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Nikita Tszyu makes shock confession about knockout win calls out ...

Nikita Tszyu makes shock confession about knockout win calls out
Nikita Tszyu has shown off his boxing pedigree by extending his unbeaten run with a first-round win over Benjamin Bommber - though admitted he was 'slightly rocked' in the early moments.

Nikita Tszyu makes shock confession about his knockout win over Ben Bommber - and cheekily calls out heavyweight world champ Tyson Fury with another big-name Aussie fight in his future

  •  Tszyu admits he was slightly rocked early in bout
  •  Aussie calls out heavyweight champ Tyson Fury
  •  Speculation that he could fight Brock Jarvis next

By James Cooney For Daily Mail Australia and Melissa Woods For Australian Associated Press

Published: 01:44 BST, 25 May 2023 | Updated: 01:50 BST, 25 May 2023

Nikita Tszyu has shown off his boxing pedigree by extending his unbeaten run with a crushing first-round victory over Benjamin Bommber - though admitted he was 'slightly rocked' in the early moments.

Squaring off as the co-main event at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday night, Tszyu landed a big uppercut and then finished the young Victorian with a flurry of punches.

The referee tried to intervene with Bommber landing on the canvas on top of him.

Tszyu is the son of former great Kostya, and younger brother of Tim, who was ringside and looked as excited as his sibling by the dominant victory.

The win came 20 years after triple world champion Kostya downed American Jesse James Leija in six rounds in Melbourne.

Nikita Tszyu has shown off his boxing pedigree with a first-round win over Benjamin Bommber
Nikita Tszyu has shown off his boxing pedigree with a first-round win over Benjamin Bommber

Nikita Tszyu has shown off his boxing pedigree with a first-round win over Benjamin Bommber

Tszyu admitted afterwards that he was 'slightly rocked' after a straight right of Bommbers found the target early in the bout
Tszyu admitted afterwards that he was 'slightly rocked' after a straight right of Bommbers found the target early in the bout

Tszyu admitted afterwards that he was 'slightly rocked' after a straight right of Bommbers found the target early in the bout

Nikita, 25, is undefeated through six professional fights while Bommber was 5-0 heading into this clash.

He lived up to his nickname 'The Butcher' with the ruthless performance.

However, Tszyu didn't have it all his own way, and was hit clean with a straight right early in the round which he says left him 'slightly rocked'.

'I wasn't dizzy, wasn't hurt, but he caught me,' he said.

'Surprise shot.

'But the thing is, I feel I can really take a punch.

'My brother has warmed me up throughout our childhood. I've copped a beating and a half from him.

'So I feel like my chin has a bit of mileage on it.'

Tszyu said he wasn't made dizzy from the 'surprise shot' and that he can take a punch
Tszyu said he wasn't made dizzy from the 'surprise shot' and that he can take a punch

Tszyu said he wasn't made dizzy from the 'surprise shot' and that he can take a punch

Tszyu admitted that he wished the fight lasted a little longer and that he went into 'kill mode' when he saw his opponent was hurt
Tszyu admitted that he wished the fight lasted a little longer and that he went into 'kill mode' when he saw his opponent was hurt

Tszyu admitted that he wished the fight lasted a little longer and that he went into 'kill mode' when he saw his opponent was hurt

'It was over in a flash, I was hoping it was going to go a little longer,' Nikita said.

'I landed an uppercut. I saw a victim, the hunter instinct inside of me went into kill mode.

'If I see someone wounded, I want to hurt them, it's just instincts.'

Tim joined Nikita in the ring and rated his display as '10/10'.

'I'm a proud brother. Nikita did a tremendous job,' Tim said.

'My dad fought here in the Telstra Dome in Melbourne in 2003 so for Nikita to come back 20 years later and continue the legacy here, it's an honour for us and I'm sure one day I'll be back as well.'

Post-fight Nikita said the victory had given him a 'huge buzz'.

'That was unexpected. I didn't expect it to be that short,' he said.

When asked who he'd like to face next, Tszyu gave a cheeky answer by calling out the heavyweight champion Tyson Fury
When asked who he'd like to face next, Tszyu gave a cheeky answer by calling out the heavyweight champion Tyson Fury

When asked who he'd like to face next, Tszyu gave a cheeky answer by calling out the heavyweight champion Tyson Fury

There is some speculation that Nikita Tszyu could next fight talented Aussie Brock Jarvis, who for several years has been regarded as one the nation's hottest young boxing prospects
There is some speculation that Nikita Tszyu could next fight talented Aussie Brock Jarvis, who for several years has been regarded as one the nation's hottest young boxing prospects

There is some speculation that Nikita Tszyu could next fight talented Aussie Brock Jarvis, who for several years has been regarded as one the nation's hottest young boxing prospects

'He (Bommber) was a little bit tricky at first but he opened himself up a little bit and that upper-cut is something I've been working on throughout camp.'

When asked who he'd like to face next, Tszyu gave a cheeky answer.

'There's one person in this arena that I've had my eye on, and that's Tyson Fury, the Gypsy King,' Tszyu said.

'Just joking, don't kill me,' he added.

There is speculation that Tszyu could next face talented Sydneysider Brock Jarvis, who for several years has been regarded as one the nation's hottest young boxing prospects.

Jarvis recently split with long-time trainer Jeff Fenech and has expressed his interest in moving up from featherweight to welterweight, or even as high middleweight.

Bommber, 21, went into the fight with high expectations after calling out Tszyu for the past year.

He spent the build-up training in Las Vegas with respected American trainer Rodney Crisler, who arrived in Melbourne after helping Devin Haney retain his belts.

But he failed to make weight at the first attempt which led Tszyu to describe him as unprofessional.

Tszyu described the win as a 'sweet feeling' and that his previously undefeated opponent would be 'gutted' with the result
Tszyu described the win as a 'sweet feeling' and that his previously undefeated opponent would be 'gutted' with the result

Tszyu described the win as a 'sweet feeling' and that his previously undefeated opponent would be 'gutted' with the result

'It was a sweet feeling - he was definitely gutted as it's a tough loss for him to have early in his career.

'I said at the first press conference that one of us is moving forward and one isn't and that's the harsh reality of the sport.'

Meanwhile, in a clash of former AFL heavyweights, ex-Bomber Tom Bellchambers dominated Cameron Mooney who played for Geelong.

The super welterweight pair both landed some heavy blows in the opening round with Bellchambers knocking the big Cat down.

He then landed a big right with 47 seconds remaining in the third and final round, winning by knockout.

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