Boxing news 2023: Michael Zerafa opens up on Dwight Ritchie death, rivalry with Tim Tszyu
Michael Zerafa has opened up on the harrowing moment a regulation punch led to the death of his friend and sparring partner.
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Michael Zerafa has opened up about the death of his good mate Dwight Ritchie, his world-title dream and his burning desire to bash Tim Tszyu to become the undisputed king of Australian boxing.
While Tszyu will take on Tony Harrison for an interim world title on March 12, Zerafa’s own shot at glory is coming, with the Melbourne mauler to fight Brazil’s Esquiva Falcao for the vacant IBF middleweight strap by July.
Beating Falcao (30-0, 20KO) would represent the ultimate comeback story for Zerafa (31-4, 19KO), who hit rock bottom following the death of Ritchie - and the tragic loss of another friend, Richmond star Shane Tuck - just seven months apart three years ago.
“If and when I win a world title, this is going to be the biggest bounce backstory in Australian boxing,” Zerafa said.
TWIN TRAGEDY
AS negotiations commence for Zerafa to host his world-title blockbuster in Australia, most likely in his hometown Melbourne, ‘Pretty Boy’ reflects on his near soul-destroying climb off the canvas.
Zerafa still thinks about the shock death of Ritchie. It was November 2019, just a month out from his second showdown with Jeff Horn.
Ritchie was a sparring partner as Zerafa prepared for Horn. They gathered for a routine session in a Melbourne gym. In the sixth round of sparring, Zerafa landed a regulation punch to Ritchie’s left side. He staggered back, clutched at his heart and collapsed in the corner. Paramedics could not revive the 27-year-old father of three.
To compound Zerafa’s pain, another friend, 173-game Richmond star Tuck, took his life at age 38 seven months later. Tuck was later found to be suffering from the brain-trauma disease CTE.
“I blamed myself for a long time,” Zerafa says of Ritchie’s passing.
“Physically, emotionally, mentally ... I beat myself up.
“I felt like I had taken a man away from his family. I had to deal with all the fallout of Dwight’s death and then I lost to Jeff Horn. Then one of my good mates Shane Tuck took his life.
“I went through hell during that time.
“Dealing with the death of Dwight was the worst thing ever. I hope no one ever has to go through what I did that day. I still think about it now and then, but I have to accept it.
“I just remember punching him, it was nothing special, and then Dwight started to fall back, holding his chest. It happened so quick. We couldn’t bring him back.
“It was devastating. We fought each other in the amateurs and we sparred each other more than 1000 rounds and he was a gentleman.
“I remember he came into the gym and he just seemed a bit off. He walked in a bit quiet, said quick hi and got his gear on. We got a few rounds in and then that was it, he was gone.
“No-one really understands some of the dark nights I had.”
THE VILLAIN
ZERAFA is positioned as the most hated man in Australian boxing. He admits part of that is of his own creation. The trash talk. The brash statements. The cocky exterior that goes against the grain of the humble Australian psyche.
But the kid from Craigieburn, the son of a Maltese father and Australia-born mother who worked as a nurse, wants critics to see the real Michael Zerafa.
“I think I am misunderstood by the Australian people,” he said.
“I know I can’t change everyone’s mind, there’s always haters, but I would love people to see the other side of me.
“Some people in the boxing media wanted me to play up to being the villain and I thought all right, but it probably got out of control and now I have to roll with it.
“Outside the ring, I do a lot for people in the general community. I think it’s important to give back. I am always raising money for those in need.
Tim Tszyu stops into Broncos training and unloads on his bitter foe Michael Zerafa, slamming him as “delusional†as he outlined his plan to bring a world-title fight to Queensland.https://t.co/mNTcEIIzz1pic.twitter.com/VGIXK2kGTj
— Pete Badel (@badel_cmail) February 22, 2023
“I do work for the Salvation Army. I give food to the homeless. Just the other day, I raised money for people in the Turkish earthquake. I did PT sessions and all money I got from that was donated overseas.
