If everything goes to plan on Wednesday night, Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa will be a collision course for a highly-anticipated all-Australian grudge fight.
Nikita Tszyu vs Lulzim Ismaili | Wednesday 20 August 7PM AEST | Order this PPV event now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
It is the expectation, with Tszyu’s opponent Lulzim Ismaili paying $11 with TAB while Mikey Dahlman — who fights Zerafa in the co-main event — isn’t given much more of a chance at $9.
But the American, who boasts a 18-1 record and turned pro after a second stint in jail, has plans to spoil both Zerafa and Tszyu’s plans.
Speaking after Tuesday’s weigh-in, Dahlman said he was “very well aware” of the Tszyu family, starting with Hall of Fame father Kostya.
“While Tim has also been on the big stage for a while,” he said.
As for Nikita? Dahlman doesn’t know much about the 27-year-old. But he does know he has plans of beating Ismaili in the main event and then facing Zerafa, who has long had eyes for older brother Tim but has been told by both No Limit and the Tszyu camp that he must fight Nikita first before any fight with the former WBO junior middleweight champion is possible.
“While I’m not as familiar with Nikita, I’m definitely embracing the idea of becoming a massive roadblock in his plans,” Dahlman said.
“I really think I’m going to surprise some people.”
MORE TSZYU VS ISMAILI NEWS
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TSZYU VS HOLYFIELD: Mega fight options emerge as Vegas NRL Aussie double act in the works
Pre-fight drama with Zerafa | 02:19
Other fights on Wednesday’s card include Brock Jarvis’ first fight since his loss to Keith Thurman. He faces undefeated Gold Coast middleweight Sam Beck (7-0).
Elsewhere, the Australian super lightweight title goes on the line when Billy Polkinghorn and Ahmad Reda face off while Jasmine Parr — who has the backing of featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski to make it in the UFC — takes on the undefeated Efasha Kamarudin.
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