Boxer Michael Zerafa’s brother Jason avoids conviction after punching Tommy Browne’s trainer Tommy Mercuri
The brother of Australian boxer Michael Zerafa has faced court after punching an opposing trainer in the face during a shocking post-fight incident.
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The brother of one-time world title challenger Michael Zerafa has escaped a conviction after he punched an opposing trainer in the face during a shocking post-fight incident.
Jason Zerafa, 26, fronted Downing Centre Local Court on Monday where his lawyer Upol Amin formally entered a guilty plea to common assault on his client’s behalf.
Agreed facts state the incident took place after Michael’s opponent, Tommy Browne, retired at the end of round one in their co-main event bout after “suffering a bicep injury”.
Documents state Mr Browne’s trainer, Tommy Mercuri, was already in the ring when Michael approached and said “something to him before they got into a heated verbal argument”.
As Mr Mercuri kept trying to get to Michael Zerafa, security and officials attempted to move them away from Mr Browne, documents also state.
Mr Browne had ignited tensions pre-fight after telling this masthead Michael had “quit” during his middleweight match against Erislandy Lara in Las Vegas earlier this year.
As the yelling continued, Jason Zerafa climbed into the ring and pushed between Michael and another man before punching Mr Mercuri in the jaw – all of which was caught on CCTV and displayed on television.
Zerafa was arrested the following day and taken to Mascot police station.
Mr Amin told the court on Monday it was a “rather unusual matter” considering lawful violence is accepted in a boxing ring”.
However, he said it was a “situation where we’ve got unlawful violence in a boxing ring”.
Mr Amin said the 60-year-old Mr Mercuri had “squared up in a position” where Zerafa thought he was “going to throw a punch” at Michael.
The court heard it wasn’t a premeditated assault and happened in the “spur of the moment”.
“I see the age difference … (although Mr) Mercuri is a much larger, and stronger man,” Mr Amin said.
He told the court his previously cleanskin client had attempted to apologise to Mr Mercuri after spending six hours in custody and he was “genuinely remorseful”.
Mr Amin said Zerafa had faced backlash, including media coverage and social media posts after the incident which he submitted amounted to “extra-curial punishment”.
He said No Limit Boxing banning his client for life also fell into this category.
The police prosecutor, who said he “actually had the advantage” of watching the fight on television, said it was an “objectively serious common assault”.
“I say … it brings the sport into disrepute,” the prosecutor said.
Magistrate Christopher Longley interjected, saying there was “a bit of irony” in that submission.
Mr Longley likened the incident to “David and Goliath” and told Zerafa even if he believed “something unsavoury” had occurred between his brother and the opposing team, it didn’t “give you the right to do what you did”.
Zerafa ultimately avoided a conviction and was placed on a six month conditional release order.
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Originally published as Boxer Michael Zerafa’s brother Jason avoids conviction after punching Tommy Browne’s trainer Tommy Mercuri
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