Nikita Tszyu v Ben Mahoney IBF world title eliminator, Australia’s 10 best fighters ranked pound for pound, power rankings, latest news

Could Nikita Tszyu eventually surpass the boxing achievements of big brother Tim?

Certainly it’s a question worth asking.

Tszyu v Mahoney | Wednesday August 26 from 7pm AEST | The only thing standing between Nikita and an IBF world title shot is Ben Mahoney. The stage is set for an All-Australian blockbuster with the winner securing a direct shot at IBF champion, Josh Kelly. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

Especially now, as ‘The Butcher’ prepares for his IBF world title eliminator against fellow undefeated Aussie Ben Mahoney.

Should Nikita win, he will be catapulted headlong into a world of big purses, belt opportunities, even a potential US debut this December against rivals like Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman.

So on the eve of all this happening, Fox Sports Australia has ranked the nation’s 10 best fighters pound for pound.

And Nikita, unsurprisingly, is now sitting higher than ever before in his career …

1. Jai Opetaia

RECORD: 30-0, 23KOs

DIVISION: Cruiserweight

LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Brandon Glanton, March 8

NEXT FIGHT: WBC champ Noel Mikaelian, Sep 12

Ok, so Australia’s cruiserweight king has endured a rough time of things lately — at least outside the ring — and doesn’t even boast a major strap. Still, there’s no doubt the big punching southpaw remains our No.1 talent. After being stripped of IBF gold in March, Opetaia is now readying to challenge WBC king, Noel Mikaelian. Elsewhere, a David Benavidez blockbuster remains in the offing, while there has also been talk of Opetaia headlining a Las Vegas card on the same weekend as the 2027 NRL season opens in Sin City.

2. Liam Paro

RECORD: 28-1, 16KOs

DIVISION: Welterweight

LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Lewis Crocker, June 24

NEXT FIGHT: TBC

After spending years as Australia’s ultimate road warrior, Paro is now staring down some of the sport’s biggest names – think Devin Haney, Rolly Romero, even Ryan Garcia – after winning IBF gold. Expect the Queenslander to have a voluntary title defence at home later this year, and most likely October, before then gearing up for a massive bout in early 2027. While there has been talk of an all-Australian showdown against George Kambosos, Paro told us this week his preference is for a unification bout against new WBA champ, Romero.

3. Tim Tszyu

RECORD: 28-3, 18KOs

DIVISION: Middleweight

LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Errol Spence Jnr, July 26

NEXT FIGHT: TBC

Australia’s favourite fighter is back into the top three after securing an emphatic upset win over American superstar Errol Spence Jnr in July. Like Opetaia, Tszyu doesn’t hold a major belt but earns this spot due to the strength of a resume that involves continually taking on the sport’s biggest names. While No Limit would like Tszyu back fighting again this year, ‘The Phoenix’ would prefer to wait until 2027. Most likely opponents are American superstar Jermell Charlo and WBA middleweight king, Erislandy Lara.

4. Andrew Maloney

RECORD: 29-4, 18KOs

DIVISION: Super Flyweight

LAST FIGHT: W (MD12) Willibaldo Garcia Perez, June 6

NEXT FIGHT: TBC

Given he is now IBF super flyweight champ, there’s a genuine argument for Moloney sitting higher on this list. Of course, given he doubles as the nicest bloke in Australian boxing, it’s also guaranteed ‘Monster’ is the one bloke who won’t ring us up to complain about wherever he gets put. Yet after briefly retiring from the sport following an emotional loss in 2024, Moloney’s rise back to the top is one of the truly great fight stories of this year. His management team is in discussions for a big fight in Japan to close out the year.

