Tim Tszyu Close To Erislandy Lara WBA Middleweight Title Fight In December

Tim Tszyu is closing in on a December challenge to WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara, with No Limit confirming negotiations with the Cuban’s team are nearing the final stages. The proposed fight is being discussed as an Australian headliner before Christmas and would give Tszyu the chance to become a two-weight world champion.

No Limit boss George Rose told Fox Sports Australia that Lara has moved to the front of the queue for Tszyu’s next appearance, seven weeks after the Australian outpointed Errol Spence Jr in Sydney. “We’ve had great discussions with Lara’s team,” Rose said. “And I feel like something is close to being announced”.

Charlo route gives way to Lara

The Lara talks represent a notable shift after Jermell Charlo had appeared to be the leading name around Tszyu’s next fight. More than two months ago, Mike Coppinger reported discussions were taking place for Charlo to face the winner of Tszyu-Spence, and last month Charlo told Lance Pugmire that he had personally spoken with Al Haymon and was scheduled to fight Tszyu next.

Tszyu also made clear publicly that Charlo was the opponent he wanted, crossing Spence’s name off a ‘hit list’ at a fan meet-up and pointing to Charlo’s name, before taking aim at the former undisputed junior middleweight champion on social media over the weekend. Rose has now confirmed Lara as the clubhouse leader, with sources close to Tszyu’s team indicating Australia in December is the most likely scenario.

Lara, 42, is the oldest reigning world champion and has held the WBA middleweight title since stopping Thomas Lamanna in the first round in May 2021. He has defended the belt four times, including a second-round knockout of Michael Zerafa in March 2024, a ninth-round stoppage of Danny Garcia later that year, and a unanimous decision over Johan Gonzalez in December 2025.

Tszyu, ranked No. 4 by the WBA at middleweight, previously held the WBO super welterweight title. Victory over Lara would place him among the small group of Australians to win world titles in multiple divisions, a list that includes Jeff Fenech, Liam Paro and Danny Green.

Fenech pushes earlier return

Fenech, now working as Tszyu’s trainer, wants him back in camp quickly despite earlier indications that he might not fight again until next year. “Initially, there was talk about Tim not fighting until next January,” Fenech said. “But that’s almost six months after Spence, and I want to get Tim back in there sooner. Especially given the changes we’re making. So now there has been talk about the end of November. And once Tim returns from his break, that gives us 11 weeks, which is plenty.”

The Hall of Famer said he will meet Tszyu next week to lock in preparations, with no opponent formally signed off yet. “And whoever our opponent is, we have to make them fight our fight,” Fenech said. “Because when Tim is making rival fighters adapt, I don’t believe any of them can beat him.”

Fenech said he had no issue preparing Tszyu for Lara if the deal is completed, while acknowledging the challenge posed by a champion who has never been stopped. “I’d love for Timmy to win world titles in two weight divisions,” he said. “To be with him for that, yeah, incredible. But whoever Tim chooses, I’ll put a plan in place. We’ve already been planning around a couple of opponents and I know he and [No Limit promoter] Matt Rose have some things going on. Ever since the Spence fight, Tim has been away. So we’ll be sitting down in the next week to nail it all out. Nothing has been finalised yet, but he and Matt have a plan and I’m happy to work with that.”

Asked specifically about Lara, Fenech added: “Well, I’ve looked at his age and I’ve looked at his fighting … [laughs] and Lara fights nothing like a guy who is 42. And the reason Lara has the record he does, it’s because he makes people fight his fight. He dictates, and makes you fight the way he wants you to. So my job is to make sure that doesn’t happen. Get Lara wondering what Tim is going to do.”

No Limit is also working on a major December schedule for the family, with talks for Nikita Tszyu to make his US debut in Las Vegas in early December. Tim Tszyu is due to speak with media on Wednesday, while the immediate focus for his team is finalising the Lara agreement and confirming whether the WBA title fight lands in Australia before the end of the year.