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<\/p>\nNikita Tszyu could be gone from Australian boxing within five fights.<\/p>\n
Or measured another way, however long it takes to afford that remote Blue Mountains acreage with three chickens, two goats and a cow.<\/p>\n
But who knows?<\/p>\n
Could be it\u2019s that troublesome left hand which cruels The Butcher first.<\/p>\n
You know, the one still hurting every time he spars.<\/p>\n
Which sounds like a problem, right?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nikita Tszyu vs Lulzim Ismaili | Wednesday 20 August 7PM AEST | Order this PPV event now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n Tszyu to show ‘no mercy’ vs. Ismaili | 02:02<\/p>\n Just like those old blokes with busted noses will talk about the younger Tszyu\u2019s propensity for getting hit, and how fixing that requires more than eating your wife\u2019s placenta. <\/p>\n And maybe in his year out, Tszyu has done both.<\/p>\n But what of the pressure that now comes with being No Limit\u2019s newest poster boy? Or the cerebral damage suffered from having sat ringside as your big brother loses one, two, then three world title fights?<\/p>\n So with your appetite for breast milk and Michael Zerafa no-shows likely exhausted \u2013 and with Tszyu now only hours away from making his hyped return to the ring — these are the issues we can now start talking through.<\/p>\n Same deal, four words scrawled inside an Illinois jail cell.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t start crying now. <\/p>\n Understanding, this is exactly what American fighter Mikey Dahlman saw first night of his second stint inside.<\/p>\n When laying back on his bunk, and wondering how the f*** things had again got so bad, this fella now looking to play his own part in cruelling Australia\u2019s latest Tszyu fairytale had everything change by simply looking up.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the words, they were right there,\u201d says the fighter readying to upset Michael Zerafa in the co-main, \u201cright as tears were forming in my eyes\u201d.<\/p>\n But more on the danger of double figure underdogs below.<\/p>\n Same deal whatever motivation Tszyu takes from being promised, in victory tonight, an oversized box of sex toys.<\/a><\/p>\n For with Australia\u2019s Dark Prince now finally returning to the ring against European prospect Lulzim Ismaili, we look at the six big questions hovering over his comeback.<\/p>\n START TIME AND FULL CARD: Everything you need to know<\/a><\/p>\n IS NIKITA\u2019S LEFT HAND COOKED?<\/p>\n According to his longtime manager Glen Jennings, the answer is unequivocally \u2018no\u2019.<\/p>\n Yet after undergoing multiple hand surgeries since last October, and having not one, but two return dates delayed, Tszyu has done nothing to quell concerns this past week — suggesting his left mitt \u201cis not in the greatest position\u201d and \u201cstill in the healing process\u201d.<\/p>\n Of course, in the next breath Nikita also tells you \u201cthe hand is f***ing fine, don\u2019t worry\u201d.<\/p>\n Speak with Jennings later for some clarity, and the manager stresses this is simply one of Australia\u2019s quirkiest athletes doing his thing — and insists his fighter\u2019s plight will be no different to what scores of NRL and AFL stars do weekly. <\/p>\n \u201cThe hand has well and truly repaired,\u201d Jennings insists. \u201cAnd that\u2019s coming from the surgeons.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve also said the soreness (Tszyu experiences), that may never go away.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s no different to what NRL players are doing every week, and it doesn\u2019t stop them from performing.<\/p>\n \u201cSo the issue is gone, and the team has moved on. I just think Nikita needs to get through this fight and he can also then put it all aside himself.\u201d<\/p>\n No Limit – No Limit – Weigh Ins for NIKITA TSZYU v LULZIM ISMAILI fight night Pictures: No Limit Boxing\/Gregg PorteousSource: Supplied<\/p>\n WHAT IMPACT HAS BIG BROTHER\u2019S TITLE LOSSES HAD?<\/p>\n Less than two years since being talked up for Canelo, Tim Tszyu suddenly finds himself on a run of three straight world title losses \u2013 including two brutal stoppages against Bakhram Murtazaliev and Sebastian Fundora.<\/p>\n And good luck if you want to say The Soul Taker is done.<\/p>\n We won\u2019t. <\/p>\n Yet more than having been ringside for all three of big brother\u2019s defeats, it was also Nikita who threw the towel last October during Murtazaliev\u2019s beatdown.