Tim Tszyu vs. Michael Zerafa - Who wins?

[Ruthless-RKO]

I think Zerafa is more suited at 160.. either way he doesn’t beat Tim.

Tim getting some nice PPV paydays going through these names in Aus.

This should be the last one before he moved to US, or fights US opposition.

[gregregegg]

This is the right fight to make right now. Zeraf is very limmited, tough and realy a 160. But this fight had been talked about for months now, so he should of been managing his weight already, can’t see him having too much trouble making it back to 154.

If tszyu stops him in the first half it will be impressive, but that is what I expect, skill levels are miles apart and I just think Tim will land clean often enough that no chin could take it for more than 4 or 5 rounds.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[JxhDel.]

Another cash grab for Tim while waiting for Charlo/Castano winner.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Another cash grab for Tim while waiting for Charlo/Castano winner.

Why not. Milk the Australian public.

[margaret thatcher]

he's not gonna fight the charlo-castano winner, he'll fight for a vacant belt

[Ruthless-RKO]

This is what Zerafa said:

“I didn’t have my dad to get me where I’m at. I had to build my name with my bare hands. “If your name was Tim Smith, nobody would care about you. “Trust me. You’re a Tszyu, and you’re only second best at being that.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

“He’s had the help with that last name. But credit to him, he’s done his job,” Zerafa begrudgingly admits. “He’s beaten the names they’ve put in front of him. I’m not going to sit here and say he doesn’t deserve to be where he’s at. He’s proven himself.

“But there are levels to this sport. He’s beaten the fighters at that level. There’s one more level and that’s where I’m at. July 7, it’s showtime.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zerafa is in hospital..

With a yet to be confirmed rib-stomach injury.

His manager and trainer said if he’s not back in the gym by next week, fight will be off.

“He’s still not right,” Labruna said to WA Today. “I’ve spoken to his partner and he’s in a lot of pain, he’s been throwing up and everything. He’s not right.

“I’ll say one thing; to put it bluntly, if Mick is not right, there’s no fight. Simple as that. The fight is the last thing on my mind at the moment. We won’t be going through the camp if Michael is not right, the fight won’t be on.

“The pain started behind the ribs and kept getting worse. For me, it’s about Mick’s health first. I won’t be putting Mick in underdone.”

It’s nothing to do with sparring or training.

—

“It’s a worry,” said Tszyu’s promoter George Rose of No Limit management.

“The fighters’ health is the main thing, but it’s a nightmare [for the promotion] if it is serious.

“The fact the boxers push their bodies to the absolute limit, I understand and respect that. I know things like this can happen, but I don’t want it to happen for this fight. There’s nobody else around who can compete with Tim and we’re not going to chuck him in against a sub-optimal replacement. It’s something we want to get on top of.”

[Enlightened-One]

Tim Tszyu the WBO Global super welterweight champion? WTF!

I'm not sure if I understand the reason for the hype he's receiving.

Is it because he's the son of a legend? Another Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. type fighter, whereby expectations are unrealistically high?

Anyway, expect Tim Tszyu to score a comfortable victory over Michael Zerafa. His handlers are choosing the safe route to protect his marketability.

[gregregegg]

Tim Tszyu the WBO Global super welterweight champion? WTF!

I'm not sure if I understand the reason for the hype he's receiving.

Is it because he's the son of a legend? Another Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. type fighter, whereby expectations are unrealistically high?

Anyway, expect Tim Tszyu to score a comfortable victory over Michael Zerafa. His handlers are choosing the safe route to protect his marketability.

The hype is name, but also he has some good performances, smashed horn better than pac or craw could, smashed hogan better than Jamie mungiea and about as well as charlo. Good wins for a young fighter, got simarlarotys to Connor Benn, although I think tszyu is a genuine top 5 now in his division. Probably top 3.

[KiwiRider]

Tim Tszyu the WBO Global super welterweight champion? WTF!

I'm not sure if I understand the reason for the hype he's receiving.

Is it because he's the son of a legend? Another Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. type fighter, whereby expectations are unrealistically high?

Anyway, expect Tim Tszyu to score a comfortable victory over Michael Zerafa. His handlers are choosing the safe route to protect his marketability.

