Former Australian world champion Tim Tszyu has accused Michael Zerafa of “a cowardly act” following the controversial end to Zerafa’s grudge match against Nikita Tszyu, which was ruled a no contest after the Melbourne boxer reported vision problems.
According to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, the bout was stopped before the third round at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre when Zerafa approached the ringside doctor, saying he was unable to see out of his left eye due to accidental head clashes. After examining Zerafa, referee Chris Condon informed him that the fight would be declared a no-contest, with Zerafa nodding in acknowledgement.
The decision was met with loud boos from the crowd. Responding to the reaction, Zerafa later claimed he had not stopped the fight himself. “I don’t know why everyone’s booing me, I didn’t stop the fight, the doctor stopped it, it’s not my fault,” he said, Sydney Morning Herald has quoted.
However, when asked directly on Kayo Sports whether he had told the doctor he could not see, Zerafa denied saying so, despite broadcast footage appearing to show otherwise. He maintained that he told the doctor his vision was blurry, but not to the extent that the fight should have been stopped.
The incident reignited tensions between Zerafa and the Tszyu family, stemming from Zerafa’s withdrawal from a scheduled bout with Tim Tszyu five years ago, when he cited COVID-19 restrictions, Sydney Morning Herald has reported.
Tim Tszyu drew comparisons with his own 2023 fight against Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas, where he continued despite suffering a severe cut and eventually lost a split decision. Tszyu noted that he could have opted for a no-contest in that fight but chose to continue.
“I just don’t understand the cowardly act ... he [Zerafa] said ‘I can’t see, I can’t see’ like three times [to the ringside doctor] and I feel like that type of answer shouldn’t come out of a boxer. I just don’t,” Tim Tszyu said, as quoted by Sydney Morning Herald.
Zerafa later apologised to the crowd and indicated he was open to a rematch, but Nikita Tszyu strongly criticised his opponent’s actions.
“He pulled the pin on the fight. I’m honestly lost for words,” Nikita Tszyu told Kayo Sports, Sydney Morning Herald has reported.
“It’s annoying that he saw the opening to escape and just took the first route out.
“Like, yeah, it’s a cut, yeah it’s on the eye, but didn’t he really want this fight? He’s been calling for it so long. He took the first exit. As soon as the head clash happened, I could see him panicking a little bit. “He wasn’t happy with it, but it’s boxing, you get cuts. Look at my brother [Tim], he had a bloody squirter [against Fundora],” as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald
In a post on social media, Zerafa expressed frustration over how the bout ended, insisting the decision was taken out of his hands.
“What’s difficult to accept is that at no point was I asked whether I could continue, nor was I given the opportunity to try,” Zerafa wrote. “When you prepare for months, put your body on the line and make the sacrifices required at this level, having that decision taken completely out of your hands is incredibly frustrating,” the Sydney Morning Herald has quoted
Questions were also raised about whether Zerafa’s purse could be withheld. Addressing the issue at the post-fight press conference, No Limit Boxing promoter George Rose confirmed the contract would be honoured.
“We always live up to our contractual obligations, we’ll do the right thing regardless, we do what the contract says,” Rose said, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.
ISSUE
Leave a Comment