Exclusive: Aussie Takes on US Star with Only Loss to Pacquiao

“I believe in Tim” – Rose backs Tszyu | 01:20

Australia’s Brock Jarvis has landed a huge Down Under blockbuster against brash American superstar Keith Thurman – the man who only a few months ago was shouting for Tim Tszyu to “sign the paperwork, baby”.

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In a massive coup for promoters No Limit, Fox Sports Australia can reveal Jarvis will headline a shock Sydney showcase on March 12 against Thurman — the former unified welterweight king who has never lost to anybody not named Manny Pacquiao.

A press conference will be held on Wednesday to reveal details of an event which — set to take place inside Sydney’s famed Hordern Pavilion — will also feature separate bouts involving Michael Zerafa and Mateo Tapia.

It is understood Zerafa will face German middleweight Besir Ay (19-1) as part of his continuing push for a shot at Tim Tszyu this year.

The surprise Sydney fight announcement comes almost a year to the day since the American dubbed ‘One Time’ was set to headline a Las Vegas showcase against Tszyu.

While a biceps injury would eventually force Thurman to withdraw just 11 days out from the event – and begin a torrid run of luck for the Sydneysider dubbed ‘Soul Taker’ — the pair were still jawing as recently as October prior to Tszyu’s world title fight against IBF champ Bakhram Murtazaliev.

Yet in a surprise twist, Thurman is now headed Down Under to face Jarvis, who has long been rated among the nation’s most exciting prospects.

Despite once being hailed a genuine world title contender at super featherweight, the fighter trained by Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech has spent the best part of two years readying to make his name four divisions heavier – at super welterweight.

Now, he gets to do just that against an international superstar.

While it has been almost three years since Thurman’s last fight, a win over Mario Barrios, his impressive resume boasts a host of big name scalps including Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia – the latter of whom he beat in 2017 to claim both the WBA and WBC crowns.

Jarvis, meanwhile, made his own hyped comeback to the ring just before Christmas – earning a convincing stoppage against Adrian Rodriguez.

Immediately afterwards, the 26-year-old called out Nikita Tszyu to be his first fight of 2025, however his promoters have instead landed a rival who has dropped just one of his 31 appearances — against Pacquiao in 2019.

Should Jarvis go and beat Thurman in March, he could potentially go straight into an all-Australian blockbuster against the elder Tszyu sibling.

Of course, the shock headliner also suggests there remains hope of a match between Thurman and Tszyu should the American win, with the pair making plenty of headlines when their initial showdown was announced for the world’s fight capital in 2024.

Yet instead, Thurman was forced to withdraw less than a fortnight out from the event, with towering American southpaw Sebastian Fundora parachuted in as a replacement.

Apart from extending Thurman’s time out of the ring, the untimely event also began a horror run for Tszyu, who subsequently dropped consecutive world title fights to both Fundora and then Murtazaliev in October.

Ironically, it was just days out from that second title fight in Orlando, Florida, when Tszyu and Thurman again crossed paths.

Working the event as a TV analyst, the American ignited an entertaining exchange after crossing paths with the challenger as he arrived for the ceremonial weigh-ins alongside his team.

After a brief embrace, Thurman joked of Tszyu’s impending clash with Murtazaliev: “Russian versus Russia, huh?”

“Hybrid,” Tszyu replied, referencing his shared family heritage.

“You are the hybrid, that’s true,” Thurman cackled.

At which point, the pair were asked by journalists stood nearby about the possibility of a rematch?

“Dunno,” Thurman started before turning to the Aussie and, with a grin asking: “Tszyu you get the contract, you going to sign it?

“They wanna know.

“They asked …”

“We’ve got some unfinished business,” Tszyu smiled.

Thurman: “I thought so, I thought so”.

Tszyu: “See you soon then, yeah?”

Thurman: “Yeah, man … protect yourself in there brother”.

Then, before Tszyu had disappeared into the ballroom, the American shouted: “Sign the paperwork, baby”.

For Jarvis, Thurman now looms as yet another great test of his breakout career.

Back in 2022, the then undefeated prospect headlined an all-Australian blockbuster against Liam Paro, yet was stopped in less than a round by the rival who would go on to win the IBF super lightweight title in less than two years.

In December however, Paro lost his strap to Richard Hitchins, yet remains among a host of Australians angling for big fights in 2025.

Jarvis, meanwhile, has earned back-to-back wins since the loss, but now faces a huge step up in class against one of the modern era’s great welterweights.