Boxing: Erislandy Lara to defend WBA title against Tim Tszyu

Erislandy Lara is taking his title to Australia. The WBA middleweight champion will face Tim Tszyu on 12 December at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, Queensland, ESPN reported on 3 November. It will be the Cuban's fifth straight defence, and he will be the away fighter.

Lara, 43 and far from home

Born in Cuba, Lara is 43 and 32-3-3 with 19 knockouts. The trip is a rare one: he has not fought outside the United States since his second pro bout, in 2008. The southpaw says he is used to big nights and acknowledges the edge Tszyu will get from the home crowd.

Tszyu chases a title in a second division

The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, a former world super lightweight champion, Tim Tszyu is 28-3 with 18 stoppages. The former junior middleweight champion lost twice to Sebastian Fundora and was upset by Bakhram Murtazaliev. He has bounced back with three wins in a row, most recently a unanimous decision over Errol Spence Jr., who retired after the fight.

The Australian frames it as a family goal: a world title in a second weight class, something his father never achieved. His promoter, George Rose of No Limit Boxing, says Tszyu asked for the best middleweight in the world.

A busy night on the Gold Coast

The card also features the return of Jermell Charlo, the former undisputed junior middleweight champion, against Australia's Brock Jarvis, and a WBA super featherweight world title fight between Australian Liam Wilson and Elnur Samedov. Broadcast details, start times and tickets have not been announced.

The same weekend, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua box in Cardiff on Friday 11 December, and UFC 335 takes place in Las Vegas on Saturday 12.