He's big downunder. I'm on the fence still. We sorta know what Zerafa brings, so see what you think after they fight..
He is just blasting through everyone, and that's all you could ask so far:lol:

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ricky]

Tim Tszyu the WBO Global super welterweight champion? WTF!

I'm not sure if I understand the reason for the hype he's receiving.

Is it because he's the son of a legend? Another Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. type fighter, whereby expectations are unrealistically high?

Anyway, expect Tim Tszyu to score a comfortable victory over Michael Zerafa. His handlers are choosing the safe route to protect his marketability.

The hype is name, but also he has some good performances, smashed horn better than pac or craw could, smashed hogan better than Jamie mungiea and about as well as charlo. Good wins for a young fighter, got simarlarotys to Connor Benn, although I think tszyu is a genuine top 5 now in his division. Probably top 3.

Ignore the troll.

Tim Tszyu is very good and a world title contender in his own right.

[margaret thatcher]

surely it's utterly easy as f@ck to understand the reason for the attention he gets

tbf hes a pretty solid fighter with some nice blast out performances. looks to be roiding up nicely too, he'll need that for the top guys

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tim Tszyu Intends To Punish Zerafa For His Comments on Tszyu-Hatton Fight

Undefeated junior middleweight contender Tim Tszyu has promised to do a lot of damage to Australian rival Michael Zerafa - as tensions nearly erupted during a Fox Sports face-off.

Zerafa has been needling Tszyu about a sensitive topic involving his father, Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu.

Tim became furious after Zerafa poked fun at Kostya's career-ending stoppage loss at the hands of Ricky Hatton 16 years ago.

Zerafa has promised to do a "Micky Hatton" on Tszyu, when the two rivals collide on July 7 in Newcastle.

"Don't talk about that fight, man. Don't talk about it," Tszyu warned Zerafa when faced off.

Tszyu was only 10-years-old when his father was pounded by a young, up and coming Hatton.

"I'm just saying, you remember what happened in that fight. Micky Hatton's rocking up," Zerafa said.

Glenn Jennings was the manager of Kostya - and he now manages the younger Tim.

Jennings cautions that Zerafa will get punished for his statements about the Hatton loss.

"To bring up the fact that that was the end of Kostya's career in such an inflammatory way was a pretty poor decision on his behalf," Jennings told AAP.

"There are some lines when you've got somebody with such reverence in the community as Kostya. To be honest, we could have remained silent and said nothing because you've only got to have a look at the social media reaction to it. Zerafa's been crucified and rightly so. The Australian public have told him in no uncertain terms that this was a very, very poor performance from Michael Zerafa and really drops him back down to the bottom of the ladder.

"Based on yesterday, that's just another example of the delusional state that Michael's in. It's had an impact on Tim but he's got a job to do. He never gets distracted and he stays true to the cause there now. But I'm sure in the back of his mind now there will be just a little bit more spite and a bit more determination to make Michael Zerafa finally eat his own words.

"The problem for Michael is now is that after two years of bucketing Tim and continuing to pull out the low blows and disrespect like yesterday, he's just turning the furnace on himself. The pressure comes heavier and heavier on him to put up or shut up."

[gregregegg]

Wheres this fight ment to be? might be fucked if its ment to be sydney. hope it goes ahead no drama because im really looking foward to tim tszyu getting past this and moving on to bigger and better things (or just keeping very active untill those things turn up)

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wheres this fight ment to be? might be fucked if its ment to be sydney. hope it goes ahead no drama because im really looking foward to tim tszyu getting past this and moving on to bigger and better things (or just keeping very active untill those things turn up)

Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, Australia

[gregregegg]

Wheres this fight ment to be? might be fucked if its ment to be sydney. hope it goes ahead no drama because im really looking foward to tim tszyu getting past this and moving on to bigger and better things (or just keeping very active untill those things turn up)

Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, Australia

Put up a pray.. july 7 newy having a crowd? i am not confedent.

[ceramics_steve_again]

I always loved Mickey Hatton

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tszyu changes training location

WBO #1 light middleweight Tim Tszyu has changed plans to train in Queensland and will now base his training for his July 7 showdown with Michael Zerafa at in Newcastle due to an outbreak of Covid-19 in Sydney.

