Face-off fires up placid Tszyu as Mahoney eyes upset

Murray Wenzel | August 25, 2026

A fiery face-off has breathed life into Nikita Tszyu and Ben Mahoney’s world title eliminator on the Gold Coast.

The pair butted heads after weighing in on Tuesday, the intensity a welcome sight after a build-up so placid that Tszyu’s promoter was asked if the enigmatic son-of-a-gun should be doing more to sell the occasion.

On the line for the undefeated Australians is a shot at Englishman Josh Kelly’s IBF super welterweight crown and Tszyu (12-0) is a clear favourite with bookies to beat Gold Coaster Mahoney (17-0-1).

But Mahoney’s camp are warning not to write off the 31-year-old, a former kickboxing and Muay Thai battler who is finally healthy after horror build-ups to his last three fights.

“It’s always the Nikita show, set up for Nikita as always,” Tasman Fighters boss Mick Francis, who also manages world cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and heavyweight star Justis Huni, told AAP.

‘”But we’re in Benny’s backyard and he’s sold more than 1000 tickets himself.

“He’s not just a pretty face and, his first time fighting since he’s had a baby, sees this as a chance to set them up.”

Mahoney has resuscitated his boxing career after a brief sojourn to the US left him treading water.

“If it goes the distance, Benny will outbox him and win,” Francis said.

“Nikita’s going to get frustrated and try to put Benny away, but a lot have tried that and none have been able to.

“His last three fights he’s had his issues, but this camp’s been great and three years ago Benny was a killer … we’ve seen what he’s capable of.”

Nikita, 28, has been a pay-per-view star for promoter No Limit since he left a career as an architect behind to join the family business in 2022.

Between him, Hall of Fame father Kostya (18-0) and brother Tim (26-0) the Tszyus have combined for a remarkable 56-0 record in Australia.

“That’d be big and it’s possible; they’re due aren’t they,” Francis said of ruining that record.

Tszyu’s primal preparation measures and raw ring power – he eats raw animal organs and last year revealed he had taken his wife’s freeze-dried placenta in table form – have become a key part of his identity.

But until Tuesday’s face-off Tszyu had enjoyed a relatively muted public build-up, No Limit boss George Rose jumping to his defence after he had offered little in pre-fight interviews.

“Given the civility they’d shown each other, that was intense as hell,” Rose said of their stare-down on stage at Pacific Fair shopping centre.

“I thought, ‘Shit this is going to kick off’.

“That’s (engagement with the media) what makes for a great pay-per-view fighter, draw in the masses and make people interested.

“People grow, and learn as they go and get better over time.”

The undercard features Callum Peters, Kirra Ruston, Koen Mazoudier and Rahim Mundine, the son of Anthony, in his fourth professional fight.