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<\/p>\nThe stage is set for 2026\u2019s most highly-anticipated all-Australian boxing showdown as Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa face off on Friday night. <\/p>\n
Plus, former NRL enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona looks to make a statement against Jeremy Latimore in his professional debut.<\/p>\n
Read on for the latest news from the fight card, including round-by-round updates in the live blog below from the main card (7pm AEDT) onwards.<\/p>\n
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N. Tszyu vs Zerafa | Friday 16 Jan from 7pm AEDT | The trash talk and bitterness come to a head when Nikita Tszyu steps into the ring to face Michael Zerafa in one of the most anticipated fights in Australian boxing history. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow all the action in our live blog below. If you can\u2019t see it click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018BRUTAL\u2019 NAS\u2019 SCARY DEBUT<\/p>\n Heavyweight star Nelson Asofa-Solomona has won his first fight as No Limit\u2019s newest crossover weapon<\/a>, knocking out fellow former rugby league enforcer Jeremy Latimore in the first round with a \u201cbrutal\u201d uppercut.<\/p>\n Asofa-Solomona quit the Storm following the conclusion of the 2025 season, signing a lucrative boxing contract, despite interest from rival NRL clubs.<\/p>\n The 29-year-old proved his switch could be a fruitful one, disposing of Latimore in his professional debut on the Michael Zerafa and Nikita Tszyu undercard.<\/p>\n Asofa-Solomona quickly worked his opponent out, finding his distance before collecting Latimore with a punch that floored him. Latimore could do nothing but lay flat on the canvas.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was huge and he has sent him down hard… Nelson Asofa-Solomona, we knew it was the upper cut most likely,\u201d Ben Damon said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it came it was brutal, a one-punch highlight reel from Nelson in his professional debut.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was never chance of getting up, try as you might.\u201d<\/p>\n Shawn Porter also added: \u201cIt\u2019s a punch that you don\u2019t see coming, Latimore never saw that coming\u201d.<\/p>\n Asofa-Solomona, meanwhile, said he was \u201cnot happy with the performance\u201d but gave<\/p>\n \u201cI want to give credit to this man right here, a lot of people wouldn\u2019t dare step in this ring,\u201d he said, pointing at his opponent.<\/p>\n He was then asked if he was pleased with his fight-defining punch.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was good, it was a bit wild but I will go back to the drawing board and try and perfect everything in the game,\u201d he said, in true rugby league fashion.<\/p>\n As for who he wanted to fight next?<\/p>\n Wilson ends it with BRUTAL body shot KO | 01:52<\/p>\n \u201cAny NRL player can get it, I want to clean up the whole NRL division and then we can go from there,\u201d Asofa-Solomona explained.<\/p>\n The former Storm star\u2019s No Limit contract is three years long with Fox Sports Australia revealing his next opponent could be former Rabbitohs forward George Burgess.<\/p>\n The brother of legendary lock Sam Burgess, who played 160 top grade games for Souths, St George Illawarra and Wigan, is currently negotiating his own contract.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, bouts against Paul Gallen and Curtis Scott have also been floated, but it remains to be seen who will next step in the ring with the man who stands 200cm tall and weighs 130 kilograms.<\/p>\n Gallen was in the crowd during Friday night\u2019s card, while Scott was in Latimore\u2019s corner.<\/p>\n Prior to his first professional bout, Asofa-Solomona took a handful of pot shots at the former NSW and Sharks captain.<\/p>\n \u201cGal likes the coin, I heard,\u201d NAS grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cSo for the right price he\u2019ll come out of retirement. That\u2019s a fight we can make down the track.\u201d<\/p>\n Wilson v Piala: Full Fight Highlights | 04:40<\/p>\n BETTING PLUNGE<\/p>\n The greatest Australian grudge match this decade is no longer a 50\/50 fight.<\/p>\n Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on fight day, Sportsbet\u2019s Joel Caine revealed a Tszyu KO\/TKO has been wound into $3 after being \u201chammered\u201d by punters, adding big money is also coming for the finish in rounds one, two and three.<\/p>\n The late Tszyu plunge has also seen him wound into the $1.76 betting favourite \u2013 with Zerafa now out to $2.20.<\/p>\n The lopsided takings are a surprise given a host of Australia\u2019s biggest fight names are backing Zerafa \u2013 among them the likes of Jeff Fenech, Anthony Mundine, Billy Dib and Jeff Horn.<\/p>\n American great Shawn Porter is also backing Zerafa by decision.<\/p>\n Speaking at the start of fight week, and when both fighters were still $1.96 in betting, Fenech said he was going with Zerafa \u2013 albeit with a caveat.