Fresh off his brother's Las Vegas defeat, Nikita Tszyu's next fight has been locked in, with the rising super welterweight set to face Macedonia's Lulzim Ismaili in Sydney on August 20.
The bout, which is set to be officially announced by No Limit CEO George Rose at a press conference at Fox Sports later today, sees Nikita end the longest absence of his pro career to date.
Older brother Tim suffered a TKO defeat in his rematch with Sebastian Fundora last weekend, his corner having advised the referee their man couldn't continue following a violent seventh round.
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Nikita (10-0) was among a significant entourage on the ground to support the Australian star's unsuccessful bid to reclaim a world title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Tszyu camp will now have to regroup and face the 12-0 Ismaili at the ICC Sydney Theatre one month later.
Nikita, 27, will be fighting for the first time in almost a year, having been forced into an extended layoff following hand surgery.
Also appearing on the card next month will be Michael Zerafa, who takes on hard-hitting American Mikey Dahlman, whose 18-1 record features 16 knockouts.
Promoters No Limit Boxing appeared to be lining Zerafa up to face Nikita Tszyu later this year, should they have been successful in their upcoming bouts, although Tim Tszyu's defeat has muddied the waters.
Instead, Zerafa and Tim Tszyu could square off in the domestic grudge match fans were robbed of at the last minute in 2021.
“I’ve heard they’re trying to plan it for the end of the year,” Nikita Tszyu said of a potential Zerafa meeting earlier this month, prior to his brother's defeat.
“I think it will be a great test for me, a great way for me to catapult my career. He’s a very well respected fighter and it would be a big stepping stone for me.
“I’m not at his level, I haven’t proven myself. I’ve had 10 fights, he’s had over 30. I’m clearly the underdog in this. I know the test ahead of me, the challenge I have in front of me.”
The August 20 show also sees Brock Jarvis return in a clash with Sam Beck, while Ahmad Reda faces off with Billy Polkinghorn on the pay-per-view undercard.