By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
WBA #6 middleweight Michael Zerafa has pulled out of the July 7 bout with WBO #1 light middleweight Tim Tszyu citing of COVID-19 restrictions in the state of New South Wales
“We’re happy to fight him anywhere in the country if it’s deemed COVID-free,” Zerafa told the Sydney Morning Herald. “I’m not going to go and fight with no team and no trainers behind me after being with them for the last 12 weeks in camp…I could go over there and fight but we start as a team and finish as a team. I stick by my team and when COVID is in place we can’t afford that. We said we’ll do it when things go back to normal in NSW, but they didn’t want to comply.”
Tszyu stated, “He’s been talking it up and he’s been chasing me, following me around for the last three years. Couldn’t get my name out of this mouth and it’s finally come to it. Now they’re making all this bullshit.”
Welterweight Steven Spark (12-1, 11 KOs) has stepped in to replace Zerafa.
Not sure what Zerafa is talking about.
Neither is Zerafa.
Sounds like his team could not travel because of covid restrictions. Sounds like only Zerafa was cleared.
Its a choice between the “opportunity of a lifetime” or loyalty to the people who got you there. Where Im from you dont even spar if your trainer is not in the gym
Zerafa is a let down, I was really looking forward to this fight but not anymore fk him.
Good move by Zerafa…he knew Tszyu was going to knock his lame ass OUT!!!
Zerafa is absolutely full shit!!
Can’t blame him – it’s his last pay day – that was definitely affected – I’ll take bets off anyone that they fight in Newcastle in November in front of packed house.
Hatton won that fight against Tszyu by cheating and being given every chance to cheat-He would throw a jab/cross and hold and push and that went on all night-not one warning by the Brit referee-That is how he ‘won’ but in fact he did not win and any place but the UK Hatton would have been disqualified-watch the fight and you will see -first class cheating all night!-In any close fight in the UK the local guy gets the nod!
And he was juiced so rumour has it
Sounds like how Fenech won all his fights
Spark is coming up in weight but still a harder fight than Zerafa.
Have side with Zerafa on this one. Health and welfare comes before complacency and a fight .
Fights can be rescheduled but health and welfare cant
Spark just became the most respected fighter in Australia for stepping up to the challenge while Zerafa’s career just went down the toilet because no promoter will be willing to pay him any big $$$ after this and he has lost credibility and respect the Australian boxing public .
Zerafa realized calling out the devil is different than facing him, and now he’s backpedaled. What a wanker
Zerafa your a Dog you talk a good Fight but this about all maybe a rematch with
Mundine or his Father Your Career is over dickhead your a waste of space Big Mouth Little Heart