“I work with the elderly. I do talks at schools. I have worked with kids with disabilities. I don’t get paid for any of this. I do it because I want to help people.
“The kids I work with, they can’t do things on their own and it’s great to spend the day with them. I do pad work with them, take them to the park and just teach them little boxing skills and drills to strengthen their bodies and immune systems.
“That’s the real me. I always say if I could change the world I would, but I’m only one human.
“The public should be getting behind their great Australian boxers. And I’m a proud Aussie fighter.”
THE TRILOGY
LAST year, Queensland boxing legend Jeff Horn was approached to make a comeback for a trilogy fight with Zerafa.
Horn, who hasn’t fought since losing to Tszyu in August 2020, hasn’t officially announced his retirement, saying he is open to another big-money bout, and Zerafa would relish a third blockbuster.
Zerafa belted Horn in Bendigo in August 2019, only for ‘The Hornet’ to get revenge, stunning Pretty Boy in the bloody battle of Brisbane four months later.
“I would love to fight Jeff again,” Zerafa said.
“If it makes dollars, it makes sense.
“Credit to Jeff, he is a great gentleman and a family man outside the ring, but in the ring we have unfinished business.
“It would be great to do a trilogy fight because we are 1-all and it’s time to settle the score once and for all.
“That loss to Jeff will always burn. The ref should have stopped that fight (when Horn was badly cut in the ninth round) and I believe I won that fight. but the fight was stopped to give him a rest with his cut.
“As he threw that Hail Mary punch, I saw it at the last second and I thought, ‘Ah f***, I’m gone’.
“It was a brilliant fight, so a trilogy would be the perfect ending.”
TIM TSZYU
ZERAFA bristles at suggestions he pulled out of his super fight with Tszyu 18 months ago because he was running scared.
“It’s time to end the bullshit, it’s the fight that has to happen,” he said.
“It’s the fight Australian wants - it would be bigger than (Anthony) Mundine versus (Danny) Green if there are world titles on the line.
“To say I’m scared of Tim is a load of garbage. I got the shit end of that stick. I’ve fought eight world champions. I fought for a world title at 22 years old. I fought Peter Quillin for a world title when he had 32 wins with 30 knockouts. I fought Kel Brook. I fought Jeff Horn twice. I have cleaned out my backyard while Tim was in the amateurs.
“Tszyu reckons he could go to heavyweight and win. Seriously, the bloke is delusional.
“Eight per cent of people reckon Tim would beat me. But there is not one doubt in my mind I would beat him. He wouldn’t want to stand and trade with me. I am the bigger man. I am more experienced. I hit harder. I am the aggressor. He doesn’t have a great defence.
“Stop talking Tim and when the time is right, let’s fight and settle this.”
“Tony Harrison will be too much for Tim.. Tszyu doesn’t have a tight defence†Michael Zerafa reacts to Tszyu v Harrison and discusses Creati fight #boxing#ozboxingpic.twitter.com/iFSYQB6yZd
— Boxing BLVD (@boxingblvd) February 15, 2023
THE DREAM
SINCE the age of seven, Zerafa dreamt of winning a boxing world title. Now the summit is tantalisingly close. After 35 professional fights, the 30-year-old believes he now has the experience and self-belief to dispose of Falcao and fulfil his destiny.
“The issue I had before was that I didn’t believe in myself,” Zerafa says.
“I thought, ‘Nah man, I can’t be up there with the best. I would hear opponents’ names and say I’m not meant to be at this level. But now my belief is there. I say, ‘F***ing oath I belong and I’m coming here not just to take part, but to take over.
“I didn’t believe once upon a time I could win a world title. Now I believe it 100 per cent.
“I’ve had to overcome the death of Dwight Richie, the mental health I suffered, my loss to Jeff Horn, the haters over the Tim Tszyu drama ... I have overcome all that to be ranked No. 1 in the world and I’m fighting for a world title.
