Nikita Tszyu returned to the ring in style with a first-round stoppage victory over Lulzim Ismaili in front of his hometown crowd at the ICC Sydney Theatre on Wednesday.
Having spent a year out of the ring due to a hand injury, there were question marks over the southpaw’s main weapon, but it didn’t take him long to answer them, dropping Ismaili with a left hand less than 90 seconds in.
He very nearly repeated the dose moments later but Ismaili managed to keep his feet and see out the round.
That was all the visitor would see out, though, as he failed to answer the bell for the second round, reportedly nursing a busted rib, leaving the crowd somewhat unsatisfied.
“It wasn’t much of a concern,” Tszyu said of his hand after the win.
“It was more just it would be annoying if it re-flared up.
“I thought [the fight] would be harder. I thought it would have gone into the mid rounds. I knew that he had power in his hands.
“I was nice and patient at first and, yeah, I saw the openings and went for them.
“I’m back. I’m back after a year.”
As for what might be next, co-main event winner Michael Zerafa also claimed a first-round stoppage victory to set up that potential bout, although Tszyu wouldn’t name names when asked.
“Line ‘em up,” he said.
“I don’t care, I’ll take whoever on.”
The 27-year-old moves to 11-0 as a professional and remains ranked in the top 15 with two of the four major sanctioning bodies.
In the chief support, Zerafa made the lightest of work of Mikey Dahlman, blasting the American knockout artist out of there in just over two minutes.
Curiously, referee Les Fear ruled a knockdown against Zerafa as the Victorian put the pressure on after rocking Dahlman, eventually slipping over his foot.
It wouldn't matter, as Zerafa forced his opponent back to a corner and pounded away until the bout was waved off.
Earlier, Brock Jarvis bounced back from his KO defeat to Keith Thurman with a stoppage win of his own, putting Sam Beck down with an left hook in the fourth round from which he never recovered.
Also on the undercard, rising Sydneysider Ahmad Reda claimed the biggest victory of his career with a unanimous decision win over the credentialed Bruno Tarimo, earning him the Australian super lightweight crown.
To kick off the pay-per-view, Jasmine Parr moved to 8-1 with a final-seconds stoppage of the previously undefeated Singaporean Efasha Kamarudin.
Here's how it all went down:
Nikita Tszyu vs. Lulzim Ismaili full card results
- Nikita Tszyu def. Lulzim Ismaili via TKO1; super welterweight
- Michael Zerafa def. Mikey Dahlman via TKO1; middleweight
- Brock Jarvis def. Sam Beck via TKO4; 71kg catchweight
- Ahmad Reda def. Bruno Tarimo via (99-91, 98-92, 97-3); super lightweight
- Jasmine Parr def. Efasha Kamarudin via TKO5; super flyweight
- Isaias Sette def. Jacob Clenshaw via UD5 (49-45 x2, 48-46); welterweight
- Ashleigh Heal def. Shannon Rose via SD4 (39-36 x2, 37-38); 75kg catchweight
- Blair Geraghty def. Naki Saguba TKO3; super lightweight
- Brandon Grach def. Bensyn Pauga via TKO1; heavyweight
How to watch Tszyu vs. Ismaili: TV channel, live stream
Tszyu vs. Ismaili is a pay-per-view event and can be purchased for $59.95 through Foxtel's main event, or through streaming platform Kayo.
| TV channel | Live stream | |
| Prelims (from 5:30pm) | Fox Sports 3 (Ch. 503) | Kayo |
| Main card (from 7pm) | Main Event | Kayo PPV |