Tim Tszyu vs Michael Zerafa: Rival’s ruthless Kostya sledge

Michael Zerafa says Tim Tszyu can’t run forever and will have to face him in the ring sooner or later. The war of words has already begun.

Michael Zerafa has labelled Tim Tszyu “a dreamer” who is running from him and not on the same level as the world’s best super-welterweights.

After Tszyu knocked out Bowyn Morgan inside two minutes at Bankwest Stadium on Wednesday night, setting up talks for a potential world title fight against Argentina’s Brian Castano next year, Zerafa confronted Tszyu and accused him of dodging him.

Zerafa, who will fight Anthony Mundine next March, since told The Daily Telegraph that Tszyu is only in the world title picture because he is the son of Kostya Tszyu.

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“It’s just annoying, he’s got that last name, so it always works an advantage,” Zerafa said.

“He’s done his own thing. Now it’s Tim Tszyu, whatever, that last name has got him to where he’s got.

“Even when they announce him, they always say, ‘the son of the legend’. He’s lucky he’s got that, but there’s levels to this sport.

“And he’s talking about fighting [IBF world champion] Jermell Charlo, this and that, he’s dreaming, he must be on some special stuff.

Michael Zerafa (top left) taunts Tim Tszyu after his first round KO.

“He came out with a four-fight plan and I was on the list, and now all of a sudden he doesn’t want to know about fighting me.

“He can’t run for too long.

“He’ll either lose or I’ll end up gaining something that he wants, and then he’ll come chasing me.”

Tszyu’s camp had made an offer to Zerafa to fight Tszyu before they signed Morgan. Zerafa’s manager Sam Labruna considered the financial offer so insulting he hung up the phone.

Zerafa said he will earn far more fighting Mundine on March 13 in Bendigo, a fight that will be officially announced on Friday.

Tim Tszyu has been vocal about stepping out of his father Kostya’s shadow. Picture: David Swift.

However, the 28-year-old Victorian has one eye on Tszyu and does not believe the unbeaten superstar can beat home.

“Everyone’s talking about he knocked out Horn, I knocked out Horn too, twice, I got robbed in the second fight,” said Zerafa (27-4, 16KO).

“Everyone clearly saw I beat him twice, I knocked him out in the first one and then a controversial loss in the second.

“I’ve also been overseas, done 12 rounds with Kell Brook, I fought world champion, Peter Quillin, Arif Magomedov, the Russian.

“He hasn’t done these things.

“He’s a classy fighter, a patient fighter, but he’s not me.

“I’m on another level. These guys in front of him aren’t me. When you’ve got guys whose boxing IQs aren’t that high, he’s going to look a million dollars. I am a different level.”

Tszyu brushed off Zerafa’s comments, saying he has a world title to focus on.

Zerafa will be a heavy favourite against 45-year-old Mundine.

“I believe I can knock him out,” Zerafa said.

“He’s motivated, who am I to say that he’s well and truly past his best?

“I’m defending my belt. And every fight mean something, it’s a stepping stone in the rankings. I’m just patiently waiting.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu vs Michael Zerafa: Rival’s ruthless Kostya sledge