Michael Zerafa and Nikita Tszyu will square off in a domestic blockbuster after two of Australian boxing’s biggest names finally reached an agreement to settle a years-long family feud in the ring.
Tensions between Team Tszyu and Zerafa have been simmering ever since Zerafa pulled out of a scheduled showdown with Nikita’s world championship-winning brother Tim during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
The Melbourne-based Zerafa cited concerns about travelling interstate to Newcastle for the slated fight, but the Tszyu camp never accepted their arch-rival’s excuse.
While fans have been craving a Tim Tszyu-Zerafa grudge match, they will get the next best thing in January – most likely on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
A location has yet to be confirmed for the January 16 or 17 bout, but Sydney and Melbourne are unlikely options, with both parties preferring to slug it out in neutral territory.
A Zerafa versus Nikita Tszyu stoush has been earmarked ever since both boxers delivered devastating first-round wins on the same card in Sydney in August.
Tszyu (11-0, 9KO) made a winning return after a year out following hand surgery with a TKO of the previously undefeated Macedonian Lulzim Ismaili, after Zerafa (34-5, 22KO) destroyed American Mikey Dahlman also inside two minutes to claim the WBO intercontinental middleweight strap.
The pair had been preparing to fight in December before Tszyu was injured in a car accident this month in Sydney.
Doctors advised the 27-year-old to delay fighting again after he was T-boned and suffered whiplash.
Middleweight Zerafa, who is from Craigieburn, will fight super welterweight Tszyu at a catchweight as Tszyu defends his family’s incredible unbeaten 52-0 home record.
Like Nikita, Tim (23-0) and the brothers’ legendary father Kostya (18-0) have never lost in Australia.
