Lara to Defend WBA Middleweight Title Against Tszyu in Late November

No Limit Boxing announced on October 13, 2026, that former super welterweight titlist Tim Tszyu is set to challenge Erislandy Lara for the WBA middleweight title. According to James Cooney of Fox Sports AU, the bout is “expected to take place in late November” with a “strong possibility” of landing in Gold Coast. The exact date and venue have not yet been confirmed by No Limit Boxing.

Fighter Records and Recent Form

Erislandy Lara (32-3-3, 19 KO) is currently boxing’s oldest reigning champion at age 43. He has held the middleweight belt since 2021 and has made four successful defenses. Lara has won seven consecutive fights since a draw with Brian Castano. His recent victories include stoppages of Michael Zerafa and Danny Garcia in 2024, and a unanimous decision win over Johan Gonzalez in 2025. Lara has never been stopped in his professional career.

Tim Tszyu (28-3, 18 KO) enters the fight with three consecutive wins. He moved up to middleweight after a period of losses in the super welterweight division. Tszyu’s recent victories include wins over Anthony Velazquez, Denis Nurja, and a unanimous decision over Errol Spence Jr. in July 2026. The Spence fight took place before 12,000 spectators at Sydney’s Afterpay Arena.

Training and Strategic Outlook

Tszyu is working under the guidance of Jeff Fenech, who joined his team in 2025 and assumed the head trainer role prior to the Spence victory. Fenech is the first Australian man to win world championships across multiple divisions. Tszyu aims to replicate this achievement, having previously held the WBO belt at super welterweight.

In a press release, Tszyu stated, "Lara is a great champion. He's slick, clever and stylistically very hard. 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."

Tszyu also emphasized his comfort at the new weight class: "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. He knows exactly what it takes to win titles at multiple weights, and he's in my ear every single day. Liam Paro already did it this year, now it's my turn."

Promoter Commentary

George Rose, CEO of No Limit Boxing, highlighted the significance of the matchup in the same press release. "Lara is a nightmare for anyone. He's a genius in there and spent a decade making the best in the world look silly. 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," Rose said.

Why it matters

This fight represents a significant opportunity for Tim Tszyu to reclaim a world title in a new weight division, following a period of inconsistency in his career. For Erislandy Lara, it is a defense of his WBA middleweight title against a younger, aggressive challenger. The bout also carries historical weight for the Tszyu family, as a victory would make Tim the first member of his family to win world championships in two different weight classes, a feat his father Kostya did not achieve.

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Sources

• badlefthook.com: Erislandy Lara vs Tim Tszyu set, planned for “late November” | Bad Left Hook
• sports.yahoo.com: No Limit Boxing announce Tim Tszyu world title fight: ‘The time is now’ - Yahoo Sports
• boxing247.com: Erislandy Lara To Defend WBA Title Against Tim Tszyu In Australia

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.