Boxing: Nikita Tszyu wins comeback fight against Lulzim Ismaili, undefeated, live updates, full card
The son of Kostya and younger brother of Tim, the promising Nikita Tszyu had a 10-0 record entering Wednesday night in his three-year professional boxing career.
Nikita Tszyu vs Lulzim Ismaili | Wednesday 20 August 7PM AEST | Order this PPV event now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
He took on previously undefeated Macedonian Ismaili (12-1) in a super welterweight bout at Sydney's ICC Exhibition Centre as the Aussie tested out his surgically repaired left hand for the first time in 12 months.
The 27-year-old showed few issues, however, as he dropped Ismaili with a huge left hand just over a minute into the first round.
Ismaili seemed to want nothing to do with Tszyu's power, surviving the first round but then refusing to get off his stool to start the second.
Nikita Tszyu celebrates after beating Lulzim Ismaili with ease. (Photo by)
Ismaili refused to continue the fight after the first round barrage. Picture: Thomas Lisson
The Tszyu family is among the most revered in Aussie boxing history, although Tim Tszyu and his camp have received some flak after he lost his world title and has fallen short in three of his past four fights.
Nikita had a message for the haters shortly after his victory.
'Thank you to my team for always being there number one,' he said.
'They've copped a lot of criticism with my brother's recent fights, but we're here til the end.
'This is my family.'
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Tim Tszyu leaves the ring after his defeat to Sebastian Fundora last month. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Tszyu, who goes by the ring name 'The Butcher', demonstrated in the build-up to his first fight since August last year he is a unique character, even among boxers.
Tszyu raised plenty of eyebrows when he revealed his wife's placenta in capsule form and breast milk were part of his pre-fight diet.
Whatever his approach, it appears to be having the desired effect as he took another step forward in his young career.
Michael Zerafa also looked strong as he dominated his fight against American Mikey Dahlman, setting up a potential showdown with Nikita Tszyu in the future.
Brock Jarvis also overcame a slow start to also get back on the winner's list following his brutal defeat to Keith Thurman earlier this year.
Check out how the big night of boxing unfolded below.
Originally published as 'Ouch': Nikita Tszyu's boxing comeback ends in seconds
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