Sydney will host Tim Tszyu’s maiden world title fight next month, after the Harbour City pipped Victoria and Queensland in a fierce bidding war.
Tszyu (21-0, 15 KOs) will face American Tony Harrison (29-3-1, 21 KOs) at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, March 12 with the WBO junior middleweight interim belt on the line. The arena can accommodate 20,000 spectators, with a sellout crowd expected.
Tszyu was set to fight Jermell Charlo for the undisputed championship at 154 pounds last month in Las Vegas but the American star was forced to withdraw after breaking his left hand during training camp.
Keen to remain active, Tszyu and his team opted for the fight against Harrison, a former WBC title holder.
A win over Harrison would likely lead to another date with Charlo later this year, with all four junior middleweight titles up for grabs. If Charlo is unable to defend his WBO title within 180 days, per WBO rules, he would be stripped and the interim champion elevated.
If Harrison is successful, he’ll be entitled to a third fight against Charlo.
Next month’s fight will mark the second time Tszyu has fought at the Sydney-based venue. The 28-year-old defeated Japan’s Takeshi Inoue by unanimous decision there in November, 2021, his last fight on Australian soil.