Nikita Tszyu is moving on from Australian boxing bad boy Michael Zerafa in emphatic fashion — with the hyped No Limit star having this week agreed to terms with an unbeaten world ranked rival.
Only two months on from his infamous Zerafa ‘No Contest’, Fox Sports Australia can reveal Tszyu is now readying for a Down Under headliner in April against exciting, young Spaniard Oscar Diaz — dubbed ‘El Toro’, or The Bull.
Tszyu vs Nurja | Sunday 5 April from 11am AEST | Tim Tszyu looks to continue his boxing resurgence as he takes on Albanian Denis Nurja. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Still only 25, Diaz is on an undefeated tear stretching seven years and 16 fights.
Apart from being three years younger than Tszyu, he also boasts as many years in extra experience.
Elsewhere, the WBC Latino champ sits top 15 in the WBO super welterweight rankings, meaning a win over Tszyu will get him within striking distance of WBO champ Xander Zayas.
Wonderfully, of course, Diaz also gifts No Limit the promotional dream that is ‘Butcher’ versus ‘The Bull’.
Asked about the Diaz development overnight, representatives for Australia’s No.1 promoter were remaining tight-lipped.
It’s understood however that an agreement has already been reached between the two camps, with a Main Event pay-per-view slated for some time this month.
A host city is still to be confirmed.
READ MORE BOXING
‘ANNIHILATE HIM’: Dog’ comes out in Tszyu after first face off with rival ahead of $15m gamble
NAS: Ex-NRL badboy’s ‘blunt’ boxing confession… and the big fish still on his footy hitlist
Fenech’s big update over Tszyu boycott as secret fight week chat and $15m fear revealed
The deal comes as the younger Tszyu sibling is increasingly making a name on the world stage, with Hall of Famer Timothy Bradley recently outing ‘The Butcher’ as more talented than even his former world champion brother.
Tim Tszyu, meanwhile, is readying to pitch himself into an Errol Spence Jnr blockbuster, with his ticket punched so long as he beats undefeated Albanian Denis Nurja in Wollongong this Sunday.
Currently, Nikita Tszyu is ranked inside the top 10 with both the IBF and WBO.
Already, there have been reports of him looking to set up a shot against either Zayas or England’s Josh Kelly, who hold the IBF super welterweight crown.
Importantly, Tszyu and his team are also keen to move on from the undeniable dung heap that was his aborted Brisbane headliner against Zerafa back in January.
Speaking in fight week, Tszyu had vowed to use ‘Pretty Boy’ as a springboard to big international opportunities, just as older brother Tim had done with his own 2020 victory over Jeff Horn.
And while the ensuing fight hardly went to plan – with Zerafa retiring within three rounds due to a cut, and claiming he couldn’t see – Tszyu will now continue on with his global push regardless.
Despite initial whispers of a Zerafa rematch, the younger Tszyu sibling has continually stressed he no longer wants any more to do with the Melburnian.
He has now doubled down on those claims, and likely ended the rivalry between his family and Zerafa forever, by securing what is only his second international rival.
Back in August last year, Tszyu needed only a round to finish Lulzim Ismail, who retired in his corner with a broken rib.
Tszyu vs Nurja | Sunday 5 April from 11am AEST | Tim Tszyu looks to continue his boxing resurgence as he takes on Albanian Denis Nurja. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Tim sends message after Nurja meeting | 03:01
Elsewhere, Diaz will also be getting Tszyu at a time where questions still hang over both the Australian’s troublesome left hand and limited ring time.
Since August 2024, the Sydneysider has fought just four rounds against Zerafa and Ismaili.
Before that, Tszyu was also outed for a year following complications from left hand surgery, although he appeared to come through the brief Zerafa contest without any complications.
Earlier this month, ‘The Butcher’ also made headlines following that bizarre Youtube rant by American great Bradley, who suggested the younger Tszyu was now beating up his brother in sparring.
In a surprise spray, the Hall of Famer also branded Tim Tszyu done, said he could no longer take a punch, and was set to be kayoed should he enter the ring with Spence.
“Errol Spence know how to fight,” Bradley started. “And he gunna let them hands go.
“He gunna take it to Tim Tszyu.
“And Tim Tszyu is one of those guys, he stands right in front of you.
“He ain’t one of those guys who picks up his feet and moves.
“Tim Tszyu’s little brother is better than him.
“He [Nikita] has probably been whopping his ass in sparring. Yeah, he been whoopin’ his ass. I already know he do.
“He’s a leftie, moves his head side to side, I know he be whoopin’ his ass in the gym for real … but they don’t be talkin’ about it.”
Asked for a response last week, Tim Tszyu laughed: “Oh, my God. Is that what you think Tim Bradley? Really? OK, go ask Nikita. Go ask him and you’ll get your answer … get the f*** outta here.”
Discussion about this post