TOOHEY'S NEWS: Rising boxing star Tim Tszyu heading to Newcastle for next fight plus all the Knights latest

Provided he overcomes New Zealand challenger Bowyn Morgan as expected at Bankwest Stadium on Wednesday night, the rising Australian boxing star's next fight early in the New Year will be in Newcastle.

And his promotor Matt Rose has not ruled out the possibility of the fight being for a world title.

"If he wins next week in Sydney, his next Main Event headline show will be in Newcastle," Rose told us on Friday.

Rose said he has already had preliminary talks with Newcastle Entertainment Centre staff about potential dates but has not totally ruled out the possibility of headlining Tszyu at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Tszyu's last fight against Jeff Horn was at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville and he'll step into the ring against Morgan at Parramatta's home ground.

"At this stage, we can't give out an exact date but I reckon it will be around mid-March," Rose said.

"The plan will be to work it in to compliment the Knights up there and to get the [Tszyu] name back into Newcastle after what Kostya did up there would be fantastic."

Rose claimed the potential for a Newcastle fight has been in the pipeline for more than a year because of the strong Kostya Tszyu connection and the fact Tim's manager Glen Jennings is Newcastle through and through.

"I'm so keen to do it," he said. "We have been talking about doing this for 12 months and we've all agreed now his first fight in 2021 has got to be in Newcastle. So that's what we are working towards.

"It's a given that Tim wants to fight up there and the connection with Newcastle is huge. Kostya had a massive following up there, they loved him."

Asked about how soon the 26-year-old could be fighting for a world title, Rose said:

"He's now the best pound for pound fighter in Australia and he's ticking all the boxes.

"Should he win next week, he'll have proven himself the best in the Oceania and after that, the only thing looming is a world title.

"To be deadset honest with you, there is a big chance his next fight could be for a world title and if Newcastle is able to host it, it would be massive. Like I keep saying, Tim needs to win Wednesday night and if he does that, regardless, his next fight will be a real big one.

"And I'm confident Newcastle and the Hunter region will get right behind him."

Rose wouldn't rule out the possibility of the winner of the Paul Gallen- Mark Hunt fight following Tszyu to Newcastle for their next bout.

Skipper Mitchell Pearce is not the only current player on the Knights retention radar with word getting out that talks have kicked off to nail boom teenage centre Bradman Best to a longer term deal.

The Knights are taking absolutely no chances with Best's future. He is signed for another two years, until the end of the 2022 season, and as per NRL rules, rival clubs can't negotiate with him as it stands right now until November next year.

But that buffer hasn't stopped discussions with his manager Clinton Schifcofske from getting underway. Two years on top of his current deal will be a starting point for the Knights. As for Pearce, negotiations for a 12 month extension could kick off as early as next week.

Adam 'Adz' O'Brien went back to school briefly during the week. The Knights coach held a zoom lesson with Year 6 kids from St Peters Primary in Port Macquarie. We're reliably told their teacher used to teach O'Brien many years ago.

Still on O'Brien, we're told several of his mates from Batemans Bay have apparently taken great delight and been giving it to him about a Sydney scribe who keeps referring to the Knights coach as Anthony instead of Adam.

For the first time since Knights Old Boys' Day became an annual tradition 23 years ago, it won't be celebrated on the day of the club's final home game of the season.

Instead, it will be switched to Sunday, June 6, the day the Knights meet the Parramatta Eels in their round 13 clash at McDonald Jones Stadium.

The change, voted on by the Old Boys and agreed to by the club this week, came about after the NRL scheduled a Thursday night game against the Gold Coast Titans as the Knights final home game.

The move to coincide the day with a Parramatta game is significant.

As part of next year's celebrations, the 2001 premiership-winning side, who knocked over the Eels in the decider, will gather in Newcastle for a 20-year reunion and be presented to the crowd.

Josh King still has some work to do, despite a breakout season in 2020, as he looks to try and establish himself in the Knights top grade lineup next year on the field.

But there is no doubting the hard-working prop has already established himself as a leader at the club off it.

During the week with no fanfare, King organised a John Hunter Children's Hospital visit and put out feelers among teammates and staff to join him.

A 30-strong group - 24 players and six staff - volunteered their time on their day off to put a smile on the faces of plenty of kids doing it tough as Christmas approaches.

A fund-raiser for former Lakes footballer Troy Miles will be held at Jewells Tavern next Saturday, December 19.

Tickets will be go sale from 2 pm with the draw starting at 5 pm. Every cent raised will go to assist the Miles family with on-going medical bills.

Ian Bourke and Craig Kimmorley have put the day together with the help of Jewells Tavern. Any financial help will be greatly appreciated.

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