This is Fox Sports Australia’s combat sports column Fighting Words, where we give you all the latest news and views in MMA and boxing, from Australia and abroad.
Tim Tszyu has been declared the superstar most likely to headline an historic ‘5V5’ showdown between Eddie Hearn and Australian promoters No Limit – and in what would be a hyped Ashes battle with new IBF super welterweight king Josh Kelly.
Only days after Kelly aimed a shock throat-slitting taunt at Nikita Tszyu, Fighting Words can confirm it’s big brother who could be catapulted to the top of historic pay-per-view if he beats American great Errol Spence Jnr next up.
Tszyu vs Diaz | Wednesday 6 May from 7pm AEST | Nikita Tszyu continues his rise in boxing as he takes on Spain’s undefeated Oscar Diaz. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Speaking with this column on Wednesday, Matchroom CEO Frank Smith said there is no doubting a win over Spence put ‘The Phoenix’ back into position for “big, big names” — and potentially atop a unique 5V5 card that Hearn has already declared himself “bang up for”.
Yet given Nikita is also ranked at No.6 in the IBF super welterweight division – and two spots higher than his brother – Smith also refused to rule the undefeated 28-year-old out of a title bout with Kelly either.
In fact, there have been whispers this week suggesting Kelly is keen to fight either of the Tszyu boys, hence his bizarre appearance recently in a social media video posted by Nikita’s next opponent — undefeated Spaniard Oscar Diaz, who he faces in Newcastle on May 6.
Matchroom, meanwhile, is only a week out from its own Melbourne showcase featuring Skye Nicolson, Teremoana Jnr and Jake Wyllie.
Next Wednesday’s card will be the first of seven shows held in Down Under by Matchroom Boxing over the next year.
Chatting with Fighting Words from his UK base on Wednesday night – and shortly before jetting out for Sydney – Smith said there was no doubt Tim Tszyu, if victorious over Spence, could then challenge for Kelly’s IBF title.
“Yeah, for sure, 100 per cent,” the Matchroom chief executive started. “Tim Tszyu’s got a huge commercial draw as a fighter.
“But it’s also a hard fight he’s got coming up against Spence.
“Very tough fight.
“Even with Spence’s time out, his injuries, he is going to be a tough test. But if Tim can put himself through that, he definitely puts himself back in the position for those big, big names.”
Diaz sends Nikita training message | 00:10
So as for who wins?
“As I’m coming to Australia in the next few days I have to be careful what I say,” Smith laughed.
“But in terms of boxing ability, you have to pick Spence. Although as we’ve seen with a lot of guys who’ve had time out of the ring, and injury, you never know what fighter is going to come back.
“And in Australia Tszyu is going to have the support behind him. And because I’m coming out there on Sunday, I’m Team Australia for that one … I want to have some friends.”
Asked about Nikita challenging for the title where he is ranked No.6, Smith continued: “Obviously, he’s in the early stages of his career.
“But as always with someone boasting a surname like he has, there is a lot more pressure to move at pace. Given he [Nikita] is only 11 fights in, I think he needs time to develop rather than be rushed into anything and make mistakes.”
Elsewhere, the Matchroom chief also answered questions on Justis Huni, Liam Paro vs Lewis Crocker, even the likelihood of bankrolling a fight between Michael Zerafa and Chris Eubank Jnr (see items below).
On the second of those, Smith revealed a new deal had likely been finalised overnight for his IBF welterweight champ Croker to face Paro, in either June or July.
Then, of course, is the idea of that 5V5 showdown against No Limit.
When interviewed by Fox Sports Australia back in December, Hearn declared himself “bang up for” pitting five of his own fighters against the No Limit stable, and just as he’s already done with longtime UK rivals Queensberry.
While the Paro-Crocker bout will almost certainly be the pair’s first big showdown of 2026, Smith suggested any concept pitting five fighters from each crew would almost certainly take longer to lock down.
He added the company would also take direction from their new Australian broadcast partner in determining how it all plays out moving forward.
TSZYU: ‘THE GUY HATES MY BROTHER’
Nikita Tszyu has opened up on the bizarre social media throat-slitting gesture aimed his way last week, while also revealing his theory behind American great Tim Bradley branding him a better fighter than big brother Tim.
Back in February, Bradley delivered a blistering verbal assault on Tim Tszyu – branding the former world champion “done”, a worse fighter than Nikita, and set to be knocked cold by Errol Spence Jnr.
At one point during his rant, the American great even declared: “Tim Tszyu’s little brother is better than him. I know he be whoopin’ his ass in the gym for real …”
And why?
“The guy just hates my brother,” Nikita laughed this week. “Honestly, I think that’s it.
