Michael Zerafa eyes Melbourne headline homecoming as he plans another world title run

Michael Zerafa has big plans for 2025 – but don’t count on them involving the Tszyu brothers. That feud still burns brightly but the ship might have sailed, he reveals to BRENDAN BRADFORD.

Michael Zerafa is eyeing up a Melbourne headline homecoming later this year as he moves on from the Tszyus in favour of another run at a middleweight world title.

And as one of the most polarising fighters in Australia, Zerafa could be a key figure that promoter No Limit needs to finally crack the Melbourne market.

The Sydney-based No Limit has held just one pay-per-view event in Melbourne, with former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker headlining alongside Nikita Tszyu in the co-main event in 2023.

New South Wales and Queensland deliver the bulk of boxing’s pay-per-view buys, while No Limit holds plenty of shows in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Gold Coast.

As first reported by this masthead, No Limit is planning on heading back to Melbourne in the second half of this year, but needs local talent to draw a crowd and PPV buys in the Victorian capital.

With Zerafa planning another run at a middleweight title, the 32-year-old says fighting in his hometown makes perfect sense.

Zerafa in action against Ay. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

“That would be huge,” Zerafa told this masthead. “The adrenaline would be pumping being the main event in Melbourne.

“I’ve fought overseas, and there’s nothing like fighting in your backyard – it’s ideal.

“I’ve fought 38 times now and I’d love that opportunity to headline in Melbourne again.”

Zerafa’s rivalry with Tim Tszyu stems from their cancelled fight in Newcastle in 2021, and has followed him into every fight ever since.

Tszyu has said he’ll never agree to the fight, and Zerafa is content to move on as well as he plans another tilt at a middleweight world title.

“Look, I’ve got no dramas with Tim – he’s done nothing to me and he’s got a big fight coming up and I hope he wins,” Zerafa said. “There’s no point in me talking trash and trying to get a fight with him.

Tszyu (L) and Zerafa (R) were scheduled to fight in 2021. Picture: Peter Lorimer/Getty Images

“I just want to fight whoever’s in front of me in the rankings