Vegas in the mix as next move plotted for Tszyu

Team Tszyu manager Glen Jennings says they will take their time with Nikita Tszyu after he was crowned national super welterweight champion on Wednesday night.

Now that he's taken the national strap at super welterweight, fans are wondering what the next stage of the star's career entails, following what was his toughest test to date against Dylan Biggs.

Tszyu was knocked down in the first but rallied to dominate in round five and win via TKO.

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He's steadily building a name for himself as an entertaining fighter that's not afraid to trade punches, even if it puts him in a risky position.

There have been suggestions that Nikita will team up with his brother Tim and fight on the same card in Las Vegas in the same week in March as the NRL opens its season.

Grach gives no mercy

And there have even been rumblings he could line up against Nico Ali Walsh, the 23-year-old grandson of Muhammad Ali, with the latter having a record of eight wins and one loss.

But the main priority for the Nikita camp at the moment is not to rush the young star.

"The next round of options is so interesting for Nikita," said his manager Glen Jennings during the post-fight press conference.

"We're having a joke about Vegas. We would love that to happen but it's not a strategic move for Nikita. It's just another numbered fight. Don't expect anything more than that.

Tszyu shaken early

"We hope Nikita will be on that card but it will be against a challenger that's right for the time. We've still got a long way to go with Nikita. A lot of things to learn from tonight.

"That's eight fights now. We're still four fights away from coming out of his rookie period really. We're not rushing him. We're just giving him a step up each time.

"Nikita does what he does. He goes in the ring, the bell rings and he takes care of it. So does his brother and so did his dad."

The most likely option for team Tszyu is to chase a regional belt after claiming the national strap, with claims Ben Hussain (10-2, 6KOs) could be his next opponent.

Tszyu bristles over Biggs' 'disrespectful' call

"Obviously regionals (titles) and rankings will come into play now and Nikita will start to move up into that international level," Jennings said.

"There's only limited amount of stock for Nikita to fight that takes him up to that level and it may mean we bring someone out here to take him to that level.

"The American trip is almost like a reward for us. That was Tim's goal, he just wanted to fight in Vegas and that opportunity's come up. It so happens to happen on a marvellous Australian weekend so where better to showcase all our boys.

"Apart from Tim, for everyone else it's just another step in their progression.

"If Nikita didn't do Vegas, he'd be in (the ring) again early next year."

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