Nikita Tszyu will end almost a year on the sidelines when he tops a pay-per-view bill at ICC Sydney Theatre on 20 August, facing unbeaten Macedonian-German southpaw Lulzim Ismaili (12-0, 7 KOs) in a super-welterweight ten-rounder. “The Butcher”, now ranked No 11 by the IBF and No 15 by the WBO, returns after lingering hand surgery complications that twice postponed his comeback; his last outing was the spectacular August 2024 knockout of Koen Mazoudier.
Ismaili, 27 and based in Germany, has not boxed since out-pointing Florian Wildenhof in July 2024 but brings a perfect record and seven stoppages. Promoter George Rose calls Tszyu “must-see TV” and promises the Sydney crowd an all-action main event.
The same show could also decide the next all-Australian grudge match. Middleweight Michael Zerafa (32-5, 19 KOs) meets colourful Illinois puncher Mikey Dahlman (18-1, 16 KOs), whose back-story includes two stints in jail, rat-poison weight-cut advice and a debut knockout that launched his opponent through the ropes and onto TMZ. Zerafa is eyeing either Nikita in December or a direct clash with former WBO champion Tim Tszyu, while Dahlman rides a six-fight win streak built largely in Colombia.
Elsewhere on the Fox Sports/No Limit bill, former world-rated lightweight Brock Jarvis (22-2, 18 KOs) returns five months after defeat to Keith Thurman, jumping to middleweight against unbeaten Gold Coaster Sam Beck (7-0, 4 KOs). Also undercard features Ahmad Reda (10-0, 6 KOs) with heavyweight Brandon Grach (6-0, 5 KOs) and flyweight prospect Jasmine Parr (4-1, 0 KOs)
Fight card:
▪️Michael Zerafa vs. Mikey Dahlman, 10 rounds, for the WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title
▪️Nikita Tszyu vs. Lulzim Ismaili, 10 rounds, super welterweight
▪️Brock Jarvis vs. Sam Beck, 8 rounds, middleweight
▪️Ahmad Reda vs. Bruno Tarimo, 10 rounds, for the vacant Australian super lightweight title
▪️Jasmine Parr vs. Efasha Kamarudin, 5 x 2 rounds, super flyweight
▪️Jacob Clenshaw vs. Isaias Sette, 5 rounds, welterweight
▪️Brandon Grach vs. Lesio Balekasavu, 4 rounds, heavyweight
▪️Ashleigh Heal vs. Shannon Rose, 4 x 2 rounds, super middleweight
▪️Blair Geraghty vs. Saimoni Nanovu, 4 rounds, super lightweight
