Australian boxing bad boy Michael Zerafa has declared himself in talks with UK superstar Chris Eubank Jnr, with the fighter dubbed ‘Pretty Boy’ convinced he can bring the Englishman Down Under this year.

The announcement comes as Zerafa’s longtime rival Tim Tszyu also continues his own build toward a massive showdown with American superstar Errol Spence Jnr, which will likely take place in June or July.

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Only days after Tszyu jetted back into Sydney this week for his Easter Sunday showdown against Denis Nurja, Zerafa has confirmed reports of a proposed fight headliner between himself and Eubank Jnr.

Fresh off an incredibly controversial No Contest against Nikita Tszyu in January, Zerafa says conversations with Team Eubank have been underway for several weeks regarding an Ashes bout somewhere in Australia this year.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia via a brief text exchange on Friday, the 34-year-old stressed that while no promoter has yet been finalised, he would happily entertain talks with either No Limit or Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn.

The news comes only two months after Zerafa’s bizarre fight finish against the younger Tszyu sibling, which was called off after an accidental Round 2 head clash opened up a cut over his eye.

Tszyu opens up on Nurja preparations | 03:52

Zerafa claimed he was unable to see after being cut, with the fight then called off.

While No Limit have already suggested they won’t work with the Melburnian again, Zerafa said he would still pitch the Eubank bout to both the Rose boys and Hearn – with Matchroom Boxing also now set to host seven Australian shows in 2026.

Tim Tszyu, meanwhile, is looking to continue his own ring resurrection on Sunday week against Nurja, with a win then set to catapult him into a Spence Jnr bout sometime in the American summer.

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While no date or venue has yet been set for the fight, early chatter suggests the bout will take place in either June or July, with both Las Vegas and Spence’s hometown of Dallas, Texas the most likely US options.

Early reports have also suggested Spence Jnr would be willing to travel Down Under for the fight.

All of which continues an exciting few months for Australian boxing that also sees the impending return of Nikita Tszyu, who is expected to announce his next fight within weeks.

Elsewhere, interest also surrounds what will be next for Australia’s cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia – having been stripped of his IBF strap – while Liam Paro is also awaiting a date for his rescheduled title bout against IBF welterweight champ Lewis Crocker.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 16: Michael Zerafa reacts after a no contest against Nikita Tszy in January.Source: Getty Images

There have also been plenty of headlines already this year for Nelson Asofa-Solomona, with the Australian crossover star also set to fight on the upcoming Easter Sunday card against Jarrod Wallace.

After winning his No Limit debut in devastating fashion, the 130kg puncher has already revealed a 2026 hit list that goes George Burgess, Matthew Lodge and, finally, NSW Origin great Paul Gallen.

For Tim Tszyu, Sunday week’s fight is the perfect chance to showcase his continuing style overhaul under new Cuban coach Pedro Diaz.

Quizzed on the improvements at an open workout this week, the Australian pay-per-view star said: “Looking back on my old sparring sessions back in the day, bro, I used to be a sitting duck. A sitting duck.

“So when you get a sniper like Murtazaliev, I was just there …”

And why?

Wallace takes jab at NAS’ footy career | 00:53

“I got too comfortable,” Tszyu continued. “You see me in my young days, I was a slick boxer. I was moving, had footwork, a nice one-two.

“But then I got into a different mode. Against Dennis Hogan, against Jeff Horn I just thought ‘ah, I’ll start bullying everyone’.

“[Laughs] I thought I was Artur Beterbiev.

“In training, I’d skip for 15 minutes, do some shadow boxing, hit pads, smash it out on the bag, gas myself, and then do heaps of sparring. But now I’m doing footwork, doing head drills, doing bag, doing reactions, working on mental skills … it’s a new perspective and I’m embracing that.”

When it comes to Zerafa’s fight claims meanwhile, the idea of Hearn promoting a Eubank Jnr fight is an intriguing one.

While the UK promoter initially managed Eubank Jnr, the fighter then shifted camps and the pair have been frosty ever since – including, most recently, when Eubank twice fought Matchroom’s Conor Benn in stadium blockbusters.

Eubank Jnr won the pair’s first fight by decision but lost the second, held last November, by a wide margin.