Thurman Knocks Out Jarvis in Three Down Under, Zerafa and Tapia Win in Sydney
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Sydney, Australia (March 14th, 2025)– In only his fourth ring appearance in six years, Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman, the mysterious and elusive world class welterweight who considers himself a super fighter, exposed the padded record of 22-1 Brock Jarvis with a third round knockout in the main event at Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday March 12, 2024, in the main event of a 10 bout card, presented by Kayo Sports, No Limit Boxing, MAINEVENT and GTB Promotions. The win possibly could result in a match with junior middleweight Tim Tszyu.
Thurman, 31-1 with 23 knockouts, Clearwater, Florida, age 36, the former World Welterweight champion boxing at the junior middleweight limit for the first time in his career, showed a display of ‘must’ rather than rust. After two and a half cautious feeling out rounds punctuating by Thurman’s meticulous and sneaky pinpoint body shots. Nine body shots and a big left hand in round two, while not phasing Jarvis, were an ominous warning of what was to come.
Thurman opened up in the second half of round three, nailing Jarvis, now 22-2 with 20 knockouts, Marrickville, Australia, with power shots, hooks, and a left uppercut which sent him to the canvas. Jarvis beat the count. An explosive left hook sent a tired and beaten Jarvis to the canvas in a corner, where he did not get up, ending the lopsided contest at 2:19 of the third round. Thurman called out ringside commentator and boxer Tim Tszyu at ringside, stating post fight “I would love to come back again (here to Australia). Yeah. I just raised the bar on you, (Tim) Tszyu. You want to come back. You’ve got to come back hard. Send the contract for me to fight you, and) I’ll sign it.” Thurman emerged from this bout ranked fourth in the world on BoxRec.
Based on Liam Paro’s first round knockout of Jarvis in 2022, Thurman had no issues taking this bout. Perhaps the Jarvis corner believed Thurman’s inactivity would make him a convenient aging easy mark. It appeared, despite his relative inactivity, Thurman remained training in the gym training throughout his absence from the ring. “I’ve had a lot of (scheduled) fights, (signed) contracts, (and training) camps that fell out for a lot of reasons, but my love for the sport is still here. Anyone can get it, baby,” Thurman explained after the bout. More so, Thurman seems unwilling to fight any big names under any circumstances unless the big money is there. Middleweight Michael Zerafa, who won on the undercard, also called out Thurman.
Thurman showed up in Australia for the easy win over Jarvis. For the Jarvis camp to have concluded Thurman was washed up provided a fatal mistake, as the career of Jarvis, if it was not over after the Liam Paro disaster, got sunk worse than The Titanic in Sydney. The Jarvis camp also allowed Thurman the leeway to come in at junior middleweight, allowing him the flexibility in his comeback which would have been more challenging if he had been forced to come into Australia down under at 147 pounds. In any case, Thurman outclassed Jarvis.
117 years ago, on December 26, 1908, ‘The Galveston Giant’, the late Jack Johnson, traveled to Sydney and outpointed Tommy Burns over 14 rounds in win the world heavyweight title. Thurman’s trip to Sydney, once he agreed to the bout, like Jack Johnson was clearly not a social call. Australian promoters have now been put on notice. Be careful who you invite.
Tszyu, who will attempt as comeback against Joey Spencer in April 2025 in Newcastle, Australia, has lost his last two bouts, both outside of Australia on the road. If Tszyu defeats Spencer, George Rose of No Limit Boxing promoter George Rose stated before the Jarvis fight if Thurman won, he would get the Tszyu fight later in 2025. Thurman would take the bout if the right purse is placed on the table.
Hordern Pavillion Undercard Results
Michael Zerafa won by stoppage in seven rounds over Besir Ay, to win the vacant WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title.
Cesar Mateo Tapia stopped Sergei Vorobev in five rounds, to win the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Middleweight title.
Kirra Ruston won by referee’s technical decision in six rounds over Tonga Tongotongo, to win the vacant Australian Light Heavyweight title.
Female super flyweight Linn Sandstrom won by ten-round decision over Yoselin Fernandez, consisting of ten two minute rounds.
Female super featherweight Nadia Flalhi won by six six-round decision over Angel Rishton, consisting of six two-minute rounds.
