BRISBANE, Australia — Both Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa promised a 10-round war on Friday evening in their long-awaited, highly publicized grudge fight. It ended after just six minutes and three seconds as a no contest, leaving the stunned capacity crowd at Brisbane Entertainment Centre raining boos and throwing cans of beer toward the ring, before departing the venue in disgust.
A fight that had been brewing for years and one that was laced in intrigue appeared as though it was finally set to live up to the billing with Tszyu and Zerafa engaging in a gripping early exchange, neither fighter taking a backwards step in the opening minutes. But a tie-up and accidental head clash in the second round opened a nasty cut above Zerafa’s left eye, one that would ultimately draw a premature curtain on the bout.
At the top of the third frame, Zerafa (33-5, 21 KOs) retreated to his corner for medical attention, claiming “it’s blurry, I can’t see. I can’t see.” Seconds later, the fight was waved off by referee Chris Condon on doctor’s advice. The ultimate controversy. The ultimate anticlimax.
“I don’t know why everyone is booing me. I didn’t stop it, the doctor stopped it,” said Zerafa. “I said it was blurry, but it’s all good, let’s go.”
Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa’s fight ended in a no contest. Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Boxing rules state that if a fighter’s vision is in any way compromised or impaired, it is the duty of the referee, on advice from the ringside doctor, to call the bout off.
Before exiting the ring, Zerafa declared he would be more than willing to share the ring with Tszyu again. However, a disappointed Tszyu (11-0, 9 KOs), who questioned Zerafa’s need to call for the ringside doctor, appeared disinterested in the prospect of a sequel with his long-time rival when pressed by media later in the evening.
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“I didn’t think it was that bad,” said Tszyu of Zerafa’s eye injury. “It’s a shame, but what can you do. At least I got two rounds out of it.
“I think that he underestimated me. He doesn’t have the heart. He’s just checked out. Once that little bit of pain comes in, he’s looking for the exit straight away. Maybe Tszyu-Zerafa … it’s always going to be a question mark. It’s cursed.”
Friday evening’s no contest continued the bad blood between Zerafa and the Tszyu family, which dates to 2021. Zerafa and Nikita’s world championship-winning brother, Tim, were slated to fight in Newcastle five years ago, but the Melburnian withdrew amidst the COVID-19 restrictions. Since then, both sides have been openly critical of the other, resulting in an ongoing public feud.
Speaking to Main Event in the aftermath of Friday evening’s farcical scenes, Tim labelled Zerafa’s actions of seeking medical assistance “cowardly” and the former world champion believes he folded the moment adversity struck.
Michael Zerafa and Nikita Tszyu in action during their middleweight bout. Chris Hyde/Getty Images
“Instead of rising to the occasion, he just went ‘I can’t see’ … it’s bizarre,” said Nikita’s brother, Tim. “He pulled out one week before my fight … they fed him my little brother and then what happened? I don’t believe Zerafa deserves the chance to fight Nikita again.”
No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose refused to draw a red line through Tszyu-Zerafa part two, but admitted the no contest was a disastrous result for both his promotion and his star pupil, particularly after such an engrossing lead in to the fight.
“I was pissed off. I was biting my tongue at the end of the fight,” said Rose. “I love this s—. I love that we get to put on these fights for Australia. We invest a lot of time, we invest a lot of money, we invest a lot of effort into what we do. Every time we do it, it’s a risk. It’s too early for me to answer how we progress forward in the Tszyu-Zerafa space.”
Earlier in the night, former Melbourne Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona made a successful start to his professional boxing career, stopping fellow NRL convert Jeremy Latimore in their much-publicized heavyweight bout. Asofa-Solomona delivered a brutal right-hand uppercut to Latimore’s chin midway through the opening round, sending the rugby league journeyman crashing to the canvas as ‘Big Nasty’ celebrated with a jaw-slitting motion.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona knocks out Jeremy Latimore. Chris Hyde/Getty Images
“I want to clean up the entire NRL division,” said Asofa-Solomona, moments after his vicious knockout on debut. “And then we can go from there.”
The Queensland locals enjoyed a fruitful card. Heavyweight veteran Demsey McKean battered Victorian Toese Vousiutu in the co-main event to earn a seventh-round stoppage, while Liam Wilson extended his unbeaten run to five fights after overcoming a sluggish start to knock out Filipino Rodex Piala in the fourth round of their super featherweight clash.
Other winners on Friday evening included Stevan Ivic, who retained his Australian heavyweight title with a razor thin majority decision over challenger Liam Talivaa, and Sydneysider Blake Wells, who scored a unanimous points win over China’s Ainiwaer Yilixiati to capture the vacant IBP Pan Pacific belt.
Here’s how fight night at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre unfolded:
