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WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy Lara Duels Tim
Tszyu In 160-Pound Championship Dec. 12
WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American
Dream” Lara will take on Australian superstar and former
world champion Tim Tszyu on Saturday, December 12 (U.S. date
and time) headlining action streaming live on DAZN from Cbus
Super Stadium, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and
presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Cuba’s legendary sharpshooter Lara will become the latest
star to travel down under to challenge the power-punching
Tszyu, looking to make his fifth defense of his title
against the hometown hero, who can cement his own status as
an Australian legend by becoming a two-division world
champion.
The lineup will also include the return of former undisputed
154-pound king Jermell Charlo battling the hard-hitting
Brock Jarvis in the 10-round middleweight co-main event,
plus WBA Super Featherweight Champion Elnur Samedov defends
his title against Australian top contender Liam Wilson in
action beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.
The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose
Brothers, and TGB Promotions.
“Saturday, December 12 will see one of the biggest
middleweight fights in years as the long-reigning world
champion Lara defends his title against the popular action
fighter and former champion Tszyu live on DAZN, with the
winner emerging as the clear fighter to beat at 160 pounds,”
said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “With Jermell
Charlo making his long-awaited return in the co-main event,
plus a toss-up 130-pound title fight between Elnur Samedov
and Liam Wilson, and December 12 promises more drama live on
DAZN.”
“This is the biggest and best fight card in Australia, full
stop,” said George Rose, CEO, No Limit Boxing. “A reigning
world champion, a former undisputed world champion and two
world titles, in a stadium on the Gold Coast. Nothing else
comes close. Tim Tszyu wanted the best middleweight in the
world and we got him. Jermell Charlo, a former undisputed
world champion, is finally making his return and he’s coming
to Australia. Liam Wilson gets his redemption shot at a
world title on home soil. Every fight on this card matters.”
“Lara vs. Tszyu is a high-stakes world title showdown, with
Tim Tszyu looking to make history on home soil,” said
Britton Hardin, Head of Boxing, North America at DAZN. “With
18 years in professional boxing, Erislandy Lara’s longevity
and continued dominance are a testament to his remarkable
career, adding even more significance to this title clash.
With Jermell Charlo making his highly anticipated return,
this is a stacked card from top to bottom. We’re proud to
partner with PBC to bring another must-watch night of boxing
to fans worldwide on DAZN.”
**ERISLANDY LARA VS. TIM TSZYU**
Both former world champions at 154-pounds who’ve now made
their way to middleweight, the WBA Middleweight World
Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will welcome
Australia’s Tim Tszyu to his first 160-pound world title
shot as each hope to score a signature victory in this
high-stakes 12-round showdown.
Lara (32-3-3, 19 KOs) has been dominant in his run at
160-pounds, showing off his ability to go toe-to-toe and end
a fight with one punch, after establishing himself as one of
boxing’s best technical fighters throughout the first part
of his career. He most recently defended his title against
Johan Gonzalez in December after previously delivering one
of the best performances of his career as he stopped the
durable former two-division world champion Danny Garcia in
September 2024. He captured his WBA title with a first-round
knockout of Thomas LaManna in May 2021, before KO’ing Gary
O’Sullivan and Michael Zerafa. Prior to his middleweight
exploits, Lara was the longest reigning 154-pound world
champion before he lost a tough split-decision to Jarrett
Hurd in a 2018 title unification match that earned “Fight of
the Year” from the BWAA. Lara returned from that fight and
battled former 154-pound world titleholder Brian Castaño to
an exciting draw in another narrow fight that could have
gone Lara’s way. He faced a slew of the top 154-pounders in
the sport, including Canelo Álvarez, ahead of his
middleweight debut.
“I’ve worked my entire life to be in this position, and I’m
blessed to have more opportunities like this to be a world
champion and defend my title,” said Lara. “Traveling to
Australia to fight Tszyu is something I’m really looking
forward to. I know he’s a tough fighter, and I respect what
he brings to the ring, especially fighting in front of his
home fans. But I’ve been in big fights my whole career and I
know what it takes to win at this level. I’m grateful to be
able to showcase my skills on DAZN in front of boxing fans
all around the world, and I’m going to Australia with one
goal…to defend my title, put on a great performance and give
the fans a fight they’ll remember for a long time.”
The 31-year-old Tszyu (28-3, 18 KOs) will enter this fight
off three consecutive victories, including a July triumph
over former pound-for-pound great Errol Spence Jr. that saw
Tszyu emerge from their clash with a unanimous decision
victory. Tszyu’s winning streak has come after two memorable
battles against WBC Super Welterweight World Champion
Sebastian Fundora. Tszyu entered the first Fundora fight off
a red-hot 2023 campaign that saw him elevated to world
champion at 154-pounds while defeating former world champion
Tony Harrison, top contender Brian Mendoza and former title
challenger Carlos Ocampo. A native of Sydney, Australia,
Tszyu made his U.S debut against U.S. Olympian Terrell
Gausha in March 2022, earning a unanimous decision. Tszyu
grew up playing soccer, but soon gravitated toward boxing.
The decision led to him following in the legendary footsteps
of his father, Kostya, who was an undisputed 140-pound
champion.
“This is what I live for. Lara is a great champion and one
of the most avoided fighters in the world. That is exactly
why I wanted him,” said Tszyu. “Spence was the first step.
