The Russian-born fighter has agreed to a voluntary defence of his WBC, WBA and IBF titles in Melbourne.

The bout will be Tszyu's first fight in his adopted homeland since stopping Calvin Grove in 1998.

"I really desperately wanted to fight here, " said Tszyu.

"It's been five years since the last time I fought here, in this country.

"They were long, long years and fighting as undisputed champion in front of my people, people who will cheer for me and not anyone else, is a great feeling.

"When you put everything on the line, you put yourself under extra pressure," he added.

"That pressure makes me fight better, makes me train harder and makes me show all the world my abilities."

Leija, a former WBC super-featherweight champion, knows he faces a difficult test against the Australian.

"Tszyu is a great, great fighter, pound for pound one of the best fighters in the world," Leija said.

Tszyu must face the winner of the Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward fight as a mandatory defence in May, his manager Vlad Warton revealed.