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we\u2019re going on boxing ability \u2013 Michael Zerafa,\u201d Fenech said. \u201cThat\u2019s my pick.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it also depends on the real Michael showing up.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause that\u2019s the scary thing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe greatest Michael Zerafa I\u2019ve seen hasn\u2019t turned up a lot of times.\u201d<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Dib said: \u201cI think Mick is going to do a job on him.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think he\u2019ll be too much.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd look, Nikita could prove me wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he does too, his career catapults.<\/p>\n \u201cBut right now, we don\u2019t know if Nikita Tszyu is world class.<\/p>\n \u201cHe hasn\u2019t proved himself at that level yet.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s also very hittable.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m not going to sit here and tell you what a great fighter he is because he\u2019s still unproven.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet Aussie punters are siding with Malignaggi, and now loading up on \u2018The Butcher\u2019.<\/p>\n In head-to-head betting, the online bookmaker is also holding twice the cash on Tszyu.<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n Talking Pts: Awkward NRL question 133kg must answer; reality \u2018broken\u2019 Zerafa can\u2019t escape <\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Are you serious?\u2019: Tim Tszyu US \u2018megafight\u2019 rumour emerges; Zerafa \u2018kryptonite\u2019 exposed<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Dumb, stupid\u2019: US greats deliver wild take on \u2018caveman\u2019 Tszyu… with huge HOF call<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018Don\u2019t know what he\u2019s doing\u2019: Zerafa grilled by Choc, Horn over \u2018terrible\u2019 bad boy move<\/a><\/p>\n Big NAS goes face-to-face with Latimore | 03:11<\/p>\n BIG NAS ARRIVES<\/p>\n Talk about making an entrance.<\/p>\n Ahead of his first professional bout, Nelson Asofa-Solomona has arrived at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre… wearing a balaclava.<\/p>\n The former Storm enforcer, who walked away from an $800,000 NRL contract, will take the ring against fellow former rugby league middle Jeremy Latimore.<\/p>\n Asofa-Solomona signed a three-year deal with No Limit to be the latest big-name crossover boxing star \u2014 and he has made a statement with his entrance.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about this man, Nelson Asofa-Solomona on his way in… sin bins, suspensions and now the sweet science,\u201d Corbin Middlemas said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a night for style, how about the balaclava?\u201d.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Aussie superstar Liam Paro was in awe of Asofa-Solomna\u2019s size, with the mammoth forward weighing in at 130 kilograms.<\/p>\n \u201cHe means business, look at him, I\u2019m excited for his career,\u201d Liam Paro said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat an athlete, what a human, all the best to him tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Nelson Asofa-Solomona makes an entrance.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n WILSON\u2019S MAMMOTH BLOW<\/p>\n Liam Wilson has defeated Rodex Piala, landing a huge left-hand body shot that left his opponent floored for several minutes.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t the cleanest performance from the Aussie, who endured a host of lusty punches with Tim Tszyu saying \u201che took a few too many shots\u201d.<\/p>\n But Wilson eventually got the job done, opening up the body with some jabs before unleashing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t intelligent boxing, he just knew the right punch to throw,\u201d Shawn Porter said.<\/p>\n Speaking post-fight, Wilson was asked if he knew he would win with a body shot as the fight progressed.<\/p>\n \u201cNot really, I feel like I am blessed with the left hand… he\u2019s a tricky customer but we got the job done and on to the next,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be honest, everyone knows me for my left hook but I also have a left body shot.\u201d<\/p>\n Wilson ends it with BRUTAL body shot KO | 01:52<\/p>\n PSYCHO CLAIM<\/p>\n American boxing great Paulie Malignaggi says a \u201cpsychotic\u201d Nikita Tszyu is set to finish Michael Zerafa <\/a>tonight \u2013 with punters also now \u201chammering\u201d bookies over the same prediction.<\/p>\n The revelation comes as a fighter famed for dropping Tszyu twice — and almost handing him the first loss of his hyped career — is also now backing \u2018The Butcher\u2019 to knock out Zerafa, and after recently being flown into Sydney as a key sparring partner.<\/p>\n Fresh off his WBC Grand Prix win in Saudi Arabia, Dylan Biggs has told Fox Sports Australia Zerafa is in danger of being \u201cstopped real early\u201d in what shapes as the greatest Australian grudge match this decade.<\/p>\n