“Given what happened today, they decided it was too risky [to go to Queensland],” No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose told foxsports.com.au. “He was pretty much packing his stuff to head to the airport and then the decision was made. So, he ended up packing up the car and flooring it out of Sydney.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tszyu: Zerafa will not go the distance

WBO #1 light middleweight Tim Tszyu has predicted he will stop WBA #6 middleweight Michael Zerafa inside the distance when they clash on July 7 at Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. “In all honesty, we don’t need refs,” Tszyu told reporters. “This fight won’t need refs. This fight won’t need judges. It’s not going past ten.”

Meanwhile, the Zerafa camp is threatening to pull out if they don’t get to approve the officials, citing “criminal” officiating in Zerafa’s loss to Jeff Horn in their rematch

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tszyu-Zerafa Grudge Match in Jeopardy Over Growing COVID Restrictions

A long-brewing grudge match between Tim Tszyu and Michael Zerafa is now in jeopardy.

Increased coronavirus-related restrictions in Australia have Zerafa and his team leery of making the trip from Melbourne to Newcastle ahead of the planned July 7 show at Newcastle Entertainment Centre. The development is ongoing, with Team Tszyu scrambling to salvage the long-ago sold-out event amidst a recent spike in cases of different COVID variants prompting lockdowns in Sydney and other areas in Australia.

The other side of the promotion is suddenly not quite as enthusiastic about proceeding with such plans in present form.

“I will be speaking to the Victorian government [Tuesday] as to the advice on the current Covid situation in reference to the Zerafa v Tszyu fight,” Sam Labruna, Zerafa’s manager stated through social media. “[T]he team’s safety and wellbeing comes first and once we get full clarification on what lies ahead we will be in a better position to comment and act accordingly.

”t’s unfortunate but it’s out of our hands.”

Labruna’s declaration came barely 24 hours after event handlers announced that the show would go on despite surrounding health concerns.

“It seems like the closer we get to the fight, the more excuses keep getting thrown out,” George Rose, head of No Limit Boxing said of Zerafa and his team. “I mean, it’s frustrating for me. My role has turned from promoter into excuse squasher.”

The fight was first announced May 5, with the press conference directly in line with the long-developing rivalry between the pair of Aussie box office stars.

Tszyu (18-0, 14 KOs) was barely a month removed from his fifth-round stoppage of Dennis Hogan on March 30 at the very same venue—which has been dubbed ‘Tszyucastle’—at the time of the announcement. His win came just 18 days after Zerafa scored a first-round knockout of badly faded former titlist Anthony Mundine on March 13 in Bendigo, Australia.

The win for Zerafa marked his first ring appearance since splitting a pair of fights with countryman and former welterweight titlist Jeff Horn in 2019, scoring a ninth-round stoppage in the first fight before dropping a ten-round unanimous decision in their December 2019 rematch.

Tszyu enjoyed a far more dominant showing versus Horn, scoring an eighth-round stoppage in their regional title fight last August 26 in Townsville, Australia. The bout was one of the first major boxing events in the nation following the pandemic, with Australia far ahead of most of the rest of the world in flattening the coronavirus curve to the point of allowing large gatherings.

The emergence of the Delta coronavirus variant has caused a new wave of the infectious disease around the globe, with Australia getting hit at the wrong time. The change in health standards forced the July 7 event to alter the number of fans permitted. A sold-out crowd was expected at the venue which seats just more than 7,500, with recent social distancing measures limiting the show to a maximum of 50% capacity.

A threat of that number being reduced to 0% is now at the forefront, though the No Limit Boxing team has gone the extra mile to alleviate any concerns from Zerafa’s side. Rose informed Fox Sports Australia of progress made with the health officials in Victoria, expressing confidence that a travel exception could be secured to permit Zerafa and essential team members to safely make the trip from Melbourne in time to move forward with the event.

“[Tszyu has adapted with everything that’s been thrown at him,” Rose told Fox Sports Australia. “He’s focused on one thing, and that’s being there on July 7 and putting on a show for the people.

“I think what [Zerafa and his team] really need to focus on right now is being ready to fight against the number-one boxer in Australia.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Team Tszyu: Newcastle, Melbourne Not In Lockdown; No Reason For Zerafa Fight Not To Proceed

Tim Tszyu and his team anxiously await the arrival of Michael Zerafa ahead of their still-scheduled grudge match.

