LIVE: Tszyu’s bold world title claim as arch-rival makes telling move for blockbuster Aussie showdown

Tim Tszyu’s longtime archrival Michael Zerafa has jetted into Sydney to be ringside for his hyped Australian comeback – with suggestions the fighter dubbed ‘Pretty Boy’ could be set for another fiery showdown with the nation’s most famous fighting family.

Tszyu vs Velazquez | Wednesday 17 Dec from 7pm AEDT | Tim Tszyu looks for redemption as “The Phoenix” takes on undefeated American Velazquez in an attempt to reignite his career. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

The revelation comes as Tszyu readies for what he insists will be push back to the top of world boxing – and a second world title – against names including US superstars Vergil Ortiz Jnr and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

One of Australian sport’s greatest, and most unique, rivalries is set to again be ignited again tonight when Zerafa works the Main Event broadcast for Tszyu’s Sydney homecoming against unbeaten American Anthony Velazquez.

While Australian Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech has already revealed he will not be attending the event – and only months after being announced as a key component of Tszyu’s new team – Zerafa will be present in a crowd boasting the likes of Wayne Bennett, Latrell Mitchell, Jarome Luai, Cody Walker and Josh Addo-Carr.

Tszyu’s younger brother Nikita will also be ringside, and despite no longer being part of a corner now run by Tszyu’s new Cuban trainer Pedro Diaz.

Indeed, apart from being Tszyu’s first fight since retiring on his stool against Sebastian Fundora in July, the headliner also doubles as his first showing under Diaz – who has made fight week headlines due to his absence, lack of English, even the way he does padwork.

In defence, the man based out of Miami, Florida has pointed to the fact his resume boasts not only 22 world champions, but another 22 Olympic gold medalists.

Zerafa, meanwhile, is himself in camp and readying to throw down against Nikita Tszyu in what looms as one of the great Australian grudge matches in Brisbane on January 16.

Should Zerafa win that bout, he then wants to go straight into a showdown with the older Tszyu sibling, and a fighter he’s wanted to throw down against since long before even their infamous 2021 headliner was scrapped.

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Back in 2020, for example, the pair engaged in an entertaining ringside drama after Tszyu had earned a brutal first round stoppage of Bowyn Morgan inside Bankwest Stadium.

The fact that Zerafa will be inside TikTok Stadium tonight with not one, but both Tszyu brothers is sure to prove entertaining, with the Melburnian also taking aim at ‘The Butcher’ backstage during a September No Limit card topped by Liam Paro.

This week however, Tszyu’s focus has been firmly on Velazquez.

However in an interview with Fox Sports Australia, the fighter now dubbed ‘Phoenix’ did talk of where his “rise from the ashes” could take him – especially with no less than America’s David Benavidez tipping him to beat two of the super welterweight division’s biggest names — ‘Boots’ and Ortiz Jnr.

During camp for this fight in Miami, Tszyu and Benavidez sat down together for a BOXR podcast — the undefeated American heaping praise on a fighter who initially went undefeated through his first 24 fights to claim the WBC gold.

“I think Tim against anybody in the weight class is a great fight,” Benavidez stressed. “He has a great style.

“I think him against Boots, Vergil Ortiz, they’re all great fights … and I think Tim wins all of them.

“He’s a great fighter, has a lot of talent [and] I’m definitely in his corner.”

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Asked about Benavidez backing him to beat two of the sport’s biggest names, Tszyu told Fox Sports Australia: “Man, the thing is, I know I can beat them, too.

“It’s something I really believe can happen.

“Obviously, David Benavidez is a great fighter, somebody I really respect, and so for him to talk about me like that, I really appreciate it.

“But it also isn’t simply a matter of ‘oh, David Benavidez believes I can win these fights’.

“I also feel like, right now, the world really is ready to be conquered again.

“But I also know for that to happen, it has to be done one step at a time.

“Because I feel like [in the past], there are a lot of things that have got in the way.

“Now though, I’m ready to eliminate all of that and go forward.

“And those names like Vergil Ortiz, Boots, even Jermell Charlo, they will all come back.

“But again, it’s one step at a time.”

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