Erislandy Lara, 43, to face Tim Tszyu on Saturday 12 December

Erislandy Lara, the 43-year-old WBA middleweight champion, will defend his title against Tim Tszyu, 32, at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on Saturday 12 December. That is the date in the Premier Boxing Champions announcement, while Australian outlets list the card for Sunday 13 December. The fight will stream live on DAZN.

Lara (32-3-3, 19 KOs) has been WBA middleweight champion since 2021. Tszyu (28-3, 18 KOs) is a former WBO light middleweight champion who beat Errol Spence Jr in Sydney in July.

Fighter	Age	Record	KOs
Erislandy Lara	43	32-3-3	19
Tim Tszyu	32	28-3	18

Erislandy Lara v Tim Tszyu on 12 December: a veteran champion and a two-weight bid

Lara is a two-division world champion and a former amateur world champion. He has made four successful defences of the WBA belt, including a two-round knockout of Michael Zerafa in Las Vegas in 2024, according to ABC News.

His three defeats all came on the scorecards: a majority decision against Paul Williams and split decisions against Canelo Álvarez and Jarrett Hurd. Tszyu also has three losses on his record.

Lara said in the announcement published by Bad Left Hook: “I know he’s a tough fighter, and I respect what he brings to the ring, especially fighting in front of his home fans.”

Tszyu won the WBO light middleweight title on the Gold Coast in 2023, beating Brian Mendoza, and is now chasing a middleweight belt that would make him a two-weight world champion. “Lara is a great champion and one of the most avoided fighters in the world – that’s exactly why I wanted him,” he said at a Gold Coast press conference, reported by Fox Sports Australia.

He added: “My dad is a Hall of Famer and the greatest fighter this country has produced. Becoming a two-weight world champion is the one thing he never did.”

No Limit Boxing chief executive George Rose told ABC News: “Tim Tszyu wanted the best middleweight in the world. And we got him.”

When is Lara v Tszyu? Date and venue

Premier Boxing Champions announced the card for Saturday 12 December. Fox Sports Australia and ABC News list the event for Sunday 13 December.

The show is at Cbus Super Stadium, also known as Robina Stadium, on the Gold Coast. ABC News describes it as the first boxing event the venue has hosted. Tszyu’s last stadium fight was against Jeff Horn in Townsville in 2020.

Tim Tszyu next opponent could be Vergil Ortiz Jr or Keith Thurman

Reporter Chris Mannix said, as relayed by Boxing News 24, that the winner of Lara v Tszyu could meet the winner of Vergil Ortiz Jr v Keith Thurman in the first quarter of 2027. Both December fights have to take place first, and the winners would still need to agree a deal.

The projection applies to whoever wins on the Gold Coast, and Lara turns 44 next spring. Sanctioning-body rules would also shape any title route, and dave.sport’s explainer covers how a mandatory challenger is decided.

Fox Sports Australia wrote that a meeting between Tszyu and Jermell Charlo in 2027 looks possible if both win in December. Charlo was due to fight Tszyu in 2023 but broke his hand and pulled out to face Álvarez instead, according to the same ABC News report.

Jermell Charlo and Liam Wilson complete the Gold Coast card

Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) fights Brock Jarvis in a junior middleweight bout. It is his first appearance since losing to Álvarez in September 2023, and Jarvis has 21 knockout wins.

“I’ve heard all the talk, and now it’s time to remind everybody why Jermell Charlo is still him,” Charlo said at the Gold Coast press conference, as quoted by Fox Sports Australia.

Liam Wilson (18-3) challenges WBA super featherweight champion Elnur Samedov (22-1) on the night. Wilson lost earlier title challenges against Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez.

“A world title fight in Queensland, in front of my people. This is the one I’ve dreamed about,” Wilson said, according to the same Fox Sports report.

Lara v Tszyu is scheduled for Saturday 12 December on the Premier Boxing Champions date, with Wilson v Samedov opening the show. More announcements are collected on dave.sport’s world title fights page and in our boxing news coverage.