Who really is the favourite heading into next week’s Australian boxing title fight between Nikita Tszyu and Dylan Biggs?
The younger Tszyu brother (7-0, 6KOs) will take on Biggs (10-0, 7KOs) next Wednesday in Newcastle in a tantalising matchup between two undefeated rising stars of Australian boxing.
Tszyu, 25, has been on a tear since making his professional boxing debut on a pay-per-view card last year, winning all of his fights in brutal fashion.
BOXING: Nikita Tszyu v Dylan Biggs WED 22nd NOV 7PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
On the other hand, Biggs is a mild mannered 21-year-old from the small Queensland town of Beaudesert and while he is more experienced than Tszyu, has only fought on televised cards a couple of times.
Biggs looks like the real deal, having claimed the Australian super welterweight title against Dan Hill in July and backing it up with a dominant knockout win over Ryan Mitchem in September.
Tszyu has entered all of his fights as the raging favourite, but in a sign of just how evenly matched this fight is — betting markets have him at slightly shorter odds $1.60 to Biggs’ $2.30.
For both fighters it’s their fourth bout of a busy year, and there’s more than just a victory and bragging rights on the line.
Tszyu is seen as Australia’s next PPV boxing star, and a win over Biggs could catapult him onto the international scene fighting on older brother Tim’s undercards in America.
But make no mistake, Biggs is out to derail the Tszyu hype train that has seen him billed as the favourite.
Tszyu’s camp has also ruffled feathers with plans to break one of boxing’s unwritten rules where the champion walks to the ring last.
Speaking to Ben Damon on the Main Event boxing podcast, Biggs said: “I believe the real boxing fans, the ones that watch it for the joy of the sport and for boxing itself know that I’m the ‘A-side’ and see my as the A-side.
“I’ve got the numbers, I’ve had 10 fights as a pro with seven knockouts and I’m the youngest current champion in Australian boxing.”
Asked by Damon what he sees in Tsyzu, Biggs said: “Vulnerability. I see that he’s very hittable. I’d imagine he’s going to be working a lot on his defence in this camp but I don’t see that changing much.”
He also believes he will be the bigger puncher in this fight and can take advantage of Tszyu’s tendency to swing hard and turn fights into an all-out war.
“Yes, I definitely think so. My gift, you could say, is punching power,” Biggs said.
“I haven’t been naturally gifted in skills or reflexes, but punching power has always been my thing.”
Tszyu has faced minor scares against Ben Horn and Jack Brubaker, but Biggs believes most of his opponents have been overawed by the occasion and never gave themselves a chance of winning.
“I think a lot of his opponents have come to fight but they haven’t come to win,” he said.
“It might not even be Nikita’s fault, I’m not going to say cherrypicking or any of the other words, but whether they come to the fight and they look like they take a bit of a dive.
“I think a lot of the people that fight Nikita are looking for a money grab. I’ve copped a lot on social media. People say I’m looking for a money grab.
“But I’m the current super welterweight champ and he wants the belt. So I don’t see how that’s a money grab. He’s coming for me, I’m not coming for him.
“There’s a lot of people that he’s fought — the bright lights have shun them away, they haven’t take it right or the big crowds, just the whole atmosphere and experience has scared them a bit.
“Or they’ve known they were losing coming into it and they’ve just been preparing to survive essentially.
“I’m coming to win. There’s no doubt about it. I’m coming to win. I’m not losing this fight.”
Nicknamed ‘The Butcher’, Tszyu showed off his unique bloodthirsty personality in a bold promotional video for the fight in which he chews on raw meat and drinks milk out of a wine glass.
He’s made no secret of his desire to get revenge on Biggs for dropping him in a sparring session some years ago — something Biggs didn’t realise had sparked a vendetta against him.
“It was a well placed punch, hit him in the right spot,” he recalled.
“He fell down, had a rest for a few seconds, got back and continued to spar. We did a few more rounds after that so not too much to think about.
“It’s a little bit strange but it’s OK. It’s strange to think that another man’s been thinking about you for the last two years. I understand the premise of what he says. He’s got a vendetta out for me. We’ve got bad blood and he’s looking to settle it.
“And that’s OK. I want the big fights, this is what I need.”