Nikita set for domestic grudge match
Nikita Tszyu is set for a domestic grudge match against Koen Mazoudier after his impressive win over Danilo Creati on Wednesday.
Tszyu made the first successful defence of his Australian superwelterweight title with a one-sided unanimous decision win over Creati at the Hordern Pavilion.
Mazoudier had front-row seats for the fight and confronted “The Butcher” as he left the ring.
“We were meant to fight in the amateur days, so it will be cool to finally get it going,” Tszyu said of a potential Mazoudier showdown.
“He just said ‘let’s get it going’ and I said the same thing back.
“When we’re both ready, we’ll get it going. It’s not if, it’s when.”
Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings said Mazoudier was the obvious frontrunner.
“I spoke briefly to Koen and said, ‘We’ll see you soon’,” Jennings said. “He said ‘I look forward to it’.
“It’s a fight Nikita wants, so we’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow and decide when and where.
“If they are both healthy, that’s the fight.”
Mazoudier was the frontrunner to face Tszyu in his first title defence after the Sydneysider stopped Travis Druce last month.
A ruptured eardrum forced him out of the fight and Creati filled the void.
The Italian was overpowered by Tszyu on Wednesday, but gave the Australian champion a good test over 10 rounds.