Tim Tszyu is set to headline what has been dubbed the greatest card that can be made in Australian boxing – with American superstar Jermell Charlo making his global comeback on an undercard that also sees Liam Wilson fight for a world title.
Only five months after upsetting Errol Spence Jnr in Sydney, Tszyu is now set to headline Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium for a blockbuster bout against WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara.
Gallen v Asofa-Solomona | Friday November 6 from 7pm AEDT | Australian sporting icon and crossover boxing king Paul Gallen returns to the ring to face his biggest opponent yet, Nelson ‘Big Nasty’ Asofa-Solomona. | Order now on Kayo Sports.
The event will take place on Sunday, December 13.
As part of a stacked undercard, Tszyu’s longtime rival Charlo will also make his own hyped comeback – against popular Aussie Brock Jarvis — while Wilson challenges WBA super featherweight champ Elnur Samedov.
The card is being hailed as Queensland’s biggest since Jeff Horn upset Manny Pacquiao.
The event also now completes an incredible December for Australian promoters No Limit, who have Nikita Tszyu making his US debut a week before the Gold Coast event, and Liam Paro expected to chase unified welterweight glory against Devin Haney a week after.
“If I lose, that’s it”: NAS’ HUGE stakes | 09:14
Speaking on Wednesday morning, No Limit boss George Rose hailed the Cbus Stadium show as “the biggest and best fight card in Australia, full stop”.
“We’ve got a reigning world champion, a former undisputed champion and two world titles in a stadium on the Gold Coast,” Rose enthused. “Nothing else comes close.
“Tim Tszyu wanted the best middleweight in the world and we got him.
“Jermell Charlo, a former undisputed world champion, is also finally making his return and he’s coming to Australia.
“And Liam Wilson gets his redemption shot at a world title on home soil. Every fight on this card matters.”
Truly, the storylines are everywhere …
TSZYU LOOKS TO MAKE HISTORY AGAINST AVOIDED BOGEYMAN
For Tszyu, the Gold Coast card represents his shot at making history as a two-division world champion.
It also comes after retiring US great Spence in July.
“This is what I live for,” the former super welterweight champ said at a Wednesday morning press conference on Queensland’s famed holiday strip. “Lara is a great champion and one of the most avoided fighters in the world – that’s exactly why I wanted him.
“Spence was the first step. This is the one that matters.”
Soon after, the Sydneysider continued: “This fight is about legacy.
“My dad is a Hall of Famer and the greatest fighter this country has produced. Becoming a two-weight world champion is the one thing he never did, and that’s what I am chasing. It drives me every single day.”
And as for headlining a huge stadium show?
“Queensland and the Gold Coast have always backed me,” he said. “I stopped Jeff Horn and defended my world title in Queensland stadiums and I can’t wait to feel that again.
“I’m ready to take that belt off Lara on the Gold Coast.”
Tszyu said he was happy to see old rival Charlo on the card too.
“To see little Charlo fighting on my undercard is even better. We’ve been talking it up for a long time, but to have him as the co-main is nice.”
Tszyu set for ‘legacy defining moment’ | 02:04
US SUPERSTAR CHARLO MAKES HYPED RETURN
For Charlo, the Gold Coast event will be his first appearance since that famous 2023 loss to Mexican megastar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
While the former undisputed champ was initially slated to face Tszyu in January of that same year, he broke his hand training — and in what proved a huge sliding doors moment for the Australian superstar.
Now however, he returns against Jarvis, who also received an opportunity against Keith Thurman in 2025 – but got stopped within three rounds.
Undoubtedly, it appears if Tszyu and Charlo both win, they will finally collide in a huge 2027 title fight.
Asked about his return on Wednesday, the American said: “I’ve heard all the talk.
“And now it’s time to remind everybody why Jermell Charlo is still him.
“I appreciate Brock Jarvis stepping up, because a lot of these so-called top guys got cold feet. They use my name for clout but get quiet when it’s time to sign on that dotted line.
