Overview
- The unbeaten showdown between Nikita Tszyu and Ben Mahoney was contested as a 12-round IBF super welterweight world title eliminator and for the WBO International belt on the Gold Coast.
- Per local reporting, judges returned a split verdict that could not separate the fighters and the outcome has left who next challenges IBF champion Josh Kelly unsettled.
- Tszyu admitted he thought he had lost the fight and Mahoney said he was willing to rematch, comments that underlined how close and contentious the scoring felt to both camps.
- The event ran as a domestic pay-per-view on Main Event and Kayo and streamed internationally on DAZN, with the undercard producing notable results including Rahim Mundine’s decision win, Louise Creaven’s third-round TKO and a no-contest after a head-clash cut in Williams–Rungtiwa.
- Promoters had built the fight as a launchpad to bigger international bouts for the winner and the disputed draw now raises the prospect of a rematch or an IBF review to determine the next ranking steps.