What to Know
- Two fighters return to the ring after long absences on December 12 in Australia, airing on DAZN Boxing in the U.S.
- Middleweight champion Erislandy Lara defends his title against Australian former world champion Tim Tszyu.
- In the co-main event, American Jermell Charlo will take on his first fight in three years against Brock Jarvis of Australia.
Australia’s Gold Coast hosts a December 12 card featuring two world title fights and one former American world champion, headlined by a middleweight showdown between Erislandy Lara and Tim Tszyu, and a co-main featuring the return of Jermell Charlo.
The event was announced live in Australia early Wednesday in Australia (Tuesday afternoon in the U.S.).
Wins for Tszyu and Charlo set up a potential long-delayed showdown. But let’s not get ahead of the narrative.
WBA World Middleweight champion “The American Dream” Lara will take on popular Australian former world champion Tszyu on Saturday, December 12, streaming live on DAZN at Cbus Super Stadium in the Gold Coast.
Lara, the Cuban native now based in Florida (32-3-3, 19 KOs), will make the fifth defense of his title down under against the power-punching Tszyu (28-3, 18 KOs) in his first title fight in the middleweight division, seeking his second division championship.
In the co-main event, former unified super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo of Houston (35-2-1, 19 KOs) is matched up against another hometown favorite, Brock Jarvis (23-2, 21 KOs) in a ten-round middleweight bout.
WBA Super Featherweight Champion Elnur Samedov of Russia (22-1, 11 KOs) defends his title against contender Liam Wilson of Australia (18-3, 10 KOs) in to open the card beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT in the U.S.
The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing, The Rose Brothers, and TGB Promotions.
“This is the biggest and best fight card in Australia, full stop,” said No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose. “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,” said Rose.
Erislandy Lara Not Ready to Call It A Career
Lara has held his title since scoring a first-round knockout over Thomas LaManna in 2021. Since then, he has knocked out Gary O’Sullivan, Michael Zerafa, and two-division world champion Danny Garcia.
Prior to his run at middleweight, Lara established himself as one of boxing’s best technical fighters at super welterweight. 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, named the “Fight of the Year” by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Lara faced multiple top names at super welterweight, including Canelo Álvarez in a highly competitive fight in 2014 (yes, 12 years ago!) that has aged extremely well.
At age 43, Lara is the world’s oldest male boxing champion. He is nowhere near considering retirement.
“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 in a statement.
“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,” said the seemingly ageless champion.
Tim Tszyu’s Comeback Continues
Tszyu enters the fight with Lara off a three-fight winning streak. In his last fight in July, Tszyu won a decision over former world champion Errol Spence Jr.
Tszyu’s winning streak follows two memorable battles against WBC Super Welterweight World champion Sebastian Fundora. The native of Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S debut against U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in March 2022, winning by decision.
Tszyu grew up playing soccer, but gravitated toward boxing, following in the legendary footsteps of his father, undisputed super lightweight champion Kostya Tszyu.
“This is what I live for,” said Tszyu. “Lara is a great champion and one of the most avoided fighters in the world. That is exactly why I wanted him.
“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,” said Tszyu.
Jermell Charlo Returns After Three-Year Layoff
Former undisputed super welterweight world champion Jermell Charlo makes his long-awaited return to the ring in his first fight since September 2023. He hopes to kickstart a run at becoming a two-division champion against hard-hitting Australian contender Brock Jarvis in the 10-round co-main event.
Charlo has already secured visa approval to travel to Australia. This matchup tees up the potential of the long-awaited showdown with Tszyu.
The pair were originally scheduled to throw down in January 2023 before Charlo suffered a broken hand in training. That anticipated showdown unfortunately never materialized. Instead, Charlo moved up two divisions to challenge Mexican superstar Canelo Álvarez, losing by decision.
If both win, they’re likely to settle their unfinished business, raising the stakes for Australian fans on this card.
Charlo unified all four super welterweight titles in May 2022, knocking out Brian Castaño in round ten of their rematch after fighting to a draw in July 2021. Charlo dropped Jeison Rosario three times before knocking him out in the eighth round to win the WBA and IBF titles.
Charlo had avenged the only loss of his career and reclaimed his WBC belt with a knockout win over Tony Harrison in one of 2019’s best fights. Having been ringside, I can verify this assessment of the exciting contest in Ontario, California, just before Christmas Day,
Charlo’s last fight was the loss in September 2023 to Alvarez.
“I’ve heard all the talk, and now it’s time to remind everybody why Jermell Charlo is still him,” said Charlo.
Charlo said Jarvis stepped forward when other top opponents didn’t. “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 … I’m coming to take what’s mine. Lions Only!”
Jarvis, age 28, turned pro in 2015 as a teenager. He racked up a 15-fight knockout streak following his pro debut. Jarvis is on a current six-fight knockout streak. His only losses were against former unified champion Keith Thurman and current welterweight world champion Liam Paro.
“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.”
Super Featherweights Take Flight In Title Fight
Reigning WBA Super Featherweight champion Elnur Samedov hopes to defend his belt in enemy territory against popular Australian action fighter Liam Wilson.
Samedov won his title in dramatic fashion in February 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. He takes his 16-fight win streak into the fight against Wilson.
“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,” said Samedov in a statement.
Wilson scored his fifth knockout over Rodex Piala in January. The 30-year-old has faced world-class opponents including former world champion Oscar Valdez in 2024 and multiple-division world champion Emanuel Navarrete, whom he dropped in round four of their 2023 title fight.
This will be Wilson’s first championship-level fight at home on home turf 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.
“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,” said Wilson.
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.
