American boxing great Shawn Porter has urged Tim Tszyu to make his next world title defence against American Erickson Lubin – while also urging younger brother Nikita to accept his place in boxing and walk to the ring first in his Australian title debut.
A two-time world champion, Porter has jetted into Australia this week to be part of the Main Event commentary team for tonight’s Australian title fight between Nikita Tszyu and reigning super welterweight champ Dylan Biggs.
Should the younger Tszyu win his eighth straight fight, talks are already underway for him to then be catapulted straight into his US boxing debut – and on the same card as WBO world champion brother, Tim.
Currently, promoters No Limit are trying to lock down a card on the same March weekend as the NRL season launch in Las Vegas, with possible contenders for ‘The Butcher’ including Nico Ali-Walsh, the grandson of boxing legend of Muhammad Ali.
BOXING: Nikita Tszyu v Dylan Biggs WED 22nd NOV 7PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports >>
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Porter said he was looking forward to what could eventually be a “Tszyu explosion” in world boxing, while also revealing who Tim Tszyu.
Elsewhere, Porter also had his say on the continuing walkout drama which forms one part of five major storylines surrounding the hyped Newcastle card …
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1. WHO WALKS TO THE RING FIRST?
As you may have already heard, Nikita Tszyu could also be forced into a long wait in his dressing room tonight should Biggs stick solid with his promise to walk out last, as is his right as champion.
While promoters No Limit are pushing to break from boxing tradition and have Tszyu, as the undeniable A side, walk last, Team Biggs are refusing to budge – and have hinted they will gladly wager a ‘stand off’ if required.
Asked about the situation this week, Porter urged the champ to stick to his guns, despite No Limit CEO George Rose having already stated that Wednesday night’s showdown “is the Nikita Tszyu show”.
So Tszyu shouldn’t go last then?
“Nah, that’s not gunna happen,” Porter insisted.
“The champion walking last is part of boxing religion.
“And Dylan should make a fuss about it.
“He should be walking second.
“Although I’m absolutely not surprised by any of this.
“It’s the job of No Limit to get into Dylan’s head.
“And Nikita should do that as well.
“It makes all the sense in the world.
“But I think on fight night Dylan will end up walking second, and he should”.
2. HOW DANGEROUS IS DYLAN BIGGS?
According to TAB officials, all the money for Wednesday night’s Australian title fight is currently coming for a Biggs KO win – which at $7.50 is easily their worst way.
Porter understands why, too.
“Dylan’s trouble,” he says of the champ. “He’s fast, patient, controls the range.
“Not a lot of defence but he doesn’t shy away from taking steps back to control the range and the distance.
“This is a tough fight for both guys and stylistically a hard one to call, man.
“They’re both in the same level in my estimation.
“And both undefeated.
“But somebody has to lose this one … and there is just something about Dylan.
“He’s a sharp fighter.”
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3. WHAT DOES A WIN MEAN FOR NIKITA TSZYU?
Best case, a win for Tszyu catapults him straight into Las Vegas blockbuster alongside big brother – and potentially against the grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia back in February, promoters No Limit are keen to create a fight between two of the biggest names in fight history by chasing a Tszyu bout with Nico Ali-Walsh.
Still only 23, the American fights at middleweight, and lost his last bout in August, but would be a massive test for the youngest son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu.
Currently, No Limit are trying to organise a Las Vegas card featuring both brothers for the same weekend that the NRL launches its season in the world’s fight capital.
Asked about it all this week, Tszyu simply smiled and said: “I’ll talk about that after the Wednesday night”.
While WBO champ Tim Tszyu is being continually linked to a hit list of names like Jermell Charlo, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jnr, two-time world champ Porter names Erickson Lubin as his logical next step.
“Lubin is a realistic path,” Porter said of the 28-year-old American star who has lost only two of 28 fights, against Charlo and Sebastian Fundora.
“He’s coming off a couple of wins, has almost been a position to fight for a world title, so that one makes sense.
“Because I want Tim to stay busy.
“He shouldn’t be focused on names and he shouldn’t even be focused on money.
“The money is going to be there for him.
“He just needs to stay busy, keep winning and get his name and image out there.”
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4. WILL BIGGS CRUMBLE UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHTS?
Despite being undefeated in 10 fights, and the incumbent champion, Team Tszyu have spent much of the build up suggesting the fighter dubbed ‘Beaudesert Storm’ will crack under the pressure.
To which the man himself says what?
“I was born for this,” he told Fox Sports Australia on fight eve.
“Can handle what’s coming all day.
“Nothing about Wednesday night is going to phase me.
“Nothing.
“So his team can say what they like.
“I’ve never cared what people think. Positive, negative, doesn’t matter to me.”
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In fact, Biggs isn’t even sure Tszyu is his toughest opponent, revealing it was yet to be seen if he could take that crown from former Aussie champ Dan Hill – who he stopped in July to take the title.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” the champ said when the question was put.
“On paper, yes – Tszyu is my toughest test.
“But it only takes one punch to ‘lights out’ an opponent.
“And that’s what I’m going to do.”
Porter, meanwhile, suggested that while he liked what he sees in Biggs, there was also a chance this fight could unveil the “Tszyu explosion”.
“Because we’ve seen what dad can do,” he said of Hall of Famer Kostya.
“And we’ve seen Tim come into his own as a world champion.
“Recently, it’s been the ‘Tim Tszyu explosion’.
“But I think if Nikita comes into this ring and takes control right from the opening bell it can become a ‘Tszyu explosion’.
“There are some similarities in the styles between the brothers, too.
“Early on in his career Tim was more of a gunslinger and that’s what we see from Nikita.
“He still has a lot of work to do, and this is a big step up.”
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5. MARK SCHLEIBS WANTS TO TELL HIS SON HE LOVES HIM.
While he may have been a two-time amateur champion before even leaving high school, Aussie super bantamweight Mark Schleibs is currently, and thanks largely to a prolonged Covid hiatus, without a win in four years.
Earlier this week however, the gutsy Melburnian revealed his incredible story to Fox Sports Australia, which includes a tough upbringing, the ongoing search for his biological father, and having been separated from his son Oscar for the past nine months.
Which is why Schleibs so desperately wants to beat Fijian rival Shamal Ram Anuj.
Determined to grab a microphone from main Event’s Ben Damon, stare down a camera barrel, and tell son Oscar he loves him.
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The storyline is one of many on a bumper undercard that sees Queensland middleweight Issac Hardman looking to punch his way back into world title contention, while undefeated Sydney heavyweight Liam Talivaa pushes further into that undefeated run making him one of the most avoided fighters Down Under.
Elsewhere on the undercard, Billy Dib’s prospect Mounir Fathi will also throw down against Queenslander Joel Pavlides.
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