Welterweight Jason Fawcett stopped Kohei Hatanaka in two rounds.
Lightweight Charlie Kazzi stopped Nort Beauchamp in the first round.
Welterweight Jacob Clenshaw won a five round decision over Kavana Vaotu’ua.
Super welterweight Jordan Martin won the opening bout on the card by four four-round decision over Sonny Knight.
FORMER UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION KEITH THURMAN TAKES ON HARD-HITTING AUSTRALIAN CONTENDER BROCK JARVIS HEADLINING FIVE-FIGHT LINEUP WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 STREAMING ON THE PBC YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Replay of the Fights to Begin at
9:00 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT
Middleweight Contenders Michael Zerafa &
Besir Ay Duel in Co-Main Event from
Hordern Pavilion in Sydney
All-Action Contender Mateo Tapia
Faces Sergei Vorobev & More
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – March 10, 2025 – Former unified world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman will take on hard-hitting Australian contender Brock Jarvis in a 10-round WBA International Super Welterweight Title showdown that headlines a stacked five-fight card on Wednesday, March 12 that will stream on the PBC YouTube Channel from Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia.
The replay presentation begins at 9:00 a.m. ET/6:00 a.m. PT and will also feature middleweight contenders Michael Zerafa and Besir Ay in the 10-round co-main event, plus all-action contender Mateo Tapia faces off against Sergei Vorobev in a 10-round middleweight clash. Additionally, Tonga Tongotongo will face Kirra Ruston in a 10-round light heavyweight scrap, and the opener will see super welterweights Sonny Knight and Jordan Martin square off in a five-round bout.
The event is promoted by No Limit Boxing and The Rose Brothers, in association with TGB Promotions.
“Fight fans will get a special streaming lineup of exciting action Wednesday, March 12, all topped by the former unified champion Keith Thurman against a power-punching Australian in Brock Jarvis,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Thurman is looking to make another championship run and solidify his Hall of Fame case, but will be in tough against a fighter in Jarvis who’s looking to make a statement headlining this big card in front of his Australian fans.”
**KEITH THURMAN VS. BROCK JARVIS**
One of the best welterweights of this era, the former unified champion Keith “One Time” Thurman will look to begin a run at a 154-pound world title when he takes on the Australian knockout artist Brock Jarvis in the 10-round main event on March 12.
Clearwater, Florida’s Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) earned his “One Time” moniker by talking the talk and delivering with highlight-reel KOs. He has assembled one of the most impressive resumes among the top welterweights of this generation, having defeated former champions Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero. That showdown with Garcia saw him become a unified world champion in a rare unification bout between undefeated welterweight world champions. Thurman’s only blemish came in a 2019 Fight of the Year against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, with Thurman ending up on the wrong side of a narrow split-decision. Most recently, Thurman bested former world champion and current highly ranked welterweight Mario Barrios by unanimous decision in February 2022. He was set to face another top Australian fighter in former champion Tim Tszyu in March 2024 before being forced to withdraw due to injury.
“Brock Jarvis is a sturdy guy – rough and tough, an inside fighter – but he’s been sheltered on his island, in his little bubble,” said Thurman in the lead up to this fight. “I’m coming to pop that bubble…To me, he looks like somebody who knows how to go for the win, but has he really been swimming out there with the sharks? It doesn’t look like it to me. That’s what I’m bringing to the table – something he’s never seen before.”
The 27-year-old Jarvis (22-1, 20 KOs) has risen up the rankings in his native Australia ever since turning pro in 2015 as a teenager. He’s shown tremendous power throughout his time in the pro ranks, with a 15-fight KO streak following his pro debut and a current run that’s seen him earn stoppages in each of his last five victories. His only defeat came in a 2022 showdown against fellow Australian and former 140-pound world champion Liam Paro. He bounced back from that loss with back-to-back victories, knocking out Marlon Paniamogan in March 2023 before most recently stopping Adrian Rodriguez in December 2024.
“I was super excited to get this opportunity and I’m really looking forward to this one,” said Jarvis. “To have a fight of this magnitude against Keith Thurman means everything to me. If he thinks he’s coming here for a tune-up fight, then he’s got the wrong mindset and I’m gonna expose that on fight night.”
