{"id":418124,"date":"2026-01-17T01:56:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T01:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/418124\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T01:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T01:56:10","slug":"michael-zerafa-drops-retirement-bombshell-in-backstage-interview-after-controversial-nikita-tszyu-bout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/418124\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Zerafa drops retirement bombshell in backstage interview after controversial Nikita Tszyu bout"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael Zerafa has hinted he may retire from boxing<\/a> in an expletive-laden rant after his hostile bout against Nikita Tszyu ended in controversy.<\/p>\n

Furious fans hurled beer cans and water bottles into the ring after the referee stopped the fight before the start of the third round<\/a> and declared a \u201cno decision\u201d when Zerafa repeatedly told the ringside doctor \u201cI can\u2019t see\u201d.<\/p>\n

Officials announced the reason for the fight being stopped was an \u201caccidental head butt\u201d near the finish of round two following a series of head clashes during a frenetic opening between the fierce rivals.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t see. I can\u2019t see,\u201d Zerafa told the ringside doctor before changing his story during his post-fight in-the-ring interview.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know why everyone\u2019s booing me. I didn\u2019t stop it, the doctor stopped it. It\u2019s not my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked what he told the doctor, Zerafa said: \u201cI said it\u2019s blurry, but all good. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grilled again on whether or not he said \u2018I can\u2019t see\u2019 – which TV captured – Zerafa insisted, \u201cNo, I\u2019m ready to go\u201d before calling for a rematch.<\/p>\n

\"MichaelMichael Zerafa found himself under fire after the farcical ‘no contest’ ending to his grudge fight. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is boxing, man. Like, let\u2019s do it again. No disrespect to anybody, I don\u2019t know what everyone\u2019s booing for.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to apologise to everybody but I don\u2019t know why you are booing. I really don\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guys should be getting behind us athletes, whether you love or hate me.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the sport, guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

But things took a turn backstage when Zerafa spoke to host Ben Damon.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe doctor came, asked me, covered my eye and said, \u2018Can you see?\u2019 I said it\u2019s blurry. He never gave me the opportunity to continue. Nothing, just waved it off. The referee waved it off,\u201d Zerafa said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe doctor asked me questions, I answered the questions. He told me to cover my eye and said, \u2018Can you see?\u2019 I said it\u2019s blurry, there\u2019s blood in my eye, it\u2019s a natural cut.<\/p>\n

\u201c(There was no) Do you wanna continue? Do you wanna still fight? Nothing … I\u2019m just as confused and angry as everyone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a tough fight … I don\u2019t know, I\u2019m over this s**t, man.\u201d<\/p>\n

When pressed on how over it he is, Zerafa said he may never return to the ring.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if they are going to see me back in the ring again. I\u2019m f***ing done. I\u2019ve bled for this sport, I\u2019ve done everything for this sport. I never get the credit I deserve. This is f***ing bullshit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel sorry for Nikita and the fight fans. Myself. Everybody\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst it was the bulls**t that I didn\u2019t rock up, wave it off, New South Wales doctor. I don\u2019t know. I\u2019m not saying anyone is behind it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zerafa also released a statement on Instagram, saying he wanted to continue the fight.<\/p>\n

– With AAP<\/p>\n

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