Michael Zerafa set for big 2024 with a championship and possible showdown with Aussie rival Tim Tszyu

He’s been dubbed the vilian of Australian boxing but Michael Zerafa has big plans for 2024 including a world championship and a possible showdown with long time rival Tim Tszyu

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 23: Danilo Creati throws a punch in the middleweight fight against Michael Zerafa during the Paul Gallen and Justin Hodges fight night at the Aware Super Theatre on November 23, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

World title challenger Michael Zerafa has his sights set on a big 2024 including a championship fight, and potential Aussie showdown against longtime rival WBO champion Tim Tszyu.

Zerafa may have been out of action throughout all of last year but the so-called “villain of Australian boxing” plans to bring another world championship to the country.

The WBA has ordered Cuban, Erislandy Lara to defend his middleweight title against Zerafa in his next defence with the fight aiming to take place in the first quarter of this year.

“I have been waiting 13 months for my world title fight, and here it is, so I’m going to grab it with both hands.” Zerafa said.

If able to get through Lara, Zerafa is open to a number of fights including a grudge match against Tszyu.

The pair have been set to lock horns in the past but the fight was never able to make it into the ring.

Michael Zerafa fights in 2022. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“Tim’s doing his thing, I’m doing my thing, it’s a fight we definitely want, whether we both put our titles on the line, god willing if I win this fight, Tim can be my first defence,” he said.

“He said he wants to come up to heavyweight I think he said, but if he is thinking about coming up a division, and I have a title in that division I’m more than happy to give him the opportunity.”

Over the years both fighters have traded insults, but Zerafa has developed a new-found respect for Tszyu and thinks if matched up again the biggest winners will be boxing fans.

“I think it’s a fight that boxing fans will win through, it will happen eventually I do believe,”

“Credit to him I’m not going to sit here and talk s*** about him, he’s doing well, he has beaten the guys in front of him, he was the fighter of last year, and I plan to be the fighter this year and do great things, if our paths meet we should get it on.”

Although having clear goals for 2024, Zerafa is not looking past the tough task ahead.

40-year-old champion Lara has been unbeaten since 2018, but the Aussie see’s the match up as favourable for him and his style.

“Im physically bigger, he’s coming up from being a natural 140, I think he has fought once at 160 and fought a guy that wasn’t great,” Zerafa said.

“I have 10 years on him, I feel like styles make fights, I reckon mid rounds I’m going to get him, but if I have to I’m more than happy to go 12 rounds with him.”

The fight is being targeted for Las Vegas in late March to early April, with an arrangement to be finalised by February 15.

Originally published as Michael Zerafa set for big 2024 with a championship and possible showdown with Aussie rival Tim Tszyu