Boxing news: Issac Hardman v Michael Zerafa world title eliminator after Canelo Golovkin move

Michael Zerafa earned the ire of the boxing community after his late withdrawal before fighting Tim Tszyu. Yet a major twist had put him on the cusp of a world title opportunity.

(CONTACT PICTURE DESK BEFORE USE) Boxer Michael Zerafa training at his gym ahead of fight with Tim Tsuzu. Picture: Tony Gough

In a stunning series of events, Issac Hardman’s Australian grudge match against Michael Zerafa next month will now be a world title eliminator.

The dominoes have fallen in favour of the pair after the world’s best boxer, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, made official his plans to fight Dmitry Bivol in May and then have a trilogy fight against Gennadiy Golovkin in September.

That move has paved the way for Golovkin’s IBF middleweight title to become vacant.

Golovkin is set to fight Canelo at super-middleweight on September 17, in a fight where he’s expected to earn at least $10 million.

Canelo must defeat Bivol, and Golovkin has to beat Japan’s Ryoto Murata on April 9, to set up the third bout between the two outstanding boxers.

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Gennady Golovkin is awarded victory in his IBF middleweight title bout against Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

If that occurs, Golovkin must vacate his IBF and IBO middleweight titles.

Hardman (12-0, 10KO) is ranked No. 8 by the IBF, and Zerafa (29-4, 18KO) is ranked No. 10.

Vice-chairman of the IBF ratings committee, Ben Keilty, confirmed to News Corp Australia that the winner of Hardman-Zerafa would face the No. 1 ranked Esquiva Falcao (29-0, 20KO) for the vacant title later this year.

Issac Hardman and Mitchell Whitelaw trade punches.

“With Golovkin fighting Canelo, the fight between Hardman and Zerafa is now a world title eliminator, and the winner would fight Falcao for the vacant IBF middleweight belt,” Keilty said.

“It’s now a massive fight for both guys.”

Hardman and Zerafa fight at the Melbourne Convention Centre on April 20.

It is a particularly extraordinary turn of events for 29-year-old Zerafa.

Since losing a majority decision to Jeff Horn in 2019, Zerafa recorded knockout victories over Anthony Mundine and Siliveni Nawai.

However, his controversial withdrawal days before his scheduled fight against Tim Tszyu last year earned him the ire of Australia’s boxing public, and yet he is now two wins away from becoming world champion.

Michael Zerafa is preparing for a world title eliminator.

Hardman and Zerafa have built up a fierce rivalry over the past year and both have predicted knockout wins.

Golovkin has chased a trilogy against Canelo for four years.

They clashed in 2017 and had a split draw – with most observers believing Golovkin won.

Gennady Golovkin (R) lands an uppercut on Canelo Alvarez.

In their rematch one year later, Canelo edged out a majority decision, handing Golovkin his first and only loss.

Golovkin (41-1-1, 36KO) bounced back to win the IBF and IBO middleweight titles, while Murata (16-2, 13KO) is the WBA World middleweight champion

The pair collide on April 9 in Saitama, Japan for the unification clash.

Canelo will fight for Bivol’s WBA light-heavyweight title before he plans to step back down to super-middleweight for Golovkin.