5. Sam Goodman

RECORD: 22-1, 8KOs

DIVISION: Super Bantamweight

LAST FIGHT: W (UD12) Rodrigo Fabian Ruiz, May 5

NEXT FIGHT: Ryosuke Nishida, September 27

With a workrate likened to Jeff Fenech, Goodman is now gunning to join ‘The Marrickville Mauler’ as one of our nation’s world champions. Despite being cruelly removed from his Naoya Inoue blockbuster last year, and then losing a world title attempt up a division against Nick Ball, ‘The Ghost’ is now looking to finally achieve his lifetime dream – challenging Nishida for the interim IBF strap in Japan next month.

6. Nikita Tszyu

RECORD: 12-0, 10KOs

DIVISION: Super Welterweight

LAST FIGHT: W (RTD6) Oscar Diaz, May 6

NEXT FIGHT: Ben Mahoney, Aug 26

Only four years after walking away from a lucrative architecture career, ‘The Butcher’ has incredibly morphed into one of our most exciting – and intriguing – athletes. A win over Ben Mahoney on Wednesday night will likely see Tszyu go top three in at least two of the major divisions, while there is also talk of No Limit pitching him into a US debut by December – with Keith Thurman and Tony Harrison having already expressed interest in welcoming the breakout star Stateside. Elsewhere, Eddie Hearn has spoken of eventually putting him into a fight with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

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7. Liam Wilson

RECORD: 18-3, 10KOs

DIVISION: Super Featherweight

LAST FIGHT: W (KO4) Rodex Piala, January 16

NEXT FIGHT: TBC

Australia’s unluckiest fighter has now twice been on the cusp of world title glory, only to have it ripped away in the cruellest of circumstances. Same as in July, a bout with Stephen Fulton Jnr was also canned after the US superstar failed to make weight. Regardless, Wilson remains ranked as high as No.2 with the WBO, and currently has promoters No Limit looking into several American rivals for an October showdown.

8. Justis Huni

RECORD: 13-1, 7KOs

DIVISION: Heavyweight

LAST FIGHT: W (MD10) Frazer Clarke, April 11

NEXT FIGHT: TBC

After coming so ridiculously close to a world heavyweight title in 2025, Huni is now getting ready for another run at gold, albeit amid whispers he could soon be making a switch to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing franchise. Was initially meant to be headlining a Matchroom show in September, however it’s understood that opportunity has since been scratched. Regardless, the Brisbane slugger will still likely fight before the year is out, with New Zealand’s Hemi Ahio (25-1) his likely opponent.

9. Conor Wallace

RECORD: 17-1, 12KOs

DIVISION: Light Heavyweight

LAST FIGHT: W (KO6) Walter Sequeira, April 23

NEXT FIGHT: Ben Whittaker, October 3

Ranked at No.2 in the light heavyweight division, Australia’s adopted Irishman is set for a blockbuster showdown against Ben Whittaker in October – with the winner then pitched straight at IBF champ Dmitry Bivol. While Wallace has never fought outside Australia as a professional, he comes into his UK headliner on a tear of 10 straight wins, all but three of which have come inside the distance.

10. George Kambosos

RECORD: 22-4, 10KOs

DIVISION: Super Lightweight

LAST FIGHT: L (TKO8) Richardson Hitchins, June 2025

NEXT FIGHT: TBC

While he hasn’t fought in over a year, and lost four of his past six, ‘Ferocious’ remains on this list due to the strength of his resume. Aged 33, the Sydneysider has continually taken on the biggest and toughest tests available. And while he could leave the fight game today with enough accolades, and generational wealth, it’s being whispered Kambosos wants one more shot at gold – with an all-Australian showdown against Liam Paro one option.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Several fighters can consider themselves unlucky to miss being named above, including breakout No Limit prospect Callum Peters, hyped heavyweight Teremoana Jnr, WBC Grand Prix winner Dylan Biggs, undefeated cruiserweight Luke Modini, and longtime favourites Michael Zerafa and Jason Moloney. Others right in the mix include Jackson England, John Mannu and Ben Mahoney, who would leap up onto the list with victory over Nikita Tszyu on Wednesday night.