Tim Tszyu Alexander Volkanovski title fight double-header in USA, Aussies fighting in Las Vegas, UFC،
Australian boxing superstar Tim Tszyu has revealed his desire to share a fight week in Las Vegas with Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC champion he describes as “an absolute beast”.
Just days after defending his WBO super middleweight title, Tszyu backed Volkanovski to upset UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi this Sunday.
Speaking to Fox Sports Australia, Soul Taker praised Volkanovski’s decision to fight on 11 days’ notice and revealed his desire for the two men to eventually compete together in the fighting capital of the world – and from the first third of 2024.
UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 | SUN 22 OCT 5am AEDT | Order now with the Main Event on Kayo Sports
After retaining his world title with a brutal decision victory over American Brian Mendoza on Sunday, Tszyu now turns his attention to a Las Vegas superfight in early 2024 – with Jermell Charlo, Errol Spence Jnr and Terence Crawford all on his hit list.
Should Volkanovski also win his own title this weekend, the Australian UFC featherweight champion would also look to defend his new lightweight strap first, and potentially at UFC 300.
This timing means the two men could potentially fight in the United States within weeks or even days of each other, which would be a big first for Australian combat sports.
“Come and get him”: Tszyu’s message to Charlo | 01:37
While Tszyu is becoming the new Pay-Per-View king of Australian boxing, Volkanovski is doing the same for mixed martial arts, with two million followers on Instagram.
A victory in Abu Dhabi will also see the father-of-three from Wollongong join a list of just four fighters who have held two UFC titles simultaneously – Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo and Amanda Nunes.
“Alexander Volkanovski is an absolute beast,” Tszyu said.
“And what he’s doing this weekend is incredible.
“I love it.
“To move up a weight class to fight the champion on 11 days’ notice, it just proves what a ‘Volk’ warrior he is.”
Tszyu suggested that if Volkanovski wins this Sunday, he would like the two men to then face the championship blockbusters in Las Vegas on consecutive weekends.
“I’m backing Volk to win, of course,” he began
“And to defend my title and then to see it become a two-division champion, it’s an incredible week for Australian sport.
“And I would really love to see us both headlining in Las Vegas within a week of each other someday.”
Volk intervenes for 11 days to fight against Islam | 02:21
Volkanosvki is a big supporter of his fellow Australian fighters and even sent a congratulatory text to undefeated super bantamweight Sam Goodman, who beat Mexican Miguel Flores in the Tszyu co-main event.
As revealed by Fox Sports Australia last week, Goodman was a ball boy for Albion Park in Group 7 and featured in several of the club’s first grade grand finals – including a Warilla Gorillas team which at the era, featured a 97 kg Volkanovski as a prop. .
Asked about the old Gorilla No.10 being parachuted into a world title fight, and a higher weight class, on 11 days’ notice, Goodman said it proved he was “an absolute savage “.
“And how can you not love that,” he says.
“Here comes Volk, once again, facing off against the guy everyone thinks is the bogeyman.
“A fighter that a lot of people think should have gotten the nod against the first time around.
“It just proves he’s an absolute savage and I really hope he succeeds.”
While Goodman is the No. 1 contender for the IBF and WBO titles – and will almost certainly fight for a world title early next year – he first wants to headline a show in Wollongong in December.
“I’m really excited to come home and bring a big show to Wollongong, we’ve got some great fighters,” Goodman said.
“We have me, we have Volk next week representing Wollongong… we are a great fighting city.”
Goodman vs Flores: Full Fight Highlights | 07:45
Despite the short notice of his fight and its haul of up to $3 with bookmakers, Volkanovski has vowed to knock out Makhachev in Abu Dhabi.
“It’s going to be exciting,” the UFC featherweight champion said.
“Obviously I want to go in there and hurt him.
“We’re going to try to make sure it doesn’t last five rounds.
“I want to finish it sooner.
“I don’t want to test his gas tank.
“Don’t get me wrong, I think I can do it, but let’s not try to test it.” Let’s get this over with nice and early.
“With how excited I am, how refreshed I am – both mentally and physically – I’m going to be a dangerous man in this.
“I plan to knock him out.”
