Latest news with #Zerafa
Courier-Mail
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Nikita Tszyu fight: Fight week rocked by legal threats after mysterious press conference absence
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News. Michael Zerafa was mysteriously absent at Monday's press conference ahead of this Wednesday's pay-per-view card at the ICC Exhibition Centre in Sydney. Zerafa is due to fight American Mikey Dahlman in the co-main event of Nikita Tszyu's boxing return against Lulzim Ismaili, but wasn't present at the standard fight week presser at Moore Park on Monday afternoon. 'I have been informed that he won't be here, but I have been informed he'll be at the weigh in tomorrow,' said No Limit CEO George Rose. 'I was just informed not long ago before coming on air, but he will be coming to the weigh-ins tomorrow.' Zerafa later issued an incendiary statement claiming he had been told not to attend the press conference, and even threatened legal action. 'They went ahead and falsely told national TV and streaming audiences that I 'no showed',' Zerafa wrote on Instagram. 'That is not just dishonest it's defamation. Zerafa mysteriously didn't attend Monday's press conference. Picture: No Limit Boxing 'You cannot remove someone, then publicly shame them for not being there. 'That's a direct attack on my integrity, my professionalism, and my name. 'And that has real consequences. 'This attempt to damage my reputation is serious and it won't be ignored. 'Our legal team has now been contacted. Enough is enough.' Four years ago, Zerafa was scheduled to face Tim Tszyu on a No Limit card in Newcastle, but pulled out due to concerns around travelling interstate during Covid. Queensland's Stevie Spark was a late-notice call up then, but Rose said there were no concerns about ahead of Wednesday night. 'No, let's keep the ball rolling,' Rose dead-batted when asked if he had any worries about the co-main event. 'Mikey (Dahlman), he's got a really good energy, he's happy to be out here. 'I think he's a guy who can upset the plan too. The fight is happening.' Dahlman had a horror trip from his home in Illinois to Sydney, including 36 hours' worth of flight delays. He was eventually forced to rebook his own flights via Dubai to Australia, arriving late last week. 'It was unexpected, because I know Zerafa is a bad boy and a villain,' Dahlman said. 'We all lead different lives, and if he's got something going on, he's gotta answer those questions, not me. 'I've got a job to do. I'm not changing my game-plan just because he's not at a press conference.' Mikey Dahlman promises to cause a boilover against Zerafa. Picture: No Limit Boxing The laidback Dahlman, who arrived in Sydney with his fiancée, said he feels like a hometown fighter in Sydney. 'I was definitely expecting a much bigger hate crowd,' he laughed. 'I got much more support for sure, I love it. 'I'm here to win, I've got business to do and I think I can beat him.' If they both win on Wednesday, No Limit is expected to push for a domestic blockbuster between Nikita and Zerafa in December. Zerafa insists he isn't interested in a fight with the younger Tszyu brother though, and only has eyes on Tim. The impasse has apparently resulted in a breakdown between Zerafa and No Limit, contributing to 'The Pretty Boy's' press conference absence. No Limit and the Tszyu camp have been adamant for months that Zerafa must fight Nikita before any bout with Tim is possible. Nikita Tszyu is just focused on Lulzim Ismaili. Picture: No Limit Boxing 'The rivalry is between me and Tim, that's the one they should be going with,' Zerafa told Code Sports. 'I've got no beef with Nikita. 'They're making it out like I need them. I'm an opportunity for Tim to bounce back and for Nikita to make a name for himself. 'Realistically they need me, I don't need them.' Tim and Nikita Tszyu's manager, Glen Jennings immediately hosed down any thought of a fight between Zerafa and 'The Soul Taker'. 'He can be as adamant as he wants about fighting Tim, but you don't get everything you want in life,' Jennings told Code Sports. 'He also wants a $100,000 Bentley. 'Dream on. 'Tim Tszyu decides on who fights Tim Tszyu. 'Since Newcastle, Tim has stuck by his stance that he won't fight Michael Zerafa, and I stand by that. Brock Jarvis says he'll fight Nikita if Zerafa doesn't. Picture: No Limit Boxing 'Right now, there is an option that we'll consider, and that's Nikita. If he decides not to fight him, that's Michael dodging Nikita. 'Make no mistake about that. 'But if Michael wins on Wednesday night, we'll consider him fighting Nikita.' If Zerafa refuses to fight Nikita, and the impasse remains, Sydney boxer Brock Jarvis says he will gladly step in to face 'The Butcher'. 'I'll step in and fight Nikita, of course. I'm a fighter and I'm here to take on everything that's thrown my way,' Jarvis said. Originally published as Fight week rocked by legal threats after mysterious press conference absence
