Bendigo thugs try to fight Craigieburn boxer Michael Zerafa before he defeated Jeff Horn
A handful of smug thugs were left red-faced with their tails between their legs when they tried to fight champion boxer Michael Zerafa in Bendigo before his stunning upset of Jeff Horn. And the Craigieburn local had a winning response.
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A handful of smug thugs got more than they bargained for when they tried to fight champion Craigieburn boxer Michael Zerafa.
Zerafa, 27, and his team were walking along the streets of Bendigo about 2pm last Friday on their way to a press conference the day before the unheralded boxer sensationally took down the former world champion Jeff Horn.
Zerafa told the Leader he was walking down a side street in the regional city’s shopping district when four or five men approached and started throwing punches.
Zerafa said he believed the group knew who he was but looked like they were “drunk or high or something”.
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He said his team tried to calm the assailants down but they kept swearing and screaming and then started swinging.
“You’d think they would have a little bit more sense,” Zerafa said.
“We tried to neutralise the situation and my team got between them and me.”
Police arrived and calmed the situation but Zerafa said he didn’t press charges.
Leader contacted Bendigo Police Station but no formal report of the incident was made.
A day later Zerafa stunningly upset Horn in a ninth round knockout at Bendigo Stadium to claim the World Boxing Association Oceania middleweight title.
“I try to be the best person I can outside the ring,” he said.
“I’m a boxer because I love the sport.”
The Craigieburn boy was back in his local gym on Tuesday with his eyes firmly fixed on becoming a world champion.
“I set out a goal 10 years ago when I said I’m going to be Australia’s best and win a world title and I’m nearly there,” Zerafa said.
“I just beat the former WBO (World Boxing Organisation) world champion in Jeff Horn and it’s my dream and I’ve slowly started living it now.”
jack.paynter@news.com.au
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