Team Zerafa has threatened to withdraw from the planned July 7 Pay-Per-View headliner amidst a recent spike in coronavirus cases in Australia. The worrying trend comes ahead of the all-Australia junior middleweight showdown at Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, Australia.

At least one side of the equation doesn’t seem too concerned over the development.


“As far as we are concerned, it’s business as usual,” Glen Jennings, Tszyu’s manager told BS.com. “Full steam ahead. Newcastle is not in lockdown, nor is Melbourne (Zerafa’s hometown). So, we see no reason for the fight not to proceed.”

The bout was first announced May 5, less than two months after both boxers scored knockout wins in separate bouts this past March.

Tszyu (18-0, 14KOs)—a second-generation contender and son of Hall of Fame former lineal junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu—continued his ascension following a fifth-round stoppage of former title challenger Dennis Hogan on March 30. The bout also at Newcastle Entertainment Centre which has since been dubbed ‘TszyuCastle.’

Less than three weeks prior, Zerafa (28-4, 17KOs) returned to the win column with a first-round knockout of faded legend Anthony Mundine. Their March 13 bout marked Zerafa’s first fight since the pandemic, having previously split two fights with countryman and former welterweight titlist Jeff Horn in 2019.

No love has been lost between Tszyu and Zerafa. The tension was evident at their May 5 press conference to announce the fight and with growing hostility in the buildup to the fight.

“We see no reason for Team Zerafa NOT to turn up,” notes Jennings. “We have clearances from both New South Wales and Victoria government for the event to go ahead under COVID [protocol] at 50% capacity crowd. Tim and our team have been in Newcastle preparing now for over a week, so we are ready to go and Tim is pumped for this one.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zerafa Withdraws

No Limit Boxing, who promote the upcoming event on July 7 in Newcastle, have confirmed that junior middleweight contender Michael Zerafa has officially withdrawn from his anticipated grudge match against unbeaten rising star Tim Tszyu.

Zerafa, and his team, refused to travel to Newcastle following the latest COVID-19 outbreaks.

Even with the venue capacity being halved to 3,000 spectators and local health officials approving the event to move forward, Zerafa and his team had concerns and refused to travel over.

Zerafa wanted the fight postponed for two weeks - which Team Tszyu refused to do.

Tszyu's promoter believes Zerafa was simply looking for a way out.

“We knew from the moment he looked Tim in the eyes at the press conference and went quiet that he never wanted this fight,” George Rose, the CEO of No Limit Boxing, said.

“I knew it. Tim knew it. Australia knew it. He never wanted this fight and all I can say is I’m sorry for everyone who has wanted this fight for so long.”

Rose also confirmed that Steve Spark has agreed to take the fight on a week’s notice.


Spark (12-1, 11 KOs) put in a good performance against former Tim Tszyu rival Jack Brubaker to win convincingly over the number one ranked Australian welterweight.

“We said rain hail or shine, Tim Tszyu was fighting in Newcastle on July 7 and that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Full credit to Steve Spark for taking this fight at short notice," Rose said. “We know he is going to make for an incredibly difficult fight for Tim.”

Tszyu was quick to thank Spark for taking the fight on short notice and views it as a dangerous bout.

“Credit to Steve for taking this fight,” Tszyu said.

“He’s a dangerous fighter with a lot of power. I’ve seen it for myself. I was ringside at the fight in Wollongong when he hammered Jack Brubaker, and saw how well he did under the bright lights. He has power, stamina and keeps the pressure on. I know he’s coming to hit and hit hard. I’m expecting that and much more next Wednesday night. It’s going to be a great fight.”


Spark was happy to step up to the plate for the big opportunity - knowing that an upset victory could change his entire life.

"I'm a fighter and fighters fight! I like challenges and life is about taking risks. With no risk there is no reward! I’m excited! I earned this fight with my last performance. Tim Tszyu beat Jack Brubaker but last time out I battered Jack Brubaker. I cut him and busted his eardrum - it was brutal," Spark said.

"Australian boxing fans need to see this fight! I’ve dreamed about fighting Tim Tszyu and obviously this has come a little bit quicker than I expected but that’s a good thing. I’m fit and I’m ready and I’m coming to Newcastle to win. This is Cinderella Man, this is Rocky! This is my golden ticket. If I can go out there and dethrone the biggest name in Australian boxing then I’m right where I want to be."