So you ask George Rose as he steps foot onto the tarmac in Arizona exactly how much hiring a private jet is worth?
“US dollars?” Rose cackles. “Or Australian?”.
Told whatever figure causes him least stress, the No Limit CEO grins before continuing: “Let’s just say I’ll be working some extra nights over the next few months to cover it all.
“But that’s OK … it’s worth every cent.”
In a move mimicking the likes of Tyson Fury, Conor McGregor, even Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, Rose has flown into Las Vegas via private jet for a blockbuster world title fight.
BOXING: Don’t miss Tim Tszyu in a unified World Title fight this Sunday against 6-foot 6 Towering Inferno Sebastian Fundora. Plus catch fellow Aussie Michael Zerafa taking on Erislandy Lara for his shot to become the Middle Weight World Champion LIVE from Las Vegas | SUN 31 MAR 11AM AEDT | Exclusive to Main Event, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription needed.
Full Tszyu v Fundora Weigh In | 05:19
As part of a weekend dubbed the biggest in Australian boxing history, Rose and a small crew flew a 900km roundtrip on Friday so they could be ringside for all three title fights involving Tim Tszyu, Michael Zerafa and Liam Wilson.
Already the reigning WBO super welterweight champion, Tszyu will take on the biggest challenge of his career, in every sense, this Saturday night in the US (or Sunday afternoon, Down Under) against towering American southpaw Sebastian Fundora.
On the undercard inside T Mobile Arena, Zerafa also gets his long-awaited title shot against WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara.
All of which tops a chaotic 24 hours that started on Friday night in Arizona when Wilson challenged Mexico’s Oscar Valdez for the WBO interim super featherweight crown.
Given both Tszyu and Wilson are promoted by No Limit, Rose hired an eight-seater jet for himself, his brothers, staff and Glen Jennings, the manager also boasting both fighters in his stable.
Leaving Las Vegas shortly after 4pm, the group made a short 45-minute flight across the border before being greeted on the tarmac in Arizona by a black SUV, with the driver then whisking the crew straight to Desert Diamond Arena.
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Valdez vs. Wilson: Full Fight Highlights | 07:07
Unfortunately, and despite making a barnburner of the opening rounds, Wilson would eventually be stopped in the seventh as Valdez, well known for his power, hammered the Aussie with a barrage of punches.
Yet so strong had Queensland’s Mr Damage been in so many of the early rounds, his rival revealed afterwards just how close he had come to starting this biggest of boxing weekend with a title win..
“He almost got me,” Valdez would say afterwards of Wilson, who was also famously robbed of a title against Emanuel Navarrete in the same venue a year earlier.
“He’s just a slight chance away from being a world champion. He can be a world champion”.
When the pair caught up backstage afterwards, Valdez urged Wilson to stay on the promise he’d made years ago to his dad Peter when, shortly before passing, he vowed win him a world title.
“Remember the promise you made,” Valdez said.
All of which capped an emotional night for Rose, who having been there to greet Wilson when he arrived at the arena, was also backstage afterwards to commiserate with the gutsy Aussie and his family in defeat.
For well over an hour the promoter stayed with the obviously emotional fighter, and champion fella, who admitted to both letting “my heart take over” and “wanting to fight too much”.
BOXING: Tszyu v Fundora + Zerafa v Lara LIVE from Las Vegas | SUN 31 MAR 11AM AEDT | Exclusive to Main Event, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription needed.
‘Amateur’ – Tszyu slams Fundora’s diet | 00:55
After spending time with Wilson, the No Limit boss and his crew were then chauffeured back to the airport, clambered aboard ‘Rose Airways’ and arrived back in Las Vegas sometime after midnight.
Asked about the trip, Rose said there was no way he wasn’t watching both Tszyu and Wilson fight for belts in what shapes as a huge weekend for Australian boxing.
“All of our fighters mean the world to us,” Rose said, speaking with Fox Sports Australia prior to the Wilson fight on his way to the Arizona venue.
“And with Liam, we’ve been on such a rollercoaster journey.
“We’ve seen huge fights, tough losses, incredible comebacks, everything.
“So when this fight came up just 24 hours before Tim Tszyu, there was no way we were missing it.
“We don’t like to miss a regular fight, let alone one with a world title on the line.
“So whatever it takes to be alongside our fighters, we make it happen.”
First time on a private jet?
“Yep, first time on a private jet,” he continued.
“And a long way from the buses and trains I used to ride.
“So this has all been a very different experience for me.”
START TIME: What time does the Tszyu vs Fundora fight start in Australia?
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know about Tszyu vs Fundora
‘Valdez said backstage how close I was!’ | 02:34
When the Rose crew arrived inside Desert Diamond Arena, they also met up with another No Limit client in world No.1 super bantamweight contender Sam Goodman, who has also flown in from Australia to be present for all three world title fights.
At the urging of his promoters, the undefeated 25-year-old will then likely stay on in Las Vegas for sparring as he prepares for, most likely, showdown with Japanese megastar and unified division king Naoya Inoue.
When Rose was told all this was all a long way from the company’s beginnings just over 10 years ago, when they staged a fight night inside Dubbo RSL, the promoter said it was more specifically the culmination of “years of hard work”.
The retired NRL cult figure also paid tribute to his brothers Matt and Trent, saying “there isn’t anybody else I’d want to be doing this with”.
“And it’s been a big week already,” he said.
“But getting to this point we’re at now, where Tim Tszyu’s face is plastered across Las Vegas, about to headline a US pay-per-view, it really is incredible.
“And the fact we’ve been able to make it happen means everything.”
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