BoxRec

According to the Bendigo Advertiser, former world champion Jeff Horn will collide with fellow Australian fighter Michael Zerafa in Bendigo Stadium on August 31.



The state government helped secure the fight through its Regional Events Fund, and they expect the event will draw fans from across the country to the stadium. The stadium reopened last year after a major redevelopment.

Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards stated - "This event will be broadcast across Australia and throughout the United States, China and New Zealand. It's a terrific opportunity to showcase all that our region has to offer."

The paper states that the expanded stadium includes three international-standard show courts, with retractable seating that can be extended to create a 4000-seat arena.

Horn has been rebuilding his career since getting stopped last June by Terence Crawford,

He returned in November at a catch-weight of 155-pounds, and knocked out former multi-division champion Anthony Mundine in one round.

The Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Martin Pakula said the fight could benefit other businesses - "Sporting events like this are more than just great spectacles, they're a big driver of the regional economy and offer great opportunities for local businesses."

For his part, Zerafa made a very good account of himself in losing a twelve round decision to former world champion Kell Brook in December. Zerafa was not expected to last the distance, but he made it to the final bell and even managed make things tough and rock Brook along the way.

He came back in April and blasted out veteran Les Sherrington in the second round.

Been waiting for this one!
I'm backing Zerafa to edge out Horn in what I hope will be a very competitive matchup.
Both guys are tough and I expect it to be a long gruelling battle of attrition.
Bring it on

KiwiRider wrote: ↑21 Jun 2019, 05:19 Been waiting for this one!
I'm backing Zerafa to edge out Horn in what I hope will be a very competitive matchup.
Both guys are tough and I expect it to be a long gruelling battle of attrition.
Bring it on

Agreed. Zerafa should beat Horn.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑21 Jun 2019, 05:19 Been waiting for this one!
I'm backing Zerafa to edge out Horn in what I hope will be a very competitive matchup.
Both guys are tough and I expect it to be a long gruelling battle of attrition.
Bring it on

Was this fight always being discussed?

Probably takes place at 154. Wonder is Horn can make the weight. His last bout was over 160 pounds.

Isn't Zerafa the guy who was almost literally killed by Quillin?

I never feel comfortable about fighters who continue their careers after leaving the ring on a stretcher.

I think Horn beats him decisively.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑21 Jun 2019, 19:46 Was this fight always being discussed?

Probably takes place at 154. Wonder is Horn can make the weight. His last bout was over 160 pounds.

Zerafa has been asking for it for a while now, it took some time for Horn to lower his expectations enough to take the fight.

Might be a reasonable fight ,, But what it makes me think about , is all the bullshit terrible mismatches , with rugby playing profesional athlets , being put in , to fight fat guys dragged in of the street for a couple hundred bucks and a cartion of piss . All the complete mismatches , when a Aussie ameteur champ with 100 or so ameteure fights , turns pro , and fights guys with 2 or 3 fights full stop , when i think of guys who are coaxed out of retirement to fight and get beat up by the hometown hero ,

Then i know why i won't go , Its always the same old same old ,

SenorPipino wrote: ↑21 Jun 2019, 20:02 Isn't Zerafa the guy who was almost literally killed by Quillin?

I never feel comfortable about fighters who continue their careers after leaving the ring on a stretcher.

He didn't do too bad against Brook.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Jun 2019, 04:10 He didn't do too bad against Brook.

No but I don't know if that means Zerafa is fine or demonstrates Brook's deterioration.

But still, I don't like seeing fighters who need to be transported from the ring after a KO defeat, return to boxing.

Jeff Horn's next fight has been confirmed with the former world welterweight champion set to face compatriot Michael Zerafa in Bendigo on August 31st.

The Queenslander is now looking to rebuild his career and has opted to take on Zerafa (26-3, 15 KOs) at middleweight in what will be his first fight in Victoria since 2013.

Zerafa, 27, is a former Victorian super middleweight champion and heads into the fight having scored an early knockout win over Les Sherrington at the Melbourne Pavilion back in April.

The bout will take place at the new Bendigo Stadium which features retractable seating, allowing up to 4,000 spectators to attend the event.

Victoria's Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula, says securing the fight is a landmark moment for Bendigo and regional Victoria.

"Victoria is unmatched as the sporting and event capital and we're excited to be able to bring such a high class fight to the brand new Bendigo Stadium," he said. "Sporting events like this are more than just great spectacles, they're a big driver of the regional economy and offer great opportunities for local businesses."

The fight will be Horn's first since December, when he floored Australian veteran Anthony Mundine inside the first two minutes at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.

Earlier this year Horn's camp had confirmed a fight with Japanese middleweight Ryota Murata, but the Australian withdraw as his wife Jo was close to giving birth to their second child. While hopeful of settling on a new date with Murata, it never eventuated.

Horn then told ESPN he would relish the opportunity to fight Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez and prove to everyone he is no one-fight-wonder.

Next weekend.

Apprently, it's looking likely Horn will challenge Murata after this.

This fight is $59.95 in Australia..

Does anyone actually pay that much??

https://www.mainevent.com.au/boxing/hor ... n-v-zerafa

This card began at 10am London time, 7pm AUST time.

Results so far..

Rianne Ware def. Lorrinda Webb — via unanimous decision

Bo Belbin def. Damien Lock — via 2nd round TKO

Shannon O’Connell def. Bianca Elmir — via split decision

Remaining bouts

Jeff Horn v Michael Zerafa — WBA Oceania middleweight title

Brock Jarvis v Ernesto Saulong — super bantamweight

Isaac Hardman v Mitchell Whitelaw — light heavyweight

Joseph Goodall v Christian Tsoye — heavyweight

Andrew Hunt v Ankush Hooda — super welterweight

Andrew Hunt v. Ankush Hooda — draw

Joseph Goodall v Christian Tsoye — draw

Isaac Hardman def. Mitchell Whitelaw — majority decision

Sounds like they made a well matched card. Split, draw draw, MD. Love when boxing isn't just one way traffic.

Brock Jarvis def. Ernesto Saulong — via unanimous decision

Horn got stopped round 9. Seems to be a curse for him.

I don’t see him be able to capture a world title or compete with the top 10. Seems he’s time on the big stage is over.