Australian fight fans are set to enjoy a winter feast of boxing with four fight nights in the space of just over a month with bouts headlined by the likes of Nikita Tszyu, AFLW superstar Tayla Harris, Paulo Aokuso and Issac Hardman.
Three cards will be billed as No Limit on Fox with Aokuso kicking proceedings off with a bout against former world champion Renold Quinlan on July 19.
“I’m very excited. It will be my first time headlining a fight,” Olympian and rising star Aokuso said ahead of his fight in just eight days’ time.
“He (Quinlan) is a dangerous fighter so I’m going to have to stay on the whole time, we’ve been working on that, so we’ll have him figured out.”
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Harris, an AFLW premiership winner with Melbourne and a four-time AFL Women’s All-Australian, has the honour of headlining the first all-female card on July 26 which also features the tough-as-nails Ella Boot.
Boot famously fought through a severely broken hand sustained in the third round to go the distance and ultimately secure a unanimous decision win over Zoe Putorak last October.
Harris, who is undefeated with eight wins and one draw from nine fights, takes on Millicent Agboegbulan in the main event.
It is Harris’ second fight in the space of three months after almost three-and-a-half years away from the ring.
“I can’t wait to get back in there, I’m always on all year. Obviously I’ve got football as well so I’m always fit and every time I get the chance to step in the ring I make the most of it and this fight will be no different,” Harris said.
“I think the opportunity this event holds for me is much bigger than just winning the fight. I think there’s a lot to be said about an all-female boxing event and for No Limit to have the courage to put it on is something I’m really proud and thankful for.”
Hardman returns to the ring after a frustrating loss to Rohan Murdock for the IBF Australasian super middleweight title in March.
‘The Headsplitter’ went up in weight for the bout against Murdock but came up short in a split decision defeat.
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He looks to bounce back against Japanese middleweight Kazuki Kyohara on August 9.
“In my last fight I got on my bike and tried to be the boxer but everyone knows me as the Headsplitter and getting in people’s faces and that’s what I’m going to do now,” Hardman said.
“I’ve learned that lesson. It’s unfortunate I had to learn it on the run and take an ‘L’ in the journey but I’m getting in people’s faces now like I always have been .. and I’m staying in their face.”
The youngest Tszyu then rounds out the month-long feast of boxing as one of three superstars set to headline a pay-per-view event on August 23.
Also headlining the August PPV card is Liam Wilson, who setto feature on the August PPV card is Liam Wilson, who was set to fight Eduardo Ramirez on the Tim Tszyu v Carlos Ocampo undercard but had to pull out with injury.
It will be Wilson’s first fight since his heartbreaking and controversial decision loss to Emanuel Navarrete in a Phoenix world title fight many thought the Australian should have won.
“It was a very unfortunate outcome, I was so close to being world champion and fulfilling my dreams … the circumstances were unfortunate … but it’s sparked a motivation in me to be world champion,” Wilson said.
“I was so close …. and I can’t wait to get back in there.”
Tszyu is aiming to make it seven wins from seven after dismantling Benjamin Bommber in May, although his latest opponent is yet to be revealed.
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Tszyu said on Tuesday he wants to spend some time in the ring after his recent fights, including his hyped battle with Bommber, ended in quick stoppages.
“We’re looking to increase the tempo and the intensity,” Tszyu said.
“It’s never the intention (for a first round KO), it was kind of a shame the fight was ended so quickly …. the first punch I really landed changed the tempo of everything.
“For me I’m still trying to gain more experience, that’s the main thing for me, I couldn’t care less about the knockouts, I’m trying to level up and build me skills and you don’t get that with a one round fight you get that with a tough fight and one that goes the distance.
“It’s not something I’m going to cry about, that I got the knockout, but it’s not something I’m fully proud of.”
“This time around we’re looking for someone who is definitely more experienced and able to go the distance. That’s the kind of fight I need.”
Speaking on the thrilling run of fights, No Limit CEO George Rose is excited for what could be “career-changing nights” for all involved as they look to cement their status as superstars in the Australian boxing scene.
“We started 2023 with a bang and now we are taking it to the next level with a run of high quality, all action shows fight fans have come to expect from us,” Rose said.
“There are career-changing nights for fighters – rising stars looking to make their mark,
world-ranked opponents going to war and Australian and international title fights where absolutely everything goes on the line.”
FULL SCHEDULE
JULY 19
Paulo Aokuso v Renold Quinlan
Jack Brubaker v Troy O’Meley
Youssef Dib v Miles Zalewski
Isaias Sette v Ankush Hooda
JULY 26
Tayla Harris v Millicent Agboegbulen
Ella Boot v Annie Thatcher
Angel Rushton v Jaala Tomat
Tywarna Campbell v Natasha Kurene
AUGUST 9
Issac Hardman v Kazuki Kyohara
Further bouts TBC
AUGUST 23
Nikita Tszyu v TBC
Liam Wilson v TBC
Further bouts TBC