“It’s the complete story if I win ... and I will dedicate my world title to Dwight, to his family and to all Australians.”
ZERAFA’S TITLE SHOT: ‘I DON’T NEED TIM TSZYU TO BE WORLD CHAMP’
Australian boxing’s bad boy, Michael Zerafa, has secured a world-title fight.
As his bitter foe Tim Tszyu prepares for a world-title showdown with Tony Harrison in Sydney on March 12, Zerafa has clinched his own blockbuster fight in a potentially career-defining coup for the controversial Melburnian.
News Corp can reveal Zerafa has received a letter from International Boxing Federation authorities formally advising ‘Pretty Boy’ that he will fight Brazil’s Esquiva Falcao for the IBF middleweight world title.
After months of speculation, the IBF middleweight strap has been officially vacated by Kazakhstan king Gennadiy Golovkin - clearing the path for No. 1 ranked Falcao (30-0, 20KO) and No. 2 Zerafa (31-4, 19KO) to slug it out for the title.
The IBF letter added: “The winner will be the IBF middleweight champion. Negotiations should start immediately and be concluded by March 11, 2023.”
Zerafa was criticised for his sluggish display in his most recent fight in November, scoring an uninspiring unanimous points decision over Danilo Creati, but that has not stopped the IBF giving Australia’s boxing villain a glorious chance to conquer the world.
Zerafa confirmed his world-title shot against Falcao, which is slated to take place later this year.
“I can’t wait to bring the world title home,” said Zerafa, who is riding a four-fight winning streak.
“It’s been a crazy journey, I’ve had my criticism, but I won’t stop until I get that world title.
“It’s my time.”
Zerafa is also No. 1 with the WBA and in line for a second world-title shot with that organisation.
It caps a remarkable resurrection for Zerafa. His career was seemingly in tatters after he was crucified for sensationally withdrawing just a week out from his Australian super fight against Tszyu in July 2021.
But if one week is a long time in politics, one fight can be a game-changer in boxing.
While Tszyu patiently waits for his crack at Jermell Charlo after an injury to the American forced their unification bout to be postponed, Zerafa now has some serious bargaining power.
Zerafa recently told News Corp he hadn’t ruled out a long-awaited grudge match with Tszyu, especially if one, or both, can clinch world titles in the coming months.
“It’s funny how the wheel turns. Everything happens for a reason,” Zerafa said.
“Apparently I was too scared to fight Tim, but the proof is there now. I have a world-title shot. I hold a key to the kingdom.
“I would fight Tim Tszyu at middleweight, 100 per cent, but we have to talk dollars first and it’s not all his way.
“Last time, he wanted to do everything on his terms and made it completely impossible for me to go and fight him in Newcastle. No-one knows the truth of what really happened with our fight falling over.
“They made promises they couldn’t keep, so that’s why I refused to fight him.
“I am putting the past with Tim behind me. Moving forward, I wish Tim all the best, but the reality now is I have a world-title shot.
“The truth is I don’t need Tim Tszyu to be a world champion. I can do it on my terms and I’m on the path now.
“Once I win this world title, it’s all on my terms.”
Zerafa’s last world-title shot was in 2015, when, at age 23, he was carried out on a stretcher in his American debut after being pummelled by Peter Quillin.
It remains the only knockout of his 35-fight professional career.
Now, smarter and more seasoned at age 30, the Maltese mauler hopes to finish off Falcao in his backyard.
Falcao is signed to American boxing kingpin Bob Arum’s Top Rank stable. But with the Brazilian not a big name in the US market, Zerafa’s promoters are in the box seat to bring the IBF world-title battle to Australia.
“I would love to bring a world-title fight to my hometown (Melbourne) and Australia,” he said.
“I have had to go through a lot of criticism over the last 12 months (following the Tszyu drama) and there was a lot of pressure on me from what people were saying about me.
“I’m so glad that all the hard work has paid off.”
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