Michael Zerafa taken to hospital with rib injury, leaving fight with Tim Tszyu in extreme doubt

Punishment machine Tim Tszyu has vowed to attack Michael Zerafa’s body if their fight does go ahead, after the Victorian was hospitalised with a serious injury.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 11: Michael Zerafa speaks to the media during a press conference at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre on May 11, 2021 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Peter Lorimer/Getty Images)

A ruthless Tim Tszyu has promised to attack Michael Zerafa’s body if their fight does go ahead, after Zerafa was hospitalised with a rib injury.

The July 7 showdown between the bitter rivals is now in doubt with Zerafa recovering in a Melbourne hospital due to the injury and his trainer saying he’ll cancel the fight if Zerafa cannot resume training by next week.

“He is in a bad way,” Zerafa’s trainer Sam Labruna said.

“He had a lot of pain under his ribs, he went to the hospital but they said it would be a five-hour wait so he went home.

“He was up all night, so he’s gone back now.

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Michael Zerafa had to be taken to hospital as he fights a bout of gastro.

“If he’s not back in training in the next seven to 10 days, I won’t be taking him to Newcastle. There will be no fight.

“For a fight of this magnitude, he has to have a proper training camp. If he is injured, I’m not going to put him in the ring.”

But Tszyu is not only planning for Zerafa to be ready for the fight, he is already planning further pain for the 29-year-old.

“If it is a rib injury he needs to make sure he recovers quickly, because he’s going to be getting hit a few times there,” Tszyu told News Corp.

“I want to wish him a speedy recovery, I don’t see why he’d be making it up.

“We’re seven weeks out, they’re not going to cancel the fight this far out, he’s got plenty of time to recover.

Tim Tszyu and Michael Zerafa are due to meet in Newcastle on July 7.

“It’s not going to throw off any of my plans.”

Should Zerafa fail to recover, the July 7 showdown against Tszyu at Newcastle Entertainment Centre — already sold out — will be cancelled and Tszyu will likely have to wait months before his next bout.

Promoter George Rose said: “I hope Michael can recover quickly, you’re always worried when you hear someone has had to go to hospital because it’s usually serious.

“If Zerafa can’t fight, it would be too late for us to get someone else in.

“Of course, we could bring in another boxer from Australia or New Zealand but none of them could seriously challenge Tim. Michael is the only guy in the southern hemisphere who can challenge Tim Tszyu.”

Zerafa was unimpressed when he recently flew to Newcastle for a press conference, only to have the building unveiled as “Tszyucastle Entertainment Centre”.

Tszyu (18-0, 14KO) and Zerafa (28-4, 17KO) are scheduled to fight at super-welterweight, where Tszyu is already the No.1 contender for the WBO title.

The division will be unified on July 17 when WBC, WBA and IBF champion Jermell Charlo faces WBO champion Brian Castano.