Tim Tszyu has vowed never to step into the ring with Michael Zerafa, although little brother Nikita appears on a collision course after a controversial fight night in Sydney.
Nikita Tszyu had to overcome incredible adversity to keep his undefeated record (10 wins, eight knockouts) intact with a TKO victory against fellow Australian Koen Mazoudier at the ICC Sydney Theatre.
On the co-main event, Zerafa recorded a TKO victory of his own against Tommy Browne. Browne injured his biceps in the opening round and couldn’t come out for the second, although there was an ugly postscript to the result.
Words were exchanged between the corners before Zerafa’s brother took a swing at Browne’s trainer, Tommy Mercuri. The result could be a long ban from the sport.
Nikita Tszyu had his own dramas against Mazoudier. After dominating the opening six rounds, Tszyu admitted he was in “deep waters” when the underdog swung the momentum his way.
Mazoudier dominated the seventh and eighth rounds before “The Butcher” rallied, unleashing a series of blows that prompted the referee to stop proceedings.
Nikita Tszyu had to dig deep for his TKO victory over Koen Mazoudier.Credit: No Limit Boxing
After registering his win, Zerefa taunted Tszyu, shouting: “Nikita, I’m coming! I want the Tszyu boys.”
Tszyu was more circumspect when asked about the prospect of a fight with Zerafa, saying he will leave the decision to his promoters and manager.
“It doesn’t bother me, I don’t care what happens,” Tszyu said.
“I’m not a businessman. These are the businessmen, they decide my future. I trust them with my life and soul and whatever they wanna do is what we do.”
When the fight happens remains to be seen. Tszyu picked up a hand injury against Mazoudier, one that may require surgery. Scans will determine the damage and whether the clash can go ahead this year or next.
There is bad blood between the Tszyu and Zerafa families; Michael was scheduled to fight Tim but didn’t show up, a pullout that enraged “The Soul Taker”. Tim has moved on and will next face undefeated IBF world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Nikita Tszyu lands the blow that ended the fight.Credit: No Limit Boxing
However, the family’s promoter, George Rose and manager Glen Jennings are keen on the prospect of a Nikita Tszyu-Zerafa showdown.
“Look, it’s a real chance of happening,” Jennings said. “There’s no, no point hiding it.
“It’s a great domestic fight, probably the best domestic fight we can have in the country. It’s just a matter of getting it to work and looking at the commercial realities of it versus the other opportunities that are already lined up for Nikita.”
Nikita Tszyu’s win earned him a world ranking with the WBO and IBF, a status that will soon attract the super-welterweight division’s elite. It came at a cost; Mazoudier showed him how much improvement is required before making the step up.
“I honestly needed that,” said Tszyu, who was up on the judges’ scorecards 77-75, 77-75 and 78-74 before the stoppage.
“It was a great wake-up call for the toughness of this sport and the level that I’m kind of stepping into.
“I need that kind of test because it’s a good introduction into the world that I just jumped into and that’s the world rankings.”