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Fight week rocked by legal threats after mysterious press conference absence
Michael Zerafa was mysteriously absent at Monday's press conference ahead of this Wednesday's pay-per-view card at the ICC Exhibition Centre in Sydney. Zerafa is due to fight American Mikey Dahlman in the co-main event of Nikita Tszyu's boxing return against Lulzim Ismaili, but wasn't present at the standard fight week presser at Moore Park on Monday afternoon. 'I have been informed that he won't be here, but I have been informed he'll be at the weigh in tomorrow,' said No Limit CEO George Rose. 'I was just informed not long ago before coming on air, but he will be coming to the weigh-ins tomorrow.' Zerafa later issued an incendiary statement claiming he had been told not to attend the press conference, and even threatened legal action. 'They went ahead and falsely told national TV and streaming audiences that I 'no showed',' Zerafa wrote on Instagram. 'That is not just dishonest it's defamation. 'You cannot remove someone, then publicly shame them for not being there. 'That's a direct attack on my integrity, my professionalism, and my name. 'And that has real consequences. 'This attempt to damage my reputation is serious and it won't be ignored. 'Our legal team has now been contacted. Enough is enough.' Four years ago, Zerafa was scheduled to face Tim Tszyu on a No Limit card in Newcastle, but pulled out due to concerns around travelling interstate during Covid. Queensland's Stevie Spark was a late-notice call up then, but Rose said there were no concerns about ahead of Wednesday night. 'No, let's keep the ball rolling,' Rose dead-batted when asked if he had any worries about the co-main event. 'Mikey (Dahlman), he's got a really good energy, he's happy to be out here. 'I think he's a guy who can upset the plan too. The fight is happening.' Dahlman had a horror trip from his home in Illinois to Sydney, including 36 hours' worth of flight delays. He was eventually forced to rebook his own flights via Dubai to Australia, arriving late last week. 'It was unexpected, because I know Zerafa is a bad boy and a villain,' Dahlman said. 'We all lead different lives, and if he's got something going on, he's gotta answer those questions, not me. 'I've got a job to do. I'm not changing my game-plan just because he's not at a press conference.' The laidback Dahlman, who arrived in Sydney with his fiancée, said he feels like a hometown fighter in Sydney. 'I was definitely expecting a much bigger hate crowd,' he laughed. 'I got much more support for sure, I love it. 'I'm here to win, I've got business to do and I think I can beat him.' If they both win on Wednesday, No Limit is expected to push for a domestic blockbuster between Nikita and Zerafa in December. Zerafa insists he isn't interested in a fight with the younger Tszyu brother though, and only has eyes on Tim. The impasse has apparently resulted in a breakdown between Zerafa and No Limit, contributing to 'The Pretty Boy's' press conference absence. No Limit and the Tszyu camp have been adamant for months that Zerafa must fight Nikita before any bout with Tim is possible. 'The rivalry is between me and Tim, that's the one they should be going with,' Zerafa told Code Sports. 'I've got no beef with Nikita. 'They're making it out like I need them. I'm an opportunity for Tim to bounce back and for Nikita to make a name for himself. 'Realistically they need me, I don't need them.' Tim and Nikita Tszyu's manager, Glen Jennings immediately hosed down any thought of a fight between Zerafa and 'The Soul Taker'. 'He can be as adamant as he wants about fighting Tim, but you don't get everything you want in life,' Jennings told Code Sports. 'He also wants a $100,000 Bentley. 'Dream on. 'Tim Tszyu decides on who fights Tim Tszyu. 'Since Newcastle, Tim has stuck by his stance that he won't fight Michael Zerafa, and I stand by that. 'Right now, there is an option that we'll consider, and that's Nikita. If he decides not to fight him, that's Michael dodging Nikita. 'Make no mistake about that. 'But if Michael wins on Wednesday night, we'll consider him fighting Nikita.' If Zerafa refuses to fight Nikita, and the impasse remains, Sydney boxer Brock Jarvis says he will gladly step in to face 'The Butcher'. 'I'll step in and fight Nikita, of course. I'm a fighter and I'm here to take on everything that's thrown my way,' Jarvis said.
