Michael Zerafa eyes Tim Tszyu after ending Anthony Mundine’s boxing career
Anthony Mundine’s boxing career has come to a sad end after Michael Zerafa knocked his opponent down twice in what looked a sparring exercise.
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It took Michael Zerafa just two minutes and nine seconds to knock out Anthony Mundine into what we can only hope is a permanent retirement.
Zerafa ripped through Mundine without breaking a sweat, knocking him down twice in the first round and finishing the job in quick time.
A right straight did the job, with Zerafa hitting a nice combination to send the 45-year old Mundine crashing to the canvas.
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Afterwards, Mundine confirmed he had no plans to return to the ring.
“Definitely, that’s it for me – even if I won I would have hung them up. I just don’t have the heart to do it anymore,” Mundine said.
“God gave me great talent, both in rugby league and boxing. I’m not the fight I was one year ago, five year ago or ten years ago, but I achieved a lot in my life.
“Thank God, I’m healthy, but I got caught in the first round and that happens in boxing.
“He wanted to fight me when he was 15 – lucky he got me when I was 45, not 35.”
The young eat the old in boxing and Zerafa would have gotten more exertion in some of his training sessions.
And as well he should have because for Zerafa this was a tune up, something to blow the cobwebs out and get back on track after his loss to Jeff Horn at the end of 2019.
Mundine was not a big scalp to be hunted down and prized, he was a recognisable name on his record.
Zerafa’s career is still filled with the promise of tomorrow. Mundine’s, hopefully, is now entirely made up of the memories of yesterday.
But one of Zerafa’s tomorrow’s may contain a blockbuster local fight with Tim Tszyu, with Zerafa delivering a challenge to the 26-year old after his dominant victory.
“I’m feeling electric. This is a legacy fight for me, I’ve been waiting 15 years for this moment and I’ve finally got it,” Zerafa said.
“Anthony, nothing but love and respect brother. You’re the one who put this sport on the map.
“But this is my time, you passed the torch. Tim Tszyu, and pardon my French, but stop f----g running, it’s time to fight.
“It’s the best fight, the best match up. He’s running scared, he’s saying nobody wants to fight him. I’m here, I’ll fight him.
“Let’s give Australian fight fans what they want – Zerafa v Tszyu.”
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