AUSTRALIAN boxing fans have found a new favourite in Nikita Tszyu and a reported December showdown with Michael Zerafa is set to provide him with his toughest test yet. Despite being involved in a car crash at the weekend, it seems as though the fight will go ahead.
Tszyu, 11-0 (9 KOs), hopes to follow in the footsteps of both his father and older brother and become the third man from his family to claim a world title.
However, after a career-best victory over Koen Mazoudier last summer, ‘The Butcher’ was sidelined for almost 12 months with an injury to his left-hand that stunted his progression.
Two months ago, Tszyu finally made his comeback and did so in style, needing to deal just one round of punishment to force Lulzim Ismaili to quit on his stool, before talks of a domestic dust-up with former middleweight world title challenger, Zerafa, began.
It has since been reported that Tszyu and Zerafa are in the final stages of negotiation ahead of a captivating clash in Australia in December, with the weight for the contest being a likely sticking point, due to Zerafa campaigning in the weight-class above.
Although, those talks have since been put on hold, following news that Nikita Tszyu had been involved in a car crash at the weekend.
According to Fox Sports AU’s Ben Damon, Tszyu’s car was ‘t-boned at an intersection’ but only minor injuries were suffered and his meeting with Zerafa should not be impacted.
“Nikita Tszyu was in a scary accident at the weekend, where his car was t-boned at an intersection, but he tells me it could have been much worse. Minor injuries shouldn’t impact planned Michael Zerafa showdown before the end of the year.”
Zerafa had previously signed to take on Nikita’s brother, Tim, in an all-Australian grudge match over four years ago, that was later cancelled amid Zerafa’s concerns regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.
Now, it seems as though Tszyu-Zerafa will finally go ahead, albeit with a different man representing that historic boxing name, with a car crash failing to deter the undefeated southpaw from a scrap with his brother’s fierce rival.
