(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Nikita Tszyu Secures First-Round Victory Over Lulzim Ismaili in Sydney
SYDNEY: Nikita Tszyu marked his return to the ring with a dominant first-round performance, stopping Macedonian opponent Lulzim Ismaili after just three minutes in their headline clash at the ICC Sydney Theatre.
After a year out due to hand surgery, Tszyu wasted no time testing his recovery. A powerful left to the body followed by another upstairs sent Ismaili to the canvas in the opening round. Though he survived to the bell, the 12-1 fighter refused to continue, handing Tszyu a rapid victory.
“It was only one round, so I didn’t get to show much,” Tszyu said post-fight. “I wanted it to go longer, but I found the opening and he was struggling.”
Michael Zerafa Impresses with First-Round Stoppage
Australian middleweight contender Michael Zerafa kept his name in the mix for a future clash with Tszyu, scoring a first-round stoppage of American Mikey Dahlman. Despite briefly touching the canvas after a glancing shot, Zerafa quickly regained control and forced the referee to step in at 2:21 of the opener.
Zerafa, now 34-5 (22 KOs), praised Tszyu after the event, saying: “If I end up fighting him, then the hostilities can start, but for now we should all support him.”
Brock Jarvis Returns with Strong Win
Another possible opponent for Tszyu, Brock Jarvis, showed patience before stopping Sam Beck in the fourth round. Fighting at middleweight for the first time, Jarvis gradually broke down his opponent before a sharp right-left combination ended the contest.
With Jeff Fenech in his corner, Jarvis (22-2, 20 KOs) said: “I’ve been working hard to make adjustments, and it feels unreal to be back.”
Ahmed Reda Captures National Title
Rising prospect Ahmed Reda also impressed on the undercard, winning the vacant Australian junior welterweight title with a unanimous decision over Bruno Tarimo. Judges scored the fight 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93 in favor of Reda, who moved to 8-0 (5 KOs).
The 22-year-old handled Tarimo’s relentless aggression with smart counterpunching and a composed display, marking a big step forward in his career.