<\/p>\n And there are plenty questioning how all this impacts a fella.<\/p>\n Asked by Fox Sports Australia this week about the strain, mental or otherwise, Tszyu has taken from Tim\u2019s defeats, all three of which he entered as favourite, and the fighter initially takes a long pause.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n WEIGH\u2014INS: New claim in no-show saga as controversial star explains deleted post<\/a><\/p>\n TSZYU vs HOLYFIELD? Mega fight options emerge as Vegas NRL Aussie double act in the works<\/a><\/p>\n Aussie boxing villain\u2019s mysterious no-show sparks \u2018PTSD\u2019 fear in surprise twist to Tszyu feud<\/a><\/p>\n Tim Tszyu after his loss to Sebastian Fundora. Picture: InstagramSource: Instagram<\/p>\n \u201cNah,\u201d he says eventually, \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s affected me.<\/p>\n \u201cI certainly don\u2019t fear losing.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we\u2019re in our different worlds.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, our worlds are connected \u2026 but I\u2019m on my path and Tim is on his.\u201d <\/p>\n The Butcher also stressed he feels no pressure to restore any family reputation, or continue a run that has seen all three Tszyu\u2019s never lose on Australian soil \u2013 with the current tally at 51 fights and counting.<\/p>\n HOW HEAVY IS THE CROWN?<\/p>\n Given Tim Tszyu\u2019s losses, there is undeniably growing pressure on little brother to now do some of the heavy lifting for promoters No Limit \u2013 and in tandem with IBF welterweight title contender Liam Paro. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen Tim Tszyu loses,\u201d Jennings says, \u201cthe light of Australian boxing undeniably dims.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s because you could walk down the main street of any town in Australia and say \u2018do you know Tim Tszyu?\u2019 and the answer will be yes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat other fighter in Australian boxing can you do that with?<\/p>\n \u201cGive it a try and let me know how you go \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n But the kicker?<\/p>\n \u201cIt also now means,\u201d Jennings adds, \u201csomeone else now gets their chance\u201d.<\/p>\n Specifically, Nikita.<\/p>\n While the most likely \u2013 and lucrative \u2013 domestic option for The Butcher is a showdown with Michael Zerafa, it\u2019s understood No Limit\u2019s Rose boys are also keeping their options open, with Brock Jarvis another possible rival.<\/p>\n Zerafa ‘feels for’ Tim Tszyu after loss | 01:20<\/p>\n In short, with Zerafa continually talking up a fight with Tim Tszyu, and his continuing world title push at middleweight, No Limit could potentially switch to Jarvis should he win his own fight on tonight\u2019s card against the undefeated Sam Beck.<\/p>\n Despite once being hailed a genuine world title contender at super featherweight, Jarvis has more recently moved up five weight classes, in part, to earn himself a shot at the undefeated southpaw.<\/p>\n As revealed on Tuesday, talks are already underway about the possibility of Tszyu headlining in Las Vegas next March, and on the same weekend as the NRL season opener.<\/p>\n To ensure such a bold proposal works, the Rose boys know their client will need, standing across the ring, another fighter whose name is recognisable to travelling rugby league fans \u2013 with American heavyweight great Evander Holyfield\u2019s son among those being discussed<\/a>.<\/p>\n WHAT WILL TSZYU REVEAL TONIGHT?<\/p>\n Despite all the jibber involving those mystic benefits of eating your wife\u2019s placenta, what really matters tonight is learning what improvements Tszyu has made to his game in almost a year away.<\/p>\n Given he has been unable to punch hard, Tszyu says the layoff has given him valuable time to make significant adjustments, both offensively and defensively, while also learning to become \u201ca more patient, thoughtful fighter\u201d.<\/p>\n Given he only boasts 10 fights, The Butcher is undeniably a work in progress.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, the fighter\u2019s ability to learn on the run, and often while headlining under the bright lights, should also not be underestimated. <\/p>\n But apart from proving ring rust isn\u2019t real, or winning as well as he should against an opponent paying $14, Tszyu must also show he has made the necessary improvements to take the oversized step that would be fighting Zerafa \u2013 whose own career includes outings against the likes of Erislandy Lara, Kell Brook, Peter Quillin and Jeff Horn.<\/p>\n