Michael Zerafa was supposedly “cancelled” after his no contest to Nikita Tszyu in January.
Zerafa was labelled a “disgrace” by Aussie boxing great Billy Dib for the way the fight concluded and was jeered and booed out of the arena by fans as beer cans rained down on him.
Michael Zerafa. No Limit Boxing
Many boldly declared the Victorian fighter was finished and had bitten the hand that fed him.
He and promoters No Limit went their separate ways and most pundits and fans called for him to never fight on an Australian card again.
Yet, Zerafa is far from dead and buried.
Speaking to Nine.com.au, the Melbourne fighter revealed that an intermediary, not promoters No Limit, rang him two weeks ago about a rematch with Tszyu.
Additionally, his name has been linked to a bout with American Jermall Charlo as the co-main event for the Tim Tszyu v Errol Spence fight in Australia in July, which is being co-promoted by No Limit.
It’s understood Charlo is looking for an opponent after returning from a lengthy absence to stop Thomas LaManna in six rounds last year.
Zerafa is part of a list of names the Houston native is considering, with Brock Jarvis, Dylan Biggs, Koen Mazoudier and Callum Peters being discussed.
The Melbourne fighter is also in talks to fight Chris Eubank later in the year but said he’d be available to take on Charlo if needed.
“My name has just been thrown around, every time, amongst all the others. It would make it even bigger, you know, having the villain back on the card,” he told Nine.com.au.
“I feel like obviously I’ve got the most experience out of all the guys that were mentioned.
“I’m more than happy to step up and fight if he was coming down and the fight actually does happen, and he does need an opponent, I’d definitely jump in and give it my absolute all.”
Nikita Tszyu (left) and Michael Zerafa chat after the non-result. No Limit Boxing
There’s been radio silence between Zerafa and No Limit ever since the Tszyu no-contest in January.
But the Aussie middleweight revealed that a mutual associate reached out to him about a possible rematch with Nikita a couple of weeks ago, a proposition Zerafa shut down for the price that was offered.
“It wasn’t direct,” he added.
“It was through No Limit talking to someone else who then spoke to us. It was just, ‘would you fight for X amount of dollars’ and the dollars were terrible.
“It wasn’t like the Roses (No Limit bosses George and Matt) called me. It was a guy that they deal with who I also deal with, and then he basically said, would you do it?
“And I said, I’ll definitely do it, but not for what they’re offering. I’ll get more off from a local show.
“I think it’s even bigger now because people will obviously want to see me in their eyes lose. I think it’s a fight that needs to happen again.”