Nikita Tszyu is set to be one of a whopping 20 fights as a boxing extravaganza in Newcastle on October 8 was officially announced.
Tszyu (3-0) will take on Darkon Dryden (4-0) in one of the headline bouts alongside Dennis Hogan’s (30-4-1) world title fight against defending IBO light middleweight champion Sam Eggington (32-7), although the main event is yet to be confirmed.
Also featuring on the card are budding Australian stars Paulo Aokuso and Sam Goodman, as is Australian-based Irishman Darragh Foley.
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No Limit CEO George Rose felt that taking advantage of the vast array of star boxers in Australia was a no-brainer, especially during the quiet period of local sport.
“When you’ve got this much talent on offer here in Australia, why not put everyone on the same day,” Rose said.
“It’s that time of the year when footy season’s just finished up and you’ve got that little itch you need to scratch. We’ve got the scratching for you in Newcastle.
“A boxing festival, fights all day, beer gardens, festival atmosphere music, it’s going to be a great day for everyone who attends at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.”
With plenty of fighters in action in October, it will generate unseen levels of excitement.
And Rose fanned the flames, throwing down a five-figure challenge to all fighters set to appear on the card.
“I want to see everyone step up and steal the show and get us all excited,” Rose said.
“I’m going to get that excited I might even throw knockout bonuses out! I want to see this!
“I’ll put it up, if you can get a big knockout, I’m going to put up big knockout bonuses. I’m going to put up $10k.”
Both Tszyu and Dryden, two hard-hitting stars, will certainly be eyeing up the bonus.
The war of words between the duo has already begun, as Dryden claimed Tszyu gets “some TKO’s, but I put them [opponents] to sleep.”
He also made the chilling prediction that “Tszyu falls in five.”
Although Tszyu wasn’t as blunt in his view of how the fight plays out, he had a warning for Dryden if he thinks he has his fighting style all worked out.
“He thinks that we’re going to be trading, so let him think that we’re trading,” Tszyu said.
“I’ll have my own game plan.”
SUPER SATURDAY BOXING FESTIVAL CARD (AS OF MONDAY)
Nikita Tszyu v Darkon Dryden
Dennis Hogan v Sam Eggington for IBO Super Welterweight World Title
Sam Goodman v Jason Cooper for IBF & WBO Oriental Super Bantamweight titles
Darragh Foley v Blake Minto for vacant IBO International Lightweight title
Paolo Aokuso v Faris Chevalier for vacant IBO Inter-Continental Light Heavyeight title
Shanell Dargan v TBA
Jayde Mitchell v Mark Lucas
