After a couple of hiccups, Nikita Tszyu will make his professional boxing debut almost 30 years to the day since father Kostya first stepped into the ring.
Fight week for the 24-year-old has been anything but smooth for the youngest member of the Tszyu fighting clan, with his debut bout against Townsville’s Aaron Stahl delayed by 24 hours and then shifted twice due to the flood crisis unfolding in Brisbane.
The clash will now take place at Nissan Arena after promoters had earlier touted the Fortitude Music Hall for the bout.
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Ironically, Nikita will make his official foray into professional boxing almost three decades to the day that his father Kostya fought Darrell Hiles in Melbourne on March 1, 1992.
Nikita’s manager Glen Jennings was part of the team that advised Kostya during his career and also manages world contender, brother Tim. He said it’s uncanny how things have unfolded for the Tszyu family.
“It’s just so exciting. It’s also a privilege. It was 30 years ago (when) Kostya made his pro debut here in Australia, and here we are sitting with his youngest boy Nikita,” Jennings said.
“It’s a bit of history here and everyone should embrace that. It’s very fortunate for the Australian boxing community to have that luxury three times over – to watch the Tszyu family perform.
“For those generations that didn’t see Kostya and are now watching Tim, enjoy this next process because this young man is going to go all the way.”
At Wednesday’s weigh-in Nikita easily made weight, hitting the scales at 68.9 kgs.
Stahl was also spot-on in his preparation, coming through at 69.62kgs. He said he was “fit and mentally strong” and was ready to “test” Tszyu’s skills.
Asked what was going to happen tomorrow night, Tszyu brushed aside the question.
“No prediction,” he said.
WHEN AND WHERE
Nikita Tszyu is set to make his professional debut on Thursday, March 3. The bout was postponed by 24 hours as flooding in Queensland forced the fight out of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The fight has now been moved to the 5,000-seat Nissan Arena, home of the Brisbane Bullets and Queensland Firebirds.
HOW TO WATCH
The event will be broadcast on Fox Sports but is not a pay-per-view. You need a Foxtel or Kayo subscription to watch the fight.
The broadcast is set to kick off at 7pm AEDT.
FULL FIGHT CARD
Main card
Nikita Tszyu (Pro debut) vs. Aaron Stahl (2-0-1) (Super-welterweight)
Dennis Hogan (29-4-1) vs. Wade Ryan (20-9) (IBO super-welterweight world title eliminator)
Liam Wilson (9-1) vs. Joe Noynay (19-2-2) (Super-featherweight)
Stevie Spark (12-2) vs. River Daz (3-0-1) (Super-lightweight)
Cameron Hammond (18-1) vs. Danilo Creati (6-0) (Super-welterweight)
Prelim
Linn Sandstrom (1-2-1) vs. Ali Jensen (0-2) (Super-flyweight)
(Subject to change)
ODDS
Nikita Tszyu $1.06 head to head
Aaron Stahl $7.75 head to head
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