‘A cowardly act’: Tim Tszyu attacks Zerafa after bout with brother Nikita ends in chaos

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Former Australian world champion Tim Tszyu has accused Michael Zerafa of “a cowardly act” after the Melbourne boxer told the ringside doctor he was unable to see out of his left eye leading to a no contest being declared in his hyped grudge match with Nikita Tszyu.

Zerafa approached the doctor before the third round in Brisbane, saying the eye problem was due to accidental head clashes.

After being examined, referee Chris Condon clearly explained to Zerafa that the fight would be ruled a no contest, with the Melbourne fighter nodding that he understood.

Reacting to loud boos at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre after the fight, Zerafa seemingly presented a different story.

“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.

After being asked specifically on Kayo Sports whether he told the doctor he couldn’t see, Zerafa denied it, despite clear footage to the contrary. Zerafa said he had told the doctor his vision was blurry, but not enough to stop the fight.

Zerafa has a complex history with the Tszyu family, after pulling out of a fight with Tim Tszyu five years ago in Newcastle, citing concerns about COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria and NSW.

Two years ago, against challenger Sebastian Fundora, Tim Tszyu’s promising career was thrown into chaos after he fought through a gruesome cut on his head and ultimately lost a split decision in Las Vegas.

Ironically, Tim Tszyu could have informed the ringside referee in Las Vegas that he was unable to see, resulting in a no contest, and potentially saving him from further punishment and an eventual loss that has negatively impacted his career.

“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.

Michael Zerafa (left) and Nikita Tszyu clash in Brisbane.

Zerafa apologised to the crowd and said he was ready for a rematch, but Nikita Tszyu was unimpressed by his actions.

“He pulled the pin on the fight. I’m honestly lost for words,” Nikita Tszyu told Kayo Sports.

“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.

Michael Zerafa told the doctor he couldn’t see out of his left eye, but later retracted that statement.

“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].”

In a post on social media, Zerafa expressed his disappointment at how the fight ended, doubling down on his claim that he was not asked whether he could continue, despite referee Condon explaining to him it would be declared a no contest.

“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.”

After being asked in the post-fight press conference whether there was a potential to withhold Zerafa’s payment for his actions, promoter George Rose of No Limit Boxing said they intended to fulfil the contract.

“We always live up to our contractual obligations, we’ll do the right thing regardless, we do what the contract says” Rose said.