Nikita Tszyu will return to the ring on May 6 in Newcastle, taking on unbeaten and world-ranked Spaniard Oscar Diaz. The bout comes just two months after his controversial no contest against Michael Zerafa, with the 28-year-old eager to move on and reassert his momentum.
Tszyu (11-0, 9 KOs) heads back to a city that has played a key role in his rise. Newcastle has been a fortress for the Tszyu family, who hold a combined 13-0 record there across Kostya, Tim, and Nikita. It was also the site of one of his defining moments, when he climbed off the canvas to stop Dylan Biggs and claim the Australian super welterweight title in 2023.
Despite the strong record at the venue, Tszyu faces a serious challenge in Diaz. The 25-year-old Spaniard, nicknamed “El Torro,” brings a 16-fight unbeaten record and more professional experience into the contest, making this one of the toughest tests of Tszyu’s career so far. Still, the Australian remains confident, framing the matchup as “The Butcher and The Bull.”
The event, dubbed the “Tszyu-castle” card, will also feature rising talents including Olympic star Callum Peters and CJ Mundine.
Promoter George Rose emphasized both the opportunity and the motivation behind the return, stating: “There’s no question the Zerafa fight left a bad taste… that’s why this return is so exciting. He’s hungry, he’s motivated and he wants to remind everyone exactly who he is.” He also pointed back to Newcastle as a key chapter in Tszyu’s story, calling it “one of the reasons [it] has become such an important city in Nikita’s story.”
Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings highlighted the balancing act ahead, explaining: “You’ve got this scenario where Nikita Tszyu is both a superstar and a rookie… we have to find the right person.” He also shut down any talk of a Zerafa rematch entirely: “There will be no rematch… it’s not in the best interests of Nikita moving forward.”
Fight card:
▪️Nikita Tszyu vs. Oscar Diaz, 10 rounds, super welterweight
▪️Jack Bowen vs. Tonga Tongotongo, 10 rounds, super middleweight
▪️Callum Peters vs. TBA, TBA, middleweight
▪️Rahim Mundine vs. Lance McDonald, TBA, super welterweight
▪️Brandon Grach vs. TBA, TBA, heavyweight
▪️Brent Walton vs. Jayden Vasica, TBA, welterweight
▪️Wayne Telepe vs. Benjamin Amos, TBA, lightweight
▪️Kyron Dryden vs. Hunter Ioane, TBA, welterweight
