Nikita to be ranked above Tim for first time as query hangs over Tszyu’s all-Aussie blockbuster

Nikita Tszyu is about to be catapulted above big brother Tim’s world ranking for the first time in his career – and with negotiations now ramping up for an all-Australian grudge match with Michael ‘Pretty Boy’ Zerafa.

Only a week after forcing European prospect Lulzim Ismaili to quit on his stool, Fox Sports Australia can reveal The Butcher will next week be elevated into an IBF super welterweight top 10 boasting the likes of Keith Thurman, Erickson Lubin and champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.

The revelation comes with Team Tszyu also now keen to finalise a hyped domestic showcase for November, and most likely against Zerafa – although Sydney’s Brock Jarvis could still steal the challenger spot for himself.

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As first revealed by Fox Sport Australia in June, contracts have already been drawn up for Nikita Tszyu and Zerafa to throw down before Christmas – with potential venues including Sydney’s CommBank Stadium and Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.

Yet only this week, Jarvis was announced as a surprise inclusion on No Limit’s September pay-per-view card, effectively allowing the 27-year-old one more chance to make a play for The Butcher should Zerafa talks hit complications, or stall.

Elsewhere, it’s understood Team Tszyu are also in discussions with several potential international rivals, especially given the unbeaten super welterweight is now ranked with both the IBF and WBO.

Currently, both Nikita and Tim Tszyu are positioned at No.11 with the IBF and WBC respectively.

However, when updated rankings are released by the IBF next week, Nikita will almost certainly go one spot higher after last Wednesday continuing an undefeated tear now stretching eleven straight.

It will be the first time Nikita has sat higher than his brother across the four major organisations, although there remains real interest from US promoters PBC to have Tim Tszyu fight again this year — despite having now lost three straight title fights on US soil.

All of which comes as the younger Tszyu’s proposed November showdown creates a host of questions for not only himself, or even big brother, but domestic stars like Harry Garside, Liam Paro, even Sam Goodman.

Below, Fox Sports Australia breaks down where everything is at.

WHEN WILL NIKITA FIGHT NEXT?

Right now, November seems the most likely date.

Leading into last Wednesday’s headliner, both No Limit and Team Tszyu were keen for The Butcher to fight twice more in 2025 – specifically, Jarvis in October and then Zerafa in December.

However, and while no one is saying it publicly, there must undeniably be some concern around how Tszyu now manages that troublesome left hand which even the fighter himself concedes is a problem – right before telling you not to worry.

Despite fighting for only three minutes against Ismaili, Tszyu fronted the press conference afterwards with a large ice pack on his power hand.

While No Limit CEO George Rose also announced after the win that there would be an October show in Melbourne, there is now a strong chance that event will instead be engulfed by a huge November card that boasts a chunk of the promotion’s biggest names.

IS NIKITA TSZYU READY FOR ZERAFA?

Among the biggest questions in Australian boxing, right?

Understanding that with Tim Tszyu having now lost three of his past four – albeit against world champions – The Butcher is suddenly under more than a little pressure to assume some heavy lifting for promoters, No Limit.

And without doubt, Zerafa is also a huge step up for the 27-year-old.

Yet the Tszyu camp are extremely confident their charge has everything required to finish a rival undeniably far closer to the end of his career than the start.

After a year out of the sport with that left hand injury, The Butcher needed only three minutes to confirm himself back in last Wednesday’s showcase against Ismaili – who retired on his stool after only a round.

While the undefeated Macedonian was clearly out of his depth, Tszyu’s team have seen enough in both sparring and gym work over the past year to feel confident their powerful southpaw is ready for Zerafa.

Still, apart from boasting 11 years of added experience, or 28 additional fights, Pretty Boy also represents a huge step up in class — having previously fought the likes of Kell Brook, Peter Quillin and Erislandy Lara.

While the Rose boys remain tight-lipped on where discussions are at, it’s understood the promoters are convinced over 20,000 fans could attend the biggest domestic grudge match since Tim Tszyu versus Jeff Horn six years ago.

Venues already being discussed include Sydney’s CommBank Stadium, Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast and McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, home to the Knights.

WHAT WEIGHT WOULD THEY FIGHT AT?

