Australia’s boxing bad boy Michael Zerafa has revealed that he is so serious about his grudge match with Nikita Tszyu that he cancelled his overseas wedding to make way for it.
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia in June, the pair will headline a January 16 event which brings to a head several years of hostility.
No venue has been yet announced for the clash, but there’s talk of Brisbane, Gold Coast, and even Cairns hosting the event.
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Zerafa and Tszyu met in Sydney on Wednesday for the official press conference, where ‘Pretty Boy’ revealed just how focused he is on winning the long-simmering grudge match.
“I’ll tell you how much I want this fight,” he declared.
“I’ve cancelled my wedding for this fight.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 30: Michael Zerafa prepares for his title fight against WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara at T-Mobile Arena on March 30, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fundora won Tszyu’s title and a vacant WBC title by split decision. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
When asked how his fiancee took the change of plans, Zerafa told Fox Sports Australia that it went down about as well as you’d imagine.
“I must admit that I slept on the couch for a few days – and dinner was cold,” he smiled.
“But we got through – and all good.
“For me, it’s just another day – I mean we live together, we’ve been engaged for three years – but for her, she’s dreamed of it since she was a kid.
“Not not only that, but her family is overseas, so it was a bit more meaningful. I was going to go over there and meet them.
“Now the first official impression of me is that I’ve done a no-show.”
Zerafa says that the couple hasn’t rescheduled their big day as yet and will “play it by ear” over the summer.
One thing he is pretty confident about however is the advantage he has over Tszyu.
“I do believe I win,” he said.
“I believe I am the more experienced fighter, I’ve been in there with bigger names and I’ve beaten bigger names, but there’s no pressure on me.”
Tszyu pointed out that Zerafa has struggled with southpaws in the past, highlighting Zerafa’s loss to slick Cuban fighter Erislandy Lara.
Zerafa waved away these concerns.
“Yeah, a southpaw like Lara, but a southpaw like him… he’s got two left feet. He just relies on his punching power,” said Zerafa.
“I mean, I respect everyone I get in the ring with, but everyone talks about his power. I’ve got power too. I’ve got speed. I’ve got great counter ability. I’ve got fast footwork.”
Zerafa added that he’s planning a thorough training camp ahead of the bout.
“I’m lucky, I’ve got it all in my own gym,” he said.
“I’ve got southpaws there. I’ve got my cousin Kris Terzievski who is a professional and a southpaw too. He’s much bigger, he’s a bridgerweight. We will do heaps of drills together – light rounds, stuff like that.”
The Melbourne-based middleweight says he’s not spending much time worrying about losing the bout because the pressure is all on his rival.
“If I lose… what am I going to get differently than I cop now?” he said.
“I’m already getting hammered.”
Zerafa and Tszyu traded barbs during the press conference, with Zerafa referencing brother Tim Tszyu’s world title defeats to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Zerafa and Tszyu trade heated words | 04:05
“Tim fell short,” Zerafa said.
“Not many people get two chances at saving the last name but he gets one.”
Tszyu returned serve, saying he doesn’t see this fight as about saving his family’s name.
“I’m going in here to really rise to the occasion to get on to that world stage properly,” Tszyu said.
“To beat someone that’s had a lot of experience, to really make a name for myself.”