Boxing news: Michael Zerafa’s long-time trainer Sam Labruna claims Aussie boxer was scared to fight Tim Tszyu

A former member of Michael Zerafa’s camp has made the extraordinary claim the Aussie boxer asked for his eyes to be cut in an attempt to dodge a bout against Tim Tszyu.

Australian boxing star Michael Zerafa is facing possible legal action and has slammed explosive allegations he was so scared of fighting Tim Tszyu he asked his own team to cut him in a bid to sabotage their super bout.

In an exclusive interview with News Corp, Zerafa’s ex-trainer Sam Labruna has revealed he is seeking an injunction to stop the Melbourne boxer’s comeback fight on the Paul Gallen-Justin Hodges card on Wednesday week.

But Zerafa has hit back, with ‘Pretty Boy’ vehemently denying the Tszyu allegations and saying he has engaged his own legal team, claiming he is owed more than $130,000 by his former trainer.

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The most extraordinary allegation is that Zerafa, according to Labruna, wanted to fake injury with a self-inflicted head wound in the lead-up to his mega fight against Sydney’s world-title contender Tszyu last year.

Michael Zerafa has split with his long-time trainer Sam Labruna (left). Picture: Ian Currie

Zerafa caused outrage when he pulled out just a week before the July fight, citing travel issues related to Covid, including the disadvantage of Labruna training him via mobile phone from Melbourne.

The Tszyu camp believed Zerafa was scared to fight him.

Breaking a 17-month silence on one of Australia boxing’s biggest furores, Labruna claims the Tszyu camp’s suspicions were correct.

“This is the truth on the Tszyu fight, I have never spoken about this before,” Labruna said.

“Zerafa wanted us to cut his eyes in the gym and say it happened in sparring.

“Michael gets very worked up in his head before fights.”

Labruna said Zerafa didn’t want to use Covid as an excuse for pulling out of the fight.

Zerafa blasted suggestions he was scared of taking on Tszyu and is relishing the prospect of the biggest fight of his career — a possible world-title bout with the legendary Gennady Golovkin next year.

“That is absolute rubbish,” Zerafa said of the Tszyu cut claims.

“Honestly, who comes up with this stuff?

“’Hey, bro, can you cut me open because I don’t want to fight Tim Tszyu’?

“Anybody who believes that is as stupid as Sam Labruna.

Labruna claims Zerafa (right) asked his trainer to cut him in sparring to avoid fighting Tszyu (left).

“I’ve had 34 pro fights. I’ve never shied away from a fight. He is just delusional and bad things happen to bad people.”

Zerafa and Labruna had one of the most successful alliances in Australian boxing.

Under Labruna, Zerafa famously beat Jeff Horn in 2019 and belted Isaac Hardman in April this year, the latter victory seeing the Melbourne middleweight ranked No. 1 by the WBA and No. 2 by the IBF.

But with a world-title shot on the horizon, the pair sensationally split four months ago.

Labruna claims he is owed up to $500,000 and has launched a lawsuit against Zerafa _ vowing to halt his November 23 fight against Danilo Creati in Sydney if the matter is not settled.

“We are going no-holds-barred,” Labruna said.

“I can confirm I have taken legal action and if I don’t get the money I’m entitled to from Zerafa, I will be seeking an injunction on his next fight.

“As we speak he is contracted to SLB (Labruna’s boxing company) until 2024.”

Labruna has advised all major world boxing authorities of his legal dispute with Zerafa, a scenario that could prevent the 30-year-old fighting for a world title over the next two years.

“I first signed Michael in 2014 and he has a contract with my company for another two years. “Since then, we have spent a lot of money on Michael, we helped get him to No. 1 in the world rankings.

“I thought I could help him change, but Michael won’t change.”

But Zerafa, who strenuously denies Labruna’s allegations, is adamant Labruna cannot stop him fighting on the Gallen-Hodges card.

“Labruna is more than welcome to try to get an injunction, but he can’t stop me fighting,” Zerafa said.

“My contract with him finished in July so after that I was free to go.

“That’s why he is so salty.

“I’ve got my legal team and they are dealing with it all. He is trying to tarnish my name.

“I’m owed more than $130,000 from my last two fights with him.

“I left him because I wasn’t getting paid and certain things that were promised, he never delivered on.

“What he is saying is basically false, it’s all lies.

“I have a new manager, I have gotten rid of toxic people in my life, I am happy and this is my time to win a world title.

“I’m at the peak of my career.”