‘This f***wit’s not getting another chance’ — Tim Tszyu’s vow to grandpa about Michael Zerafa fight

Tim Tszyu has revealed the vow he made to his grandpa about never fighting Michael Zerafa after the controversial cancellation of their blockbuster bout in 2021.

The hatred between Tim Tszyu (L) and Michael Zerafa (R) is real. Picture: Peter Lorimer/Getty Images

When Michael Zerafa pulled out of his scheduled bout with Tim Tszyu in 2021, ‘The Soul Taker’ made a promise to his grandfather, Boris, that he’d never fight the Melburnian in the future.

Tszyu and his grandfather share an incredibly close bond, and the 30-year-old says it’s a vow he fully intends on keeping.

Tszyu’s bold declaration comes as news promoter No Limit has signed Zerafa to a multi-year deal.

“It’s not happening,” Tszyu told this masthead bluntly of a fight with his longtime rival.

“Look, I’m a man of integrity.

“I’m a man of honour, and I’ll never forget the fact that when we were sitting a week out from the fight and he does a bitch move like that when we’d been getting prepped for three months.

“That’s something I don’t forgive.

“I promised my grandpa back then that this f***wit is never gonna get another opportunity.”

Tszyu is looking to bounce back from his loss to Bakhram Murtazeliev. Picture: Paul Hennessy/Anadolu via Getty Images

Zerafa has been campaigning hard on social media for a fight with Tszyu ever since the Sydneysider’s shock stoppage loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev in October.

It would be the most heated build-up since the Anthony Mundine and Danny Green rivalry, and be a guaranteed money-spinner.

And while Tszyu wants his next fight to take place in Australia, he says it won’t be against Zerafa.

“I understand him – he needs a payday,” he said. “He needs money, he’s desperate.

“He’s acting like the bad guy again in the media. But that’s not happening.”

The build-up to their cancelled fight three years ago turned ugly when Zerafa labelled himself “Micky Hatton” – a reference to Ricky Hatton, who beat Kostya Tszyu in his last ever fight.

Zerafa lost a middleweight world title fight on Tszyu’s undercard in Las Vegas in March. Picture: Steve Marcus/Getty Images

The fallout from that loss stuck with the Tszyu family for years, and Tim hasn’t forgiven Zerafa for the sledge.

“He talked a lot of shit and he didn’t deliver when it was supposed to come,” he said. “He’s not gonna get his chance.

“He’s not gonna get that payday that he’s after.”

After extensive training camps in Las Vegas in 2024, Tszyu will rebuild back home in Sydney, and is looking to return to the ring in the first quarter of next year after his wedding to longtime partner Alex next weekend.

“Once I get married, I’ll go on my honeymoon, come back and get refreshed,” he said. “Then, maybe April or May, we’ll start planning for something then.

“The goal and the hunger is still there, nothing’s changed.

“The only thing that changed is I got caught early (against Murtazaliev).

“Now I’m coming back with more appreciation for life, for Australia, for family and for personal things as well.”

Originally published as ‘This f***wit’s not getting another chance’ — Tim Tszyu’s vow to grandpa about Michael Zerafa fight