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Nikita Tszyu has survived a knockdown in the opening round to bounce back and claim the Australian super welterweight title against Dylan Biggs.
Biggs came out of the gates swinging and caught Tszyu early before the 25-year-old recovered and returned serve, eventually securing a TKO win in the final second of the fifth round.
Tszyu set up the win with a brutal fourth-round barrage which Biggs survived, before the referee intervened in the fifth.
AS IT HAPPENED: Tszyu survives early knockdown to claim title
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“It’s a beautiful feeling. I’ve been envisioning this moment, just picturing how it would play out. It means a lot,” he said after the biggest win of his career.
“I’m a slow starter. I cop a few punches in between and it gets me going, gets me started. It’s like a coffee in the morning, that got me going.
“He (Biggs) was just a hurdle, a massive roadblock in my brain this whole time. As soon as I started boxing he was just standing like a wall I had to climb over and I was just looking at it.”
Tszyu’s brother, world champion Tim Tszyu, was ecstatic after his younger brother’s victory.
“This moment belongs to Nikita. All glory belongs to him, I’m so proud of my brother,” the elder Tszyu brother said.
“Aus champ, but number two in Australia.”
Tszyu’s win comes at a cost for Biggs, with his loss the first of his 11-fight career.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Tszyu, who admitted he was lacking confidence after Biggs knocked him down early in the first round.
“Deep waters at the very start,” he said.
“He (Biggs) caught me with a shot there. I just didn’t see, it rocked me. I’m surprised I kind of recovered in the time that I did.
“But yeah, from the very start, that kind of punch, it was something to fear and something to watch out for.”
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