An elated Nikita Tszyu is setting his sights on bigger challenges after fulfilling his promise by defeating the tough-talking Spaniard Oscar Diaz, bringing him closer to a world-title opportunity.
Tszyu improved his unbeaten record to 13-0 with an emphatic sixth-round stoppage in their super-welterweight showdown at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night.
Forging his own path after living in the shadow of his Hall-of-Fame father Kostya and fellow world-title-winning brother Tim, Tszyu is now potentially one win away from securing his own shot at global glory.
Rather than gloating or worrying about his next bout, the 28-year-old expressed relief at getting extra time in the ring after experiencing just three rounds in the past two years due to left-hand surgery.
“Good to get the rounds in. Good to feel the energy of a crowd,” Tszyu said. “Good to also get a sweat up.”
Nikita Tszyu was too good for the tough Spaniard Oscar Diaz. Credit: Getty
Superstars like Keith Thurman and fellow American Tony Harrison, whom Tim knocked out in 2023 to win the WBO super-welterweight belt, are being touted as Tszyu’s possible next targets.
Tszyu entered his latest contest ranked sixth with the IBF and is now tipped to climb as high as No. 3 in the division’s pecking order after ending Diaz’s unbeaten record savagely.
The so-called “Butcher” lived up to expectations with a comprehensive display at the “Tszyu-Castle” Entertainment Centre.
Looking physically imposing in career-best shape, the home favourite dominated from the first bell. He landed several blows in the opening round, then dropped the Spaniard in the second with a big left.
Tszyu continued the onslaught in round three despite the flurry of punches to Diaz’s head only provoking a wry smile from Diaz, nicknamed “The Bull” or “El Toro” after winning all of his previous 16 fights. But his chin could only take so much.
After withstanding another fierce combination in round five, Diaz finally succumbed after Tszyu floored the European with a devastating left-right barrage in the sixth stanza.
Diaz’s camp was furious, initially protesting after seeing their man take more blows while on his knees on the ropes. Tszyu quickly apologised.
“His corner is fuming about the punches after he took the knee ... those two are the ones he is very unhappy about and Nikita immediately apologised,” Ben Damon said in the commentary.
Then they mercifully told the referee Diaz could not go on.
With Kostya (18-0) and Tim (23-0) on Australian soil, Tszyu’s win extends the home record of the nation’s most famous boxing family to an incredible 54-0.
On Wednesday night’s undercard, another son of a gun also maintained his undefeated professional record as Rahim Mundine scored a unanimous points win over Lance McDonald in a five-round super-welterweight stoush.
The victory was Mundine’s third since debuting under crushing expectations four years ago. But the 24-year-old son of ex-triple world champion Anthony Mundine could not escape the shadow of his polarising father.
“My dad’s the most hated athlete ever in this country,” he said after being booed and jeered by the Newcastle crowd after the three judges awarded him the bout 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. “I won easy, but he’s a real tough competitor. I landed cleaner shots.”