**MICHAEL ZERAFA VS. BESIR AY**
In the 10-round co-main event, former world title challenger Michael Zerafa, a longtime contender out of Australia, steps back into the ring to challenge streaking German contender Besir Ay and hopes to put himself in a position to earn another world title opportunity.
Melbourne, Australia’s Zerafa (32-5, 20 KOs) won four straight to earn the title fight that he eventually lost to reigning WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy Lara last March. He bounced back from that defeat to earn a victory over Tommy Browne in August 2024. Zerafa had previously split a pair of matchups against former champion and Australian rival Jeff Horn in addition to a first-round knockout of longtime contender Anthony Mundine. The 32-year-old also competed stateside in 2015 when he dropped a contest to former middleweight champion Peter Quillin. The veteran has also challenged former champion Kell Brook and defeated previously unbeaten fighters Danilo Creati and Isaac Hardman.
A pro since 2016, Ay (19-1, 9 KOs) will fight out of his native Germany for the first time on March 12, as he looks to upset Zerafa in front of his Australian fans. Since a split-decision loss in his second pro fight, Ay has put together 18 consecutive victories and earned the German middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Dustin Ammann in June 2023. Originally from Hannover, Niedersachsen, Ay has continued to increase his level of competition with 2024 victories over the previously unbeaten Armend Hasani in June and Milos Beranek in October.
**MATEO TAPIA VS. SERGEI VOROBOV**
A longtime friend and sparring partner of Tim Tszyu, Mateo Tapia steps back into the ring after competing in a memorable 2024 clash against Endry Saavedra, and can further his claim as a 160-pound contender as he battles Russia’s Sergei Vorobev.
The 26-year-old Tapia (17-0-1, 10 KOs) showed tremendous mettle in his October 2024 showdown against Saavedra, recovering from two knockdowns to put Saavedra on the canvas on his way to a majority draw. Born in Tijuana, Mexico, Tapia spent much of his career fighting out of Australia, where he put in over 500 rounds of sparring against Tszyu. Now training out of St. Petersburg, Florida, Tapia made his U.S. debut in October 2023 with a stoppage victory over Eric Robles, and followed that up with a 10-round unanimous decision over Keiber Gonzalez in Australia in April 2024.
Originally from Shlisselburg, Russia and now fighting out of Sydney, Australia, Vorobev (20-2-2, 14 KOs) first burst onto the scene by scoring a major upset in just his seventh pro fight when he defeated then 34-0 contender Konstantin Ponomarev to win the Russian super welterweight title. The 30-year-old would go on to pick up victories over veteran contenders including Diego Chavez and Breidis Prescott, in addition to a narrow split-decision defeat to two-time title challenger Karen Chukhadzhian. Vorobev enters this fight after fighting to draws in each of his previous two fights.
**TONGA TONGOTONGO VS. KIRRA RUSTON**
Light heavyweights Tonga Tongotongo and Kirra Ruston will battle to see who can remain unbeaten.
Tongotongo (9-0, 9 KOs) of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia by way of New Zealand has shown enormous power in his young professional career, knocking out everyone he’s faced. The 26-year-old has fought all but one of his pro bouts in Australia, leaving the country for his last bout in Fiji as he stopped Sebastian Singh in the seventh round.
Ruston (4-0, 4 KOs) has done the same thing as his March 12 opponent, stopping each of his professional opponents inside the distance. The Southport, Queensland, Australia native is also 26 years old. Ruston has managed to stop three of his four professional opponents in the first round, and he’ll undoubtedly try to make quick work of Tongotongo when they square off.
**SONNY KNIGHT VS. JORDAN MARTIN**
Opening the five-fight stream on the PBC YouTube Channel will be Sonny Knight and Jordan Martin facing each other in a super welterweight attraction.
Newcastle, New South Wales’ Knight (4-0, 3 KOs) will be looking to make it back-to-back stoppages when he faces Martin on March 12. After knocking out his first two professional opponents, Knight went the distance and got a split decision victory over Laban Stringer, before retiring Lovepreet in his latest outing.
Martin (6-1, 2 KOs) of Sydney, New South Wales hopes to expand his current win streak to five in a row against Knight.
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