Team Zerafa shift blame to Tommy Browne’s corner after disgraceful post-fight dust-up

Team Zerafa are refusing to apologise, and have even doubled down following shocking post-fight scenes on Wednesday.

Michael Zerafa’s brother (grey shirt) moments before he punched Tommy Mercuri (left) in the face. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

Michael Zerafa’s team isn’t backing down following disgraceful scenes in which ‘The Pretty Boy’s’ brother punched an opposing trainer in the face during a shocking post-fight brawl on Wednesday night.

In fact, they’re putting the blame squarely on Tommy Browne’s trainer, Tommy Mercuri.

Chaos broke out when Zerafa scored an anti-climactic first round win over Browne after the 41-year-old veteran tore his biceps off the bone.

Browne had lit the fuse of their simmering rivalry on Sunday, telling this masthead Zerafa had “quit” during his middleweight world title fight against Erislandy Lara in March.

Zerafa’s brother (grey shirt) lands a punch on Tommy Mercuri. Picture: No Limit Boxing.

While Browne sat on his stool clutching his arm on Wednesday night, a furious Zerafa shouted at him about quitting just three minutes into the fight.

Browne’s trainer, Tommy Mercuri, then jumped into the ring and confronted Zerafa before all hell broke loose.

As officials and security staff climbed into the ring, Zerafa’s brother punched Mercuri in the face before they were separated.

Zerafa’s team left the venue before the main event between Nikita Tszyu and Koen Mazoudier finished, and they remained unrepentant hours later.

“So everyone turning on my bro, but no one saying nothing about his trainer taking swings at me,” Zerafa wrote on Instagram.

“Trainer tries to attack me and my bro is the bad guy, come on guys

In another post, he said: “Team Browne started it, team Zerafa ended it.”

Zerafa took to Instagram to double down. Picture: Instagram

Another of Zerafa’s posts on IG. Picture: Instagram

Zerafa’s brother, Jason-Manuel, who threw the punch, also defended himself via social media.

“Tommy Brownes (sic) corner attempting to attack Michael Zerafa after Michael got the win, I did what ANY brother would’ve done,” he wrote.

“Cannot play victim after attempting to attack a fighter.”

Zerafa’s brother will face serious punishment, including a lengthy ban from boxing events in New South Wales, but the incident won’t interfere with a blockbuster bout between Zerafa and Nikita Tszyu.

Already the bad boy of Australian boxing, Zerafa hasn’t won over any more friends with the debacle.

“Big difference being villains and just a bunch of dickheads,” wrote cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia, while Skinny Hussein said: “Clean up your corner.”

A screenshot from Zerafa. Picture: Instagram

A post from Zerafa’s brother. Picture: Instagram

No Limit boss Matt Rose said Zerafa’s brother will likely face a hefty punishment from the Combat Sport Authority of New South Wales.

“We don’t accept the sort of behaviour at all and unfortunately people get caught in situations that they shouldn’t,” Rose said.

“If I was his brother I wouldn’t be jumping in, because it’ll be Tim Tszyu on the other side of the ring next time.

“Michael didn’t do anything wrong in there. His brother will be sanctioned in some way.

“We’ll talk to Combat Sport (of New South Wales) and we won’t allow that to ever happen again.”

Rose confirmed it was the comments about Zerafa’s performance against Lara that set Zerafa off.

“There was a lot of emotion from both sides,” he said. “You’ve gotta remember that Tommy made that comment about quitting and that’s why Zerafa went at the boys.

“Everyone got a bit excited and it blew out of proportion.

“His brother’s gone, they’ve settled down.”