Jai Opetaia, Skye Nicolson and more - Five Australian boxing prospects fans need to know about

Jai Opetaia and Skye Nicolson will have the chance to fly the flag for Australia when they take to the ring for their bouts at Riyadh Season's IV Crown Showdown live on DAZN.

The duo will face off with British pair Jack Massey and Raven Chapman respectively as they look to defend their IBF cruiserweight and WBC women's featherweight titles.

The two have come through the ranks of their home country on the back of promising amateur careers, and are helping to bring Australian boxing to a global audience.

• Read more | 'Hate every second!' - Skye Nicolson and Raven Chapman ready for history-making encounter

But the pair are not just the only terrific talents from down under who fight fans should be keeping a close eye on as they forge their own exciting paths.

Here, DAZN profiles some of the biggest prospects and stars of the Australian boxing scene, and what might come next for them in the ring.

Tim Tszyu

(Getty)

The Sydney-born light-middleweight has been near the forefront of Australian boxing ever since he turned professional in 2016, ruthlessly working his way up the ranks.

The son of former amateur world champion Kostya Tszyu, his pedigree doesn't come much better and so far, the 29-year-old is proving he has what it takes to carry on the lineage.

Victory over Brian Mendoza last year saw him claim the WBO light middleweight title by unanimous decision, in front of a home crowd on the Gold Coast.

In only his first defence however, he lost the belt by split decision against Sebastian Fundora in March in Las Vegas, bringing to an end his short reign at the summit.

Tszyu will go again this month however, taking aim at the IBF super welterweight title when he faces incumbent holder Bakhram Murtazaliev for the prize.

Justis Huni 

The Brisbane-based fighter is another one who has turned an excellent amateur career into a blazing start as a professional, this time in the heavyweight division.

Huni has fought ten bouts, and won ten with little to be concerned about, picking up five of those victories by knockout thanks to his impressive punching power.

At 6' 4", he isn't hard to miss, and his stock has been given a boost with some impressive bouts across his home country to date.

But international fight fans will likely recognise him from his unanimous decision victory on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou, when he beat Kevin Lerena.

The top of the division is crammed with terrific fighters, but if Huni can rack up a few more wins at home and abroad, he could soon be pushing for a major shot himself.

Liam Paro

Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Hailing from Mackay, between Brisbane and Townsville on the Coral Sea coastline, Paro is another Queenslander flying the flag with his superb performances.

Twenty-five fights into his professional career, the light-welterweight is unbeaten, and has reached the top of the world already with his IBF title win over Subriel Matias.

That crown came in June, after fights across Australia, Florida and California had seen him work his way up the tree.

Fifteen victories by knockout showcase a southpaw with strong reflexes and a fast jab and hook to match, but tougher tests will surely await Paro.

With all four major belts currently split between different fighters, he may seek a unification bout as one of his next fights sooner rather than later.

Jai Opetaia

Another unbeaten fighter with a 25-0 record, the Sydney fighter is looking to mount a successful defence of his IBF cruiserweight crown against Massey this weekend.

Nineteen knockouts is the kind of punching power that you cannot buy, and Opetaia enters the card as a likely favourite to head back down under with the belt in tow,

But it hasn't always been so easy. Having originally won it against Mairis Briedis in 2022, he vacated the title after refusing to a mandatory rematch in favour of facing Ellis Zorro.

Opetaia did eventually face Briedis a second time, on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk earlier this year, where he backed up his original win with another.

Now, he returns to Riyadh looking to further cement his place in the division and possibly set up a bout with Chris Billam-Smith down the line.

Skye Nicolson

Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Already making history this weekend when she becomes one of the first women to fight on a Riyadh Season card, Nicolson is one of the hottest prospects out of Australia.

From heartbreak at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, she has risen swiftly through challengers and opponents to become the WBC female featherweight champion.

The 29-year-old earned the crown with victory over Sarah Mahfoud earlier this year, before she completed a successful defence versus Dyana Vargas in July.

Rival Chapman has suggested that she is yet to be sorely tested in the ring, with Nicolson's style and approach often helping to grind her way to victory.

But if she defeats the Briton in Riyadh, the sky will be the limit for her, as she continues to build upon an already excellent resume.

Watch Riyadh Season on DAZN

Watch the whole Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol fight card on DAZN Pay-Per-View, which also includes Fabio Wardley, Frazer Clarke, Chris Eubank Jr, Jai Opetaia , Liam Whittaker and Skye Nicolson all fighting.

The PPV is priced at £19.99 for UK viewers. To purchase and find the prices in your region click here.

Purchasing the PPV includes a seven-day free trial of all of DAZN's programming across a range of sports.

DAZN is the home of boxing, showing over 150 fights a year, broadcasting a variety of boxing programming - press conferences, weigh-ins, exclusive interviews, documentaries and much more - week in, week out, 52 weeks a year from all around the world, in all divisions, at all levels.

Join us now

DAZN's broadcast team includes host Ade Oladipo, who is joined by play-by-play specialist Todd Grisham and expert commentator Chris Mannix.  

The team will also feature two-time Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams, former world middleweight champion Darren Barker, as well as British boxing star – and recent opponent of Chris Eubank Jr - Liam Smith.

Additionally, former world champion Andy Lee will offer his analysis alongside Barry Jones with reporter Olivia Buzaglo rounding out the line-up. 

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