ONE year after his last outing, Nikita Tszyu today made his long-awaited return to action, tasked with undefeated Macedonian Lulzim Ismaili in Sydney, but needed just one round to get the job done.
Tszyu, 10-0 (8 KOs), scored a career-best stoppage win against Koen Mazoudier last time out, but suffered a hand injury during the contest that stunted his momentum just as ‘The Butcher’ was about to move beyond the domestic level.
Today, at the ICC Exhibition Centre, Tszyu collided with Tetovo-born Ismaili, who ventured for a fight outside of Europe for the first time in his career and ultimately proved to be no match for the home fighter.
Against his first non-Australian opponent, fav-favourite Tszyu wasted no time in getting to Ismaili, dropping the visitor in the opening round with an authoritative straight left-hand – removing any doubts as to whether he had lost some of his punch power through injury.
Between rounds, Ismaili appeared disinterest in continuing, unwilling to take another brutal left-hand from the hard-hitting Aussie southpaw and all but asking his corner to pull him out of the contest.
His corner appeared to understand the assignment and proceeded with the withdrawal, awarding Tsyzu with a statement first-round victory.
On the undercard, Brock Jarvis, 23-2 (21 KOs), got back to winning ways after losing out to Keith Thurman earlier in the year, registering a fourth-round technical knockout victory against the previously unbeaten Sam Beck, 7-1 (4 KOs).
Meanwhile, Michael Zerafa, 34-5 (22 KOs), needed just one round to dispose of Mikey Dahlman and bank a third knockout victory within 12 months. Although, in the eyes of referee Les Fear at least, Zerafa officially had to pick himself up off the canvas during that short but sweet co-main event.
