Bunnies and boxing: Tszyu wants to be part of NRL’s Vegas venture
Tim Tszyu has spoken of his desire to fight in Las Vegas at the same time as the NRL’s 2024 season launch on the holiday strip, declaring: “I’m a Bunnies fan, it aligns very well.”
The ARL Commission is scheduled to meet on Wednesday and the top agenda item is rubber-stamping a historic double-header to kick off the competition in the United States. The proposal involves staging two games at Allegiant Stadium, the 65,000-seat stadium known as the “Death Star”.
While the participating teams haven’t been confirmed, South Sydney and Manly appear certainties given they have entertainment stars Hugh Jackman (Sea Eagles fan) and Russell Crowe (Rabbitohs co-owner) available to spruik the event.
They are part of bold plans to stage an “Australia Week” featuring local musical acts and sporting events, including a fight featuring Tszyu.
The event is a perfect fit for Tszyu, a South Sydney fan with close ties to Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and soon-to-be-Rabbitoh Jack Wighton. The quartet also share the same management team, No Limit.
Speaking for the first time about the mooted Vegas venture, on the eve of his fight against Carlos Ocampo on the Gold Coast on Sunday, Tszyu said he was keen to be involved.
Tim Tszyu with Rabbitohs stars Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell.Credit: Getty
“To be involved in big shows worldwide, that’s where I want to be,” Tszyu said. “I’m a Bunnies fan, it aligns very well.
“We have all grown together. We all have a good bond with each other, it’s great to have that. It would mean everything. That’s where my career is heading, going that way.”
There’s even a chance that Tszyu could fight the winner of the Errol Spence jnr-Terence Crawford fight as part of the NRL festivities. However, he must first defeat Ocampo, which would give him a long-awaited crack at undisputed four-belt champion Jermell Charlo.
Tim Tszyu and Carlos Ocampo face off during the official weigh-in on the Gold Coast on Saturday.Credit: Getty
Speaking after Saturday’s weigh-in for the Tszyu-Ocampo fight, No Limit chief executive George Rose, a former NRL premiership-winning prop with Manly in 2011, said it made sense for league and boxing to combine in Vegas.
“It would be perfect,” Rose said. “Vegas is the home of boxing, so if you’re going to take an Australian sport over to the USA, you need to have an Australian boxing fight there as well.
“Who better than Tim Tszyu, who at that time will be the undisputed world champion. It makes sense to me.
“The Souths boys follow and support Tim in every fight and Tim supports the boys just the same.
“It makes sense that they are all together. It’s going to make for the best week of the year, the best week of the decade. It’s what we need for Australian sport.
“We don’t get enough credit on the world stage for how good we are at our chosen sports.
“To have the best Australian rugby league talent heading over there to put on a show, crossing over with the boxing fans in town, they will love it.
“They will love the action of a rugby league game. It will blow their minds, and then they can back up and watch Tim Tszyu successfully defend his title.”
Legendary ring announcer Jimmy Lennon jnr, who will make the introductions for Tszyu and Ocampo on Sunday, said the undefeated Australian was beginning to make his mark in America.
“It’s his first fight on Showtime championship boxing in the US and there’s no better place to spotlight his career and what he can do,” Lennon said.
“Taking these risky fights, fight fans appreciate fight fans who take the risk. They are risking their record, they are risking the pay day that’s upcoming. It says a lot.
“The way he has been winning is terrific. He has definitely burst onto the scene and I’m really glad for him, he deserves to be there.”
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