Nikita Tszyu will enter the world rankings with the IBF and WBO after a 10th consecutive win to open his career. The Aussie stopped the dangerous Koen Mazoudier late in the ninth round on Wednesday night in Sydney, with hopes Tszyu’s latest win will propel him onto the global stage and eventually onto American shores.
Tszyu looked exhausted after eight rounds before exploding to force the ref to intervene and end an absolute war. “How does he do that?!” ex-world champion Shawn Porter proclaimed on Main Event.
Tim Tszyu has vowed never to step into the ring with Michael Zerafa, although little brother Nikita appears on a collision course after a controversial fight night in Sydney.
Nikita Tszyu had to overcome incredible adversity to keep his undefeated record (10 wins, eight knockouts) intact with a TKO victory against fellow Australian Koen Mazoudier at the ICC Sydney Theatre.
On the co-main event, Zerafa recorded a TKO victory of his own against Tommy Browne. Browne injured his biceps in the opening round and couldn’t come out for the second, although there was an ugly postscript to the result.
Words were exchanged between the corners before Zerafa’s brother took a swing at Browne’s trainer, Tommy Mercuri. The result could be a long ban from the sport.
Nikita Tszyu had his own dramas against Mazoudier. After dominating the opening six rounds, Tszyu admitted he was in “deep waters” when the underdog swung the momentum his way.
Mazoudier dominated the seventh and eighth rounds before “The Butcher” rallied, unleashing a series of blows that prompted the referee to stop proceedings.
After registering his win, Zerafa taunted Tszyu, shouting: “Nikita, I’m coming! I want the Tszyu boys.”
Tszyu was more circumspect when asked about the prospect of a fight with Zerafa, saying he will leave the decision to his promoters and manager.
“It doesn’t bother me, I don’t care what happens,” Tszyu said.
“I’m not a businessman. These are the businessmen, they decide my future. I trust them with my life and soul and whatever they wanna do is what we do.”
There is bad blood between the Tszyu and Zerafa families; Michael was scheduled to fight Tim but didn’t show up, a pullout that enraged “The Soul Taker”. Tim has moved on and will next face undefeated IBF world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
However, the family’s promoter, George Rose and manager Glen Jennings are keen on the prospect of a Nikita Tszyu-Zerafa showdown.
“Look, it’s a real chance of happening,” Jennings said. “There’s no, no point hiding it.
“It’s a great domestic fight, probably the best domestic fight we can have in the country. It’s just a matter of getting it to work and looking at the commercial realities of it versus the other opportunities that are already lined up for Nikita.”
The Turning Point
Nikita Tszyu’s win earned him a world ranking with the WBO and IBF, a status that will soon attract the super-welterweight division’s elite. It came at a cost; Mazoudier showed him how much improvement is required before making the step up.
“I honestly needed that,” said Tszyu, who was up on the judges’ scorecards 77-75, 77-75 and 78-74 before the stoppage.
“It was a great wake-up call for the toughness of this sport and the level that I’m kind of stepping into.
“I need that kind of test because it’s a good introduction into the world that I just jumped into and that’s the world rankings.”
Tougher Than Expected
Nikita would have to go to yet another level to win that one. He showed some good signs early in the fight - I had him winning the opening six rounds. However, fatigue brought carelessness and he copped a lot of punishment in rounds seven and eight before finishing the job.
Nikita Tszyu has paid tribute to Koen Mazoudier after their epic bout.
“I had to work for that, that was not easy,” Tszyu said.
“The feeling right now in indescribable. It was everything we expected, everything we advertised. I have to take my hat off to Koen, he is one tough bastard.
“This is where strength comes from, pushing through [adversity]. I kept saying [to myself] ‘Don’t be a bitch. Don’t be a pussy. Keep fighting!’
Taking The Bite Out Of A Fight
Tszyu didn’t take the bait when asked about the prospect of a fight with Michael Zerafa, but promoter George Rose said it’s a fight that needs to happen.
“Let’s do it,” Rose said.
Tim has bigger fish to fry, in the form of undefeated IBF world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev. However, a fight between Nikita and Zerafa would have huge appeal.
Just when it looked like Mazoudier could cause a monumental upset, Tszyu has landed big to put an end to proceedings.
The game-changing blow was a gorgeous left cross that stunned Mazoudier. Sensing his prey was injured, Tszyu unloaded a flurry of punches. Mazoudier tried to recover, but couldn’t.
Not quite knocked off his feet, the referee stopped the fight.