“I have no idea where [the bad blood] comes from.
“But Tim Bradley’s obviously an extremely vocal figure in the sport. Someone too, who is really comfortable voicing his opinion. And I do respect that.
“But he also has a certain opinion of my brother. That’s why it came out.
“[Laughs] But I’ll still take what he says as a compliment I guess … if he wants to give some praise to me in the process I’ll take it”.
READ MORE
‘SOMETHING HE HAD TO DO’: Kostya sacrifice Nikita isn’t willing to make as world title plot revealed
‘OUTWORK EVERYONE’: Ex-world champ’s ominous Tszyu warning after Spence Jr training reveal
Tszyu def. Nurja by unanimous decision | 02:24
Elsewhere, Tszyu said he had no issue with upcoming rival Oscar Diaz – who he faces in Newcastle on May 6 – taking to social media this week to call him out, and then drag a thumb across his throat.
“Which I’m happy about,” Tszyu stressed. “It means he’s coming to fight, and with energy. That’s exactly what I want.”
Bizarrely, the clip started with Diaz hitting the heavy bag, which was being held by new IBF champ Kelly.
Some saw the Englishman’s presence as a way of mocking the Tszyu clan – given he recently won his title against Bakhram Murtazaliev, who stopped Tim Tszyu in 2023 – while others suggested it may be his way into creating a rivalry.
SO YOU’RE TELLING ME THERE’S A CHANCE?
Back on Frank Smith, and the Matchroom CEO went incredibly close to reworking that famed line from Dumb and Dumber – “so you’re telling me there’s a chance” – when discussing the idea of bankrolling a fight between Michael Zerafa and Chris Eubank Jnr.
While Zerafa is confident of landing an Australian headliner against Eubank Jnr later this year, it seems neither promoter with domestic broadcasting rights, Matchroom and No Limit, will be involved.
But as for Smith putting a pin in it entirely?
“Boxing is such a crazy sport that I’ll never put a pin in anything,” he grinned. “But it’s a difficult ask bringing Chris Eubank Jnr to Australia. [Especially] on the back of the money he’s already made.
“And with all these things, you need someone with the money to put it on. So I won’t say it’s impossible. But as for Matchroom promoting it? On a percentage I’d say six-and-a-half per cent … so not zero.”
HUNI LANDS NEW DEAL
As part of a wide-ranging interview, Smith also said Huni is finalising a new Matchroom deal, with plans already in place to have him headline a big Australian card later this year.
The exciting announcement also ends the somewhat bizarre controversy that overshadowed his recent big win on Tyson Fury’s undercard.
Fighting for the first time since losing to now WBO heavyweight champ Fabio Wardley, Huni’s majority decision win against Frazer Clarke involved a bizarre fight day drama where Matchroom took aim at the slugger’s fellow promoters Tasman Fighters and Goldstar for “tortious interference” – alleging they hadn’t been informed of the bout.
Matchroom Boxing: Nicolson vs Turner | Wednesday 29 April from 7pm AEST | Watch Skye Nicolson vs Mariah Turner in an all-Aussie title showdown for the WBC Interim Super Bantamweight Championship | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Only hours before the bout took place, US boxing scribe Dan Rafael wrote that Matchroom were “threatening go to Netflix claiming it is about to air a fighter in breach of his contract with Matchroom, which would open Netflix to liability”.
However Smith has declared the drama now over, adding that the hulking Queenslander is already in talks to headline Down Under later this year.
“That’s definitely something we’re working on now,” he said. “The intention is to get Justis on one of those Matchroom shows. We had a deal prior to his most recent fight with Frazer Clarke, and agreed to a new deal. We’re finalising that now and hopefully in short order it will be announced.
CANELO’S SECRET ROLE WITH TSZYUCASTLE DESTROYER
So what chance Canelo Alvarez helps bring down Australia’s most exciting fighter?
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia earlier this month, undefeated Aussie sensation Callum Peters is set to take a huge career leap in No Limit’s Tszyucastle show on May 6, throwing down against dangerous American Joeshon James.
Apart from having only lost one fight, to now interim WBC super middleweight champ Lester Martinez, the Californian has also worked as a sparring partner for megastar Alvarez.
Speaking with Fighting Words about the experience this week, James not only recounted Canelo trying to tear his head off in sparring, but stressed those same rounds have him ready for everything coming now.
Despite travelling across the world to face Peters in his own backyard, and before what will be a raucous Newcastle Entertainment Centre crowd, James stressed he is totally prepared thanks, in part, to having helped Canelo ready for his 2023 blockbuster against Jermell Charlo.
Asked about the sparring sessions, the American said: “You know, I don’t really talk about it too much.
