Michael Zerafa calls for Keith Thurman showdown en route to world title shot in hometown of Melbourne

Michael Zerafa says he‘s willing to step in and defeat showman Keith Thurman if Tim Tszyu says no ahead of a possible world title fight in his hometown of Melbourne.

Melbourne boxer Michael Zerafa has called out loudmouthed former world champion Keith Thurman for a pay-per-view blockbuster later this year.

Thurman had been expected to face Tim Tszyu after they each scored convincing knockout wins in their comeback fights earlier this year.

That fight was slated to take place on the Gold Coast in July, but there are rumours Tszyu may go another route, including a possible world title rematch with Sebastian Fundora.

If that does happen, Zerafa says he’ll step straight in and face Thurman.

“I’ll knock the lisp right out of his mouth,” Zerafa told this masthead. “I was speaking to Matt Rose, and, short and sweet, nothing against Tim at all, but I said if Tim doesn’t fight Thurman, I’ll step right in and face Thurman.

Thurman KOd Brock Jarvis in Sydney in March. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

“I’m thirsty and I’d love that opportunity.

“I’ll fight him anywhere – his backyard, my backyard, or your backyard.

“I’m guaranteed three fights this year, I’ve had one and I want to stay active.”

Zerafa and Thurman fought on the same card at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney in March, with ‘The Pretty Boy’ stopping Besir Ay, before Thurman knocked out Brock Jarvis.

A natural showman and born talker, Thurman bossed the fight week build-up in Sydney, and at one point even mocked Jarvis by dropping a few bars of Kendrick Lamar’s song ‘peekaboo’ during a media scrum.

The 36-year-old is keen to return to Australia to face “the big kangaroo” Tszyu, but Zerafa is confident he will agree to fight him if Tszyu doesn’t.

“We even said in Sydney on the last show that if Tim doesn’t want it, I’ll step in,” he said. “Imagine the press conference.

“I’m a fan of Thurman’s. I like his flamboyance – he’s a pure entertainer. Keith’s a big name, and I’ve got some big names on my resume and his is another one I want to add to it.

Zerafa stopped Besir Ay in his last fight. Picture: Grant Trouville

“Keith’s been there and done it all. He’s done things I still want to do, but I think with where I’m at now mentally, physically and emotionally, I beat him.

“I feel like I do to him what he did to Brock Jarvis.”

Zerafa’s most recent fights – including his WBA world title showdown with Erislandy Lara in Las Vegas – have been at middleweight, but the 33-year-old says he can make the super-welterweight limit of 69.9kg easily.

“We’d want a little bit more money for super-welter though,” he said. “I’m walking around at about 73 or 74kg now, so we can do it at super-welter or at middleweight.”

A fight against Thurman would be the ideal lead-in to an even bigger fight in Zerafa’s hometown later in the year.

“(No Limit boss) Matt Rose has promised us a headline fight in Melbourne later in the year,” he said. “That could be a world title fight at John Cain Arena, so we’re looking at a world class fighter to put on a good performance in Melbourne.”

Originally published as Michael Zerafa calls for Keith Thurman showdown en route to world title shot in hometown of Melbourne