This is the one that matters. This fight is about legacy. My
dad is a Hall of Famer and the greatest fighter this country
has produced. Becoming a two-weight world champion is the
one thing he never did. That is what I am chasing, and it
drives me every single day. Queensland and the Gold Coast
have always backed me. I stopped Jeff Horn and defended my
world title in Queensland stadiums and crowds and I can’t
wait to feel that again. I’m ready to take that belt off
Lara on the Gold Coast.”
**JERMELL CHARLO VS. BROCK JARVIS**
The former undisputed 154-pound world champion Jermell
Charlo will return to the ring for the first time since
September 2023 as he looks to make a run at becoming a
two-division champion, kicking off against the hard-hitting
Australian contender Brock Jarvis in the 10-round
middleweight co-main event.
Houston’s Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) unified super welterweight
titles in emphatic fashion in May 2022, knocking out Brian
Castaño in round 10 of their rematch, after they fought to a
draw in a July 2021 slugfest. Charlo became a unified
champion in September 2020, dropping Jeison Rosario three
times on his way to an eighth-round knockout that earned him
the WBA and IBF titles. Before that fight, Charlo had
avenged the only loss of his career as he reclaimed his WBC
belt via an 11th-round knockout of Tony Harrison in one of
2019’s best fights. Charlo won his first world title by
scoring an eighth-round knockout of John Jackson in 2016,
following up that victory with three successful defenses,
knocking out Erickson Lubin and Charles Hatley, and winning
a decision over former world champion Austin Trout. Charlo’s
most recent action saw him come up short against then
undisputed 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez in their
September 2023 showdown.
"I’ve heard all the talk, and now it’s time to remind
everybody why Jermell Charlo is still him," said Charlo. "I
appreciate Brock Jarvis stepping up, because a lot of these
so-called top guys got cold feet. They use my name for clout
but get quiet when it’s time to sign on that dotted line.
I’m willing to fight on a co-main event all the way in
Australia because that’s how hungry I am. I’ve got so much
in me and I wasn’t going to let this year end without giving
my fans what they’ve been waiting for. On December 12, I’m
going to show everybody why I’m the most dangerous fighter
from 154 to 160 pounds. I’m coming to take what’s mine.
Lions Only!"
The 28-year-old Jarvis (23-2, 21 KOs) has risen up the
rankings in his native Australia ever since turning pro in
2015 as a teenager. He’s shown tremendous power throughout
his time in the pro ranks, with a 15-fight KO streak
following his pro debut and a current run that’s seen him
earn stoppages in each of his last six victories. His only
defeats have come at the highest level, as he dropped a
March 2025 showdown against former unified champion Keith
Thurman and an October 2022 challenge of current
welterweight world champion Liam Paro. Fighting out of
Marrickville, New South Wales, Jarvis most recently bounced
back from the loss to Thurman to stop the previously
unbeaten Sam Beck in four rounds in August 2025.
“This is the fight I have waited my whole career for,” said
Jarvis. “A former undisputed world champion, in a stadium,
at home in Australia. It does not get bigger than this.
Charlo thinks he’s coming to Australia to restart his
career. I’m here to ruin his comeback.”
**ELNUR SAMEDOV VS. LIAM WILSON**
Kicking off action is a competition 130-pound title fight as
reigning WBA Super Featherweight Champion Elnur Samedov
hopes to defend his belt in enemy territory against popular
Australian action fighter Liam Wilson.
Born in Azerbaijan and now residing in Noyabrsk, Russia,
Samedov (22-1, 11 KOs) captured the title in dramatic
fashion in February, turning his imagined dream into reality
with an 11th-round stoppage of the previously unbeaten John
Lenon Gutierrez. The 33-year-old will fight outside of
Russia for only the second time on December 12, as he takes
his sixteen-fight winning streak down under against Wilson.
With only one narrow split-decision loss to then unbeaten
Nikita Kuznetsov on his ledger, Samedov has a wealth of
experience going late into fights, going 10 rounds or later
seven times, including the 11th-round stoppage in his
title-winning performance.
“This belt is the result of my whole career and everything
my team has given me,” said Samedov. “I know Liam Wilson is
a strong fighter and he will have his crowd behind him at
home in Australia. That does not worry me. A real champion
defends his title anywhere, against anyone. I am coming to
the Gold Coast to show the world why I am the world
champion. I’m going home with my belt. I will not give it up
to anyone.”
Currently riding a five-fight win streak, Wilson (18-3, 10
KOs) most recently knocked out Rodex Piala to kick off his
2026 campaign in January. The 30-year-old gained a wealth of
experience against elite competition in giving spirited
challenges to former world champion Oscar Valdez in 2024 and
multiple-division world champion Emanuel Navarrete, who he
dropped in round four of their 2023 world title clash.
Representing his native Redcliffe, Queensland, Australian,
his only other defeat was quickly avenged when he stopped
Joe Noynay in two rounds in March 2022. While his previous
championship-level fights came in the U.S., Wilson will look
to benefit from the home turf advantage against Samedov on
December 12.
“I am so pumped for this. A world title fight in Queensland,
in front of my people,” said Wilson. “This is the one I have
dreamed about. I have chased this shot around the world. My
career hasn’t been easy, but I’ve felt the love from fans
every step of the way. I have never backed down from anyone
and I am not starting now. Samedov is the champion, so
taking it off him means more. I boxed for Australia on the
Gold Coast at the Commonwealth Games almost a decade ago.
Now, I get the chance to win a world title in the same city.
You can’t not love that.”
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