“[But] I’m willing to fight on a co-main event all the way in Australia because that’s how hungry I am. I’ve got so much in me, and I wasn’t going to let this year end without giving my fans what they’ve been waiting for.
“I’m going to show everybody why I’m the most dangerous fighter from 154 to 160 pounds. I’m coming to take what’s mine. Lions Only.”
WILSON GETS HIS CHANCE TO BECOME WORLD CHAMPION
Wilson, meanwhile, also gets another shot at world title gold after previously losing opportunities against both Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez.
In July, the fighter dubbed ‘Mr Damage’ also had his anticipated bout with Stephen Fulton Jr called off after the American missed weight.
“I’m so pumped for this,” Wilson said. “A world title fight in Queensland, in front of my people. This is the one I’ve dreamed about.
“I have chased this shot around the world.
“My career hasn’t been easy but I’ve felt the love from fans every step of the way. I have never backed down from anyone and I am not starting now.”
On his rival, the Aussie challenger continued: “Samedov is the champion. Good. Taking it off the champion means more.
“I boxed for Australia on the Gold Coast at the Commonwealth Games almost a decade ago. Now, I get the chance to win a world title in the same city. You can’t not love that.”
LARA LOOKING TO PROVE HIMSELF THE BOGEYMAN – AGAIN
Of course, standing in the way of Tszyu’s historic title shot is Lara – a legendary Cuban southpaw who, now 43, sits among the most avoided fighters of his generation.
Apart from holding WBA gold for five years, Lara has also held a version of the middleweight championship on three separate occasions since 2013.
And while he may be boxing’s oldest reigning champion, the longtime middleweight star has also welcomed the challenge of travelling Down Under to face Tszyu.
“I’ve worked my entire life to be in this position,” he said. “And I’m blessed to have more opportunities like this to be a world champion and defend my title.
Gallen v Asofa-Solomona | Friday November 6 from 7pm AEDT | Australian sporting icon and crossover boxing king Paul Gallen returns to the ring to face his biggest opponent yet, Nelson ‘Big Nasty’ Asofa-Solomona. | Order now on Kayo Sports.
“Travelling to Australia to fight Tszyu is something I’m really looking forward to.
“I know he’s a tough fighter, and I respect what he brings to the ring, especially fighting in front of his home fans.
“But I’ve been in big fights my whole career and I know what it takes to win at this level.”
JARVIS GETS HANDED A GOLDEN TICKET
Only last year, Jarvis was stopped by American great Keith Thurman in Sydney.
Yet now, the popular Aussie has vowed to earn a huge boxing boilover, and ruin plans for what could potentially be a huge world title fight between Tszyu and Charlo sometime in 2027.
It will be the Sydneysider’s first fight since stopping Sam Beck last August.
“This is the fight I have waited my whole career for,” Jarvis said of his call up. “A former undisputed world champion, in a stadium, at home in Australia. It does not get bigger than this. Charlo thinks he’s coming to Australia to restart his career. I’m here to ruin his comeback.”
TSZYU HEADLINES A HUGE STADIUM SHOW
Tszyu is set to headline the biggest show since Australian great Jeff Horn upset Pacquiao.
Minister for Sport and Racing, Tim Mander said the event was another win for Queensland’s reputation as the home of Australian sport.
“The Crisafulli Government is establishing Queensland as the home of Australian sport,” he said, “and we are delivering world-class sporting events to our state in the lead-up to 2032 and beyond.
“Bringing this world title stadium show to the Gold Coast is a major coup for Queensland and another example of the Crisafulli Government keeping our state ahead of the game.
“We’re backing world-class sporting events that put Queensland on the global stage and give fans the chance to experience the best of sport right here at home.”
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate agreed.
“A blockbuster fight card featuring three major bouts, including two world title fights and three Australians competing right here on the Gold Coast,” he said. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”