'Unprofessional': Zerafa lashed for latest no-show
Zerafa's WBO intercontinental middleweight stoush with American Mikey Dahlman is the co-main event alongside Tszyu's much-anticipated return to boxing following a year-long injury disruption.
Should Zerafa win and the undefeated Tszyu take care of Macedonian Lulzim Ismaili, the two Australians could square off in one of the biggest domestic grudge matches in years.
Zerafa infamously pulled out of a scheduled blockbuster with Nikita's former world championship-winning brother Tim in Newcastle in 2021.
The bad blood between the Tszyus and the much-maligned Melbourne motormouth still lingers four years on.
Zerafa further provoked Nikita last week when he compared the 27-year-old to American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, aka the "Milwaukee Monster".
Zerafa also refused to do interviews in the rain last week to promote Wednesday night's card, while Nikita happily obliged.
Monday's unexplained no-show not only upset Team Tszyu but also drew scathing criticism from fellow Australian Brock Jarvis, who features on the undercard for the nine-bout show at the ICC Exhibition Centre.
"I don't know what that's all about. We're all here promoting the show and Michael Zerafa decides not to show up," Jarvis fumed.
"That shows the kind of man that he is.
"And he's run before from fights. He's doing things like this, I find it unprofessional."
With 16 knockouts from his 19 professional fights, and just one defeat, Dahlman wasn't fazed about Zerafa not appearing, but is vowing to crush the 33-year-old's big plan to fight Nikita, or maybe even, Tim Tszyu.
"I don't care," Dahlman said.
"I got a job to do. I think I can win. I think I'm going to.
"God willing, I will."
Despite concerns, given Zerafa's history, of another late scratching, No Limit Boxing boss George Rose insists the co-headliner will proceed.
"I have just been informed that he won't be here, but have been assured that he will be at the weigh-in tomorrow," Rose said.
Nikita wasn't interested in Zerafa's latest antics and said he'd never been more motivated ahead of his 11th pro bout but first since becoming a father in late June.
"I'm willing to do anything for my daughter," Tszyu said.
"She means everything to me, and the thought that there's another person trying to take away food from her mouth, that's a huge drive.
"(There are) dark things that I want to do to people at the thought of them taking anything away from my daughter."
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