“But there are times every now and then where I do think, ‘I really did help ready Canelo Alvarez for a world title fight in Las Vegas’ … it’s crazy.
“And to improve, you have to spar people who will bring you up. [Laughs] And who else can bring you up like Canelo Alvarez?
“If you spend all your time around five world champions, you’ll become the sixth, you know what I mean? And that’s how that camp went. I just elevated. It made me a better boxer everywhere.”
And as for the rounds themselves?
“Once Canelo is all geared up, you can’t see too much of the red hair,” he grinned. “I just remember his eyes, looking at me.
“We’d spar four-minute rounds and the whole time, he’s downloading you. Downloads you for three minutes and, once the data is in, he comes at you for that last minute … and he wants to tear your head off.”
BLONDE BOMBER CALLS OUT OLD FOE
Former world champ Ebanie Bridges has declared she wants to settle unfinished business with longtime rival Shannon Courtenay after returning to the winner’s circle over the weekend.
Fighting for the second time since becoming a mum, the former maths teacher from western Sydney ground out a hard-fought win over Ebonie Cotton on Sunday.
Now, with momentum back on her side, the “Blonde Bomber” has set her sights on a familiar name – the woman who handed her one of the most painful defeats of her career.
Courtenay famously beat Bridges in a spiteful 2021 world title clash, a bout that the Aussie still thinks she did enough to win.
The build-up was as heated as they come, and while Bridges has since gone on to claim world honours, she has never hidden her desire to run it back.
“Me and Shanny are both on the winning trajectory and it just makes sense, doesn’t it?” Bridges told this column on Wednesday. “We both went our own way and we’ve kind of come back full circle and I think we’re both ready to take that fight.
“And I want that fight. I still believe I can beat her – I still believe I won the last fight and many other people do too. Even with one eye.
“I know she wants it and I think it’s a fight for the fans around the world.
“Hopefully MVP see the value in it.”
ZALAL TO CALL OUT VOLK
Featherweight contender Youssef Zalal has vowed to call out Aussie superstar Alexander Volkanovski this weekend – if he takes care of business against Aljamain Sterling at UFC Fight Night 274.
Currently ranked No.7, Zalal admits it annoys him that Volk refuses to acknowledge him in interviews – a snub he’s desperate to make impossible to ignore.
“The one thing that still pisses me off and I can’t wait to prove it, is Volk doesn’t mention my name ever, in any interviews, anything,” Zalal told MMA Junkie.
“He mentioned Aljamain plenty of times, so I’m excited to go for a statement and really show ‘The Great’ how great I am.”
Zalal says he has “the receipts” on the Windang Warrior.
“It’s so disrespectful… he talks about everyone else and he’s ignoring me even though I’m in the top ten,” he said.
“I was like, ‘you don’t want to know my name? I’ll make you know my name’. I can’t wait to do that.
“… I know I can bring multiple dangers to his game and I know I will have the speed [advantage] against him.”
PROCHAZKA ADMITS ‘40–50%’ DISPLAY AFTER TITLE LOSS
Jiri Prochazka says he was operating at “maybe 40, 50 per cent” during his shock loss to Carlos Ulberg – conceding a lapse in focus ultimately handed the Kiwi the UFC light heavyweight strap.
It’s been nearly a fortnight since Ulberg claimed the title on one leg, and Prochazka – who initially suggested he showed “mercy” – has now offered a different explanation.
“Let’s get this down in black and white so no one comes up with any bullshit here,” Prochazka said on Instagram.
“Because what I’m hearing all around is complete nonsense and I have to laugh at it. So briefly and the only thing in the fight: I lost my focus there. Focus on the goal. Focus on the target and that was especially the case when Ulberg injured his leg.
The former champ said he sympathised with Black Jag’s situation, having fought through a similar injury himself.
“I know what that’s like because exactly this happened to me once in a fight in Japan. I fought through that match, but I know what it’s like. The pain, the struggle, so all credit to him for managing to keep a cool head, for catching me with that hook.
And New! Ulberg crowned LHW champion | 01:09
“But I can say for myself that I know from the moment that happened to him, I wasn’t at 100% anymore. I was at maybe 40, 50% of my performance and I was just sparring and waiting for the referee to stop the fight at any moment.”
“It was a big mistake,” Prochazka continued. “Maybe one of the biggest. I don’t want to beat myself up about it nonstop. Because the most important thing is to always learn from it and move forward stronger. So that’s it.”
Meanwhile, Ulberg has already undergone knee surgery after tearing his ACL during the bout, with Dana White confirming the newly crowned champ will remain in Las Vegas to begin rehab at the UFC Performance Institute.
“We’ll get him in there and see how fast he starts to recover,” White said.
“We always figure it out.”