Perth Now
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Unprofessional': Zerafa lashed for latest no-show
Michael Zerafa has been slammed for another notorious no-show after failing to front up for the official pre-fight press conference for this week's bumper Nikita Tszyu card in Sydney. 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."
Herald Sun
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
'Payback's coming': Nikita Tszyu ignites Zerafa boxing rivalry
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News. Nikita Tszyu has reignited the ugly feud between his family and Michael Zerafa, promising to retire the Melbourne boxer when they finally meet face-to-face in a domestic blockbuster. Not normally one for trash talk, Nikita is understood to have grown increasingly sick of seeing Zerafa mention his family's name in the media and is taking a stand. Zerafa has had a long-running rivalry with Tim Tszyu, dating back to their cancelled 2021 showdown in Newcastle, but Nikita has been dragged into the drama over the last two years. Just over a week out from his long-awaited comeback against Lulzim Ismaili in Sydney on August 20, Nikita has taken aim at Zerafa once more, calling him fake and using the Tszyu name to stay relevant. Zerafa fights American Mikey Dahlman on the Tszyu-Ismaili undercard, and as recently as last week claimed that Nikita would beat his older brother in a fight. It has been less than a month since Tim's knockout loss to Sebastian Fundora, which was his third defeat in four fights. Tszyu is sick of Zerafa. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous If they both win next week, Tszyu and Zerafa could meet later in the year, while Sydney's Brock Jarvis is also in the mix for a fight with one of them. Zerafa sent Tim a classy message in the hours after 'The Soul Taker's loss to Fundora in July, but Nikita says it's an act, and hit out at Zerafa pulling out of his 2021 bout against Tim. 'Zerafa is a chameleon. Changes his colours whenever it suits his need for recognition,' he said. 'Right now, it's 'nice guy', but deep down, he's still the bloke who talked big then ran from Tim. 'He'll carry that forever. The only cure for that is for me to retire him.' Zerafa is adamant he wants to fight Tim rather than Nikita, but 'The Butcher' believes he just uses any opportunity to say their name to keep himself in the headlines. 'I can't wait for the day he's silenced,' he said. 'No more bullshit, no more stories, no more mentions of Tszyu. Zerafa stopped the experienced Besir Ay in March. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous 'To be honest… no more Zerafa. That's a day I'm planning for. 'You can't hide from your history. You can try and convince the world it never happened – but I'll make sure it catches up with you. 'Payback's coming. 'He's had plenty to say about my family just to stay relevant in boxing. 'Without the Tszyu name, Zerafa doesn't exist. His day is coming, and retribution is near.' Zerafa lost a middleweight world title fight against Erislandy Lara on the same card as Tim's first loss to Fundora in 2024. He returned with a bizarre win over Tommy Browne, before stopping Besir Ay in Sydney in March. 'Nikita's doing his thing, and he's gotta earn his stripes a little bit,' he told Code Sports. 'He's doing great things, but to say that I'll be fighting him is a bit of a kick in the teeth. 'He's doing his thing, I'm doing my thing, and my goal is to be a world champion. The fight that never happened. Picture:'The fight with Tim, that's always something in the cupboard for a rainy day – it's a big money fight – but I'm not gonna keep pushing and pushing for it. 'If it happens, it happens.' In response, Nikita labelled Zerafa 'delusional' for thinking he could still land a fight with Tim. 'I kind of feel sorry for him sometimes,' Tszyu told Code Sports. 'He's just seeking approval and attention. 'I feel sorry for him for that mindset he has and how he feels like he's been wronged. 'But then I look at his face and I'm like, 'Nah, screw that guy, I don't feel sorry for him'. 'The fact that he thinks that he's ever fighting Tim again is hilarious. That's not a chance. 'Not a bloody chance. 'He's just completely delusional. He thinks he knows everything.' Originally published as 'Retribution is near': Nikita Tszyu launches wild attack at Michael Zerafa
