Michael Zerafa to protest Jeff Horn fight result over controversial ninth round

The most epic battle of 2019 be set for another fight – with Michael Zerafa officially asking for Wednesday night’s bloodbath to be declared a no contest.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 18: Michael Zerafa gets a standing count during the middleweight bout between Jeff Horn and Michael Zerafa at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on December 18, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

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Michael Zerafa’s team is launching a formal protest regarding the result of his fight against Jeff Horn last Wednesday, seeking a no contest or an immediate rematch.

After consulting a lawyer, Zerafa’s co-manager Brendan Bourke confirmed they would follow through with the protest they alluded to in the immediate aftermath of the fight in Brisbane, won via majority points decision by Horn, who survived a controversial ninth round.

The main point of contention in Zerafa’s protest will be the intervention of referee John Cauchi in that ninth round while Horn was receiving a sustained beating.

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Zerafa was knocked down by Jeff Horn during the stunning ninth round. Picture: Getty

Cauchi stopped the bout midway through that round to check on Horn’s large cut above the left eye, just as many thought his corner would throw in the towel.

Horn received a vital 20-second break as the ringside doctor checked the cut and cleared him to fight on, and then Horn delivered a spectacular overhand left that dropped Zerafa to the canvas and changed the momentum of the round and ultimately allowed him to claim victory.

Bourke is protesting to the WBA and WBO, whose regional middleweight belts Horn claimed with the win, and local commission the Australian National Boxing Federation.

“As a team we’ve sat down watched and re-watched the fight and we have some concerns about a number of things that happened during the fight that shouldn’t have,” Bourke said.

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Zerafa was gracious in defeat in the immediate aftermath of the fight. Picture: Getty

“If the calls to my phone since the fight are anything to go by, these concerns aren’t limited to me or the team. Many people in the boxing community have contacted me and have raised the same issues.

“I don’t propose to go into detail at this stage. We have more than a week before we lodge a protest and we want this to be dealt with properly and we want it dealt with it respectfully to both Michael and Jeff. Those boys left it all in the ring on Wednesday night and that is to be commended.

“That fight on Wednesday was an absolute cracker and will go down as a classic in Australian boxing. This isn’t about Jeff Horn or his camp. It’s about the integrity of Australian boxing.

Michael Zerafa gets a standing count from referee John Cauchi. Picture: Getty

“What comes after the process has concluded can be a matter for public consumption. Until then, we will work through the appropriate processes respectfully and ensure our submissions to all relevant parties clearly outline our concerns.

“We know the Horn camp would do the same thing and we’ve informed them of our decision to lodge the protest. It’s not a decision we’ve taken lightly but at the end of the day, this is about making sure Michael does not lose the opportunities he has worked hard for as a professional athlete in circumstances that should never have eventuated in a professional boxing environment.”

The move to protest is realistically to pressure Horn into having a third fight against Zerafa, who stopped his rival last August.

Horn’s camp is already negotiating to fight Sydney’s Tim Tszyu next year at super-welterweight, and have stated he will not fight at middleweight in the near future.

Originally published as Michael Zerafa to protest Jeff Horn fight result over controversial ninth round