SYDNEY -- Two highly anticipated fights. Two rounds. Two results. Wednesday evening's blockbuster No Limit card may have failed to deliver on the hype it had generated as both Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa were -- putting it kindly -- largely untroubled, but the dominant wins by the high profile Australian pair made it painfully clear they must share a ring in the near future. The very near future.
Tszyu (11-0, 9 KOs) schooled previously undefeated Macedonian challenger Lulzim Ismaili for a full three minutes at the ICC Sydney Theatre, first showcasing his patience, then his brutal body attacks to send his opponent crashing to the canvas, clutching his stomach in agony.
Ismaili managed to hang on to hear the round one closing bell but failed to rise from his stool for the second frame, forcing the referee to wave off the contest and handing Tszyu the WBO Inter-Continental Super Welterweight title, as the 27-year-old Sydneysider threw his hat into the ring for a major fight in 2026.
The son of Kostya and brother of Tim was fighting for the first time in almost a year, having finally recovering from multiple left hand surgeries following his stoppage of Koen Mazoudier last August, one of the fights of 2024. He, and his camp, weren't sure how the left paw would hold up against Ismaili, but he showed no signs of rust or tentativeness in the one round of action he took part in.
"I'm back after a year," Tszyu declared in the aftermath of his latest victory. ""I thought it would be harder. I thought it would've gone to the mid-rounds. I was nice and patient at first, then saw the openings and went for them. Line them up. I don't care [who I fight next]. I'll take whoever on."
Tszyu's impressive performance came just 25 minutes after Zerafa (33-5, 21 KOs) had prevailed in a one-sided bout of his own. The controversial Melburnian humiliated American Mikey Dahlman inside two minutes to capture the WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight title, proving yet again he's much more than just one of the sport's biggest trash talkers.
Dahlman, who had only ever suffered one loss from 19 bouts, barely fired a shot in a fight that will no doubt raise eyebrows as to whether it should have ever gone ahead. But take nothing away from Zerafa, who excelled for the two minutes he was required to box, demonstrating the great technique he's carried throughout his career.
The rumour mill has been running overtime this week in Sydney, with speculation a comfortable victory for Tszyu could land him a fight in Las Vegas next year on a card that would line up with the NRL's preseason Sin City showcase. Fox Sports reported earlier in the week that opponents for the potential bout include Evan Holyfield, the son of heavyweight icon, Evander, Shane Moseley Jnr, Antonio Tarver Jnr, as well as Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali.
Before then, it's highly likely Tszyu fights once more in Australia later this year. Long-time rival Zerafa now looms as the obvious contender. Zerafa has previously stated that if he were to fight a Tszyu, it would be former world champion Tim, not Nikita, though with Tim likely heading for a mini hiatus following losses in three of his past four appearances, Zerafa may now have little choice but to fight the younger of the brothers if he's to further his career.
"I believe I beat Nikita," said Zerafa, when asked by Main Event how he would fare in a hypothetical match up with Tszyu. "I like Nikita, he's a good kid. He's doing great things, beaten everything in front of him ... but there is more to do."
The other name that's been thrown around as a potential Tszyu opponent Down Under is Brock Jarvis, who has recently moved up five weight classes in a bid to face the undefeated son of a Hall of Fame fighter. Jarvis, trained by Australian icon Jeff Fenech, bounced back from his defeat to American Keith Thurman this March with a fourth-round stoppage of rising New Zealander Sam Beck on Wednesday evening.
"I'm a fighter, I'm here to fight," Jarvis said following his return to the winners' circle. "I'm ready [for the next challenge]. We're back!"
No Limit has its work cut out to determine who gets a crack at Tszyu next.
Here's how fight night in Sydney unfolded: