamin Bommber, Jack Brubaker and Dylan Biggs, the last of which is also a contender ‘Fight of the Year’.
Other contenders from the No Limit stable, include:
1. Kiki Leutele v Toese Vousiutu;
2. Brent Walton v Dharringarra Trewhella;
3. Albert Nolan v Vegas Larfield; and
4. Shanell Dargan v Amber Amelia.
Speaking about the younger Tszyu brother, Rose told Fox Sports Australia: “Nikita Tszyu has real star power here in Australia now.
“He’s proved himself one of the top three active Pay-Per-View performers in the country, with his brother and George Kambosos.
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“Nikita has moved up onto the podium and it’s his performances that have put him there.”
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia, there have already been discussions about Nikita Tszyu headlining No Limit’s proposed March show in Las Vegas.
If given the green light, the card will be held on the same weekend as the NRL launch and, preferably, would be topped by Tim Tszyu defending his gold strap.
If however, the eldest Tszyu cannot get a world title defence lined up in time, there has been talk of The Butcher taking top spot on a unique ‘Australia versus the US’ card.
Asked where discussions were it, Rose gave little away but did reconfirm a Nikita Tszyu headliner was possibile, especially giving the hype surrounding his win over undefeated Australian super welterweight champ Biggs.
Despite being dropped in the first round, and rattled in the third, Tszyu eventually stopped the nation’s youngest champion through five incredible rounds.
“Tim Tszyu, obviously, is already building his profile in the US,” Rose said.
“Same with guys like Sam Goodman and Liam Wilson.
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“And while Nikita hasn’t done that yet, he is a star attraction here in Australia and Las Vegas will be filled with Aussie sports fans for that week.
“The show we’re putting on there will also be unique.
“And Nikita Tszyu puts on a show.
“The way he fights, that will entertain the hell out of Americans.
“I know as soon as they watch him fight, they’re going to want more.”
Asked how close the event was to being confirmed, Rose said: “Nothing is done until it’s done.
“This is boxing so I can’t confirm anything until it’s locked away, but we are definitely well down the track of those conversations.
“And as long as we do get something locked away, it’s just going to add to a great week for all the Australians who travel over there.”
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