Currently, Zerafa is campaigning at middleweight, or 72.6kg.

Tszyu, meanwhile, is a division lighter at super welterweight, where the required weight is 69.9kg.

If Pretty Boy were asked to boil down for the November showcase, Tszyu would likely start as the slight betting favourite.

Similarly, if it was Nikita moving up, betting lines would almost certainly be reversed.

The most likely option, therefore, is a catchweight where the pair split the difference at around 71kg.

WHO WALKS LAST?

This will likely become one of many fight week stories, given Zerafa is now highly ranked at middleweight with the WBA (8), WBO (11) and IBF (15).

Undeniably too, Pretty Boy sees himself as the A-side.

Indeed, apart from being linked to one, and possibly both Tszyu boys, the Melburnian is also staying ready for potential world title opportunities, with suggestions no less than three of his division’s four major belts could soon be vacated.

Already, there has been talk of Janibek Alimkhanuly moving up, which would see both the IBF and WBO straps vacated.

Erislandy Lara, meanwhile, is also now aged 42 and potentially considering retirement, which would free up the WBA strap.

Back in 2024, Lara needed less than a round to stop Zerafa, however the Australian has since responded with three straight wins against Tommy Browne, Germany’s Besir Ay, and American Mikey Dahlman, who he finished within a round last Wednesday night.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR TIM TSZYU VERSUS ZERAFA?

Tim Tszyu has said previously he will never face Zerafa, who famously walked out on their 2021 domestic blockbuster.

But if Zerafa beats Nikita? And then grabs the microphone to attack all things Tszyu?

You have to think it happens.

Of course, if Nikita wins, the second fight is deader than desert boots.

Regardless, Tim Tszyu is currently holidaying in Japan and not expected to return before 2026. But who knows?

In recent days, the fighter has been posting training footage to his socials, while US promoters PBC are also definitely still convinced the 30-year-old can become a two-time champion.

SO WHAT CHANCE JARVIS?

Yes, there is still a chance Jarvis could steal the Tszyu showcase for himself.

After being brutally stopped by American great Keith Thurman in March, the 27-year-old has since gone and made a solid return on last Wednesday’s Nikita Tszyu undercard, handing undefeated Queenslander Sam Beck his first loss.

However, with even his own coach Jeff Fenech conceding the Round 4 TKO could have been better, the Sydneysider now gets another chance to shine on the undercard of Liam Paro’s September world title eliminator in Brisbane.

Jarvis faces Queenslander Ken Aitken (11-2), with a highlight reel finish capable of putting him into the mix if Team Zerafa haven’t already signed off.

SO WHO ELSE WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER CARD?

Apart from a Tszyu headliner, the November showcase could also herald the return of Olympian Harry Garside – with discussions underway for the Aussie favourite to challenge the nation’s new super lightweight champ, Ahmad Reda.

Reda has been chasing Garside for some time, with the bad blood stemming back to a contentious amateur showdown between the two.

There is also talk of Sam Goodman returning after his heroic world title loss against Nick Ball, while Olympian Callum Peters will also be back from the IBA World Championships – where he is looking to become the first Australian to win gold.

Elsewhere, and given the eyeballs a Tszyu-Zerafa showdown would generate, several fighters appearing on the September card in Brisbane — headlined by Liam Paro and France’s David Papot — are also in preliminary talks of going around again if victorious.

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES?

Apart from a November pay-per-view, Tszyu is also being discussed for a Las Vegas headliner on the same weekend as the 2026 NRL season opener.

Already, Tszyu has branded the bold push as “perfect” – with the son of American heavyweight great Evander Holyfield on a hit list of possible opponents.

While the NRL weekend idea has previously been discussed for Tim Tszyu, organisers now believe Nikita boasts a big enough name to headline what would be a historic event – especially against an appropriate rival.

As a result, a hit list of names have already been drawn up to ensure Tszyu squares off against an American surname of similar standing.

Potential rivals for The Butcher include Evan Holyfield, Shane Moseley Jnr, Antonio Tarver Jnr and longtime target Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali.

Should Tszyu beat Zerafa, or even Jarvis, in November then a Las Vegas showcase in March for some 30,000 travelling rugby league fans would be huge.