Controversial Aussie boxing star Michael Zerafa has backed down from legal threats made against boxing promoter No Limit as more detail on his press conference absence came to light on Tuesday.
The boxer dubbed “Pretty Boy” has again been embroiled in drama after not attending Monday’s press conference ahead of Wednesday’s night’s fight card in Sydney, headlined by Nikita Tszyu vs Lulzim Ismaili.
Nikita Tszyu vs Lulzim Ismaili | Wednesday 20 August 7PM AEST | Order this PPV event now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Pre-fight drama with Zerafa | 02:19
Zerafa, who takes on American Mikey Dahlman, blew up publicly after claiming he had been instructed not to attend the press conference — accusing the promoters of then painting it as a no-show in a “direct attack on my integrity.”
Zerafa was in attendance at Tuesday’s weigh-in in Sydney as all of the top billed fighters successfully made weight for the event.
Code Sports reporter Peter Badel revealed on the Main Event broadcast that Zerafa’s absence stemmed from a “secruity issue” regarding Zerafa’s brother Jason-Manuel, who infamously struck popular Australian trainer Tommy Mercuri in the ring with a post-fight “dog shot” last year.
A life ban was handed to Jason-Manuel but still had to be formally imposed, reported Badel, with Zerafa told not to attend until the issue had been settled.
The fighter himself reiterated he was only following instructions but is now happy to move on from the incident.
“I think there was a bit of a miscommunication somewhere, there was definitely one between me and No Limit,” Zerafa said.“… I had a crack at No Limit and it wasn’t No Limit, they’ve clarified that and I apologise on my behalf but I just did what I was told.”
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