Tszyu vs Zerafa: Michael Zerafa pulls out of blockbuster bout

Brendan Bradford

Tszyu vs Zerafa: Michael Zerafa pulls out of blockbuster bout image

Michael Zerafa has officially pulled out of his scheduled July 7 fight with Tim Tszyu. 

A replacement is currently being sought.

Zerafa's camp claims there are too many risks involved in travelling to Newcastle from Melbourne for the fight, although rumours have been swirling about a bad sparring session. 

Zerafa's manager Sam Labruna denied those claims, telling Sporting News Zerafa is one kilogram off weight and ready to fight. 

Labruna says he "hasn't received a COVID-safe plan" from No Limit, despite New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro saying the bout is safe to go ahead. 

Earlier this week, Labruna said there was too many unknowns around travel between Victoria and New South Wales, despite Newcastle not being a hot spot and being outside the Greater Sydney lockdowns. 

"I will be speaking to the Victorian government tomorrow as to the advice on the current COVID situation in reference to the Zerafa v Tszyu fight," Labruna wrote. 

"The 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, it's unfortunate but it's out of our hands." 

No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose said he'd done everything he could to keep the fight together, and expected more from Zerafa's camp. 

"We've got Australian boxers who aren't getting the attention Michael Zerafa's getting who are going into lockdown to fight for world titles overseas and putting in the hard yards and putting themselves in uncomfortable situations to be able to excel in their given sport," Rose said. 

"For us, it's very surprising that Michael would be so unprofessional to be eight days out from a fight and threatening to pull out of such a big fight. 

"It's the biggest boxing card in Australia this year. It's a very big surprise to us."

No Limit have staged four pay-per-view events since COVID hit, including Tszyu's fights in Townsville, Sydney and Newcastle and Paul Gallen's clash with Lucas Browne in Wollongong. 

"A fighter's health and safety is right at the top of our priorities - that's really important to us," Rose said. 

"We've spoken to the Victorian COVID response team, to New South Wales health and we're speaking to the guys at the top who make those decisions, who ensure us we're doing the right things to put on a COVID-safe and healthy event. 

"We've done everything we can to make sure we'll have a COVID-safe event, and there's no reason left for them to not participate in it. 

"They've got approval to travel to Newcastle, to participate in the fight and travel back home safely." 

 

 

Brendan Bradford