SYDNEY — Australian promoter No Limit has announced Tim Tszyu will challenge Erislandy Lara for the WBA middleweight title, confirming the bout in a press release on Tuesday. A date and venue have yet to be confirmed, though several reports indicate the fight could take place in late November.
"Lara is a great champion. He's slick, clever and stylistically very hard," Tszyu said. "He'll want to turn this into a chess match but I've never taken the easy road. I want the man with the belt, and I'll drag him into a fight he doesn't want. At 160 I feel strong, sharp and dangerous. Middleweight is my division now, Spence was just the appetizer. Having Jeff Fenech in my corner means everything."
Former WBO junior middleweight titleholder Tszyu has competed at 160 pounds since his second defeat to Sebastian Fundora in 2025. He has since won three straight, including a notable victory over former unified 154-pound champion Errol Spence Jr. in July. Lara, 43, is boxing's current oldest title holder and is undefeated since a 2018 split decision loss to Jarrett Hurd. He most recently defeated Johan Gonzalez over 12 rounds in December 2025, after Gonzalez stepped in as a late replacement for WBO and IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, who tested positive for the banned substance meldonium.
"Lara is a nightmare for anyone. He's a genius in there and spent a decade making the best in the world look silly," said No Limit CEO George Rose. "Plenty of big names have found reasons not to fight him. Tim wanted and called for him by name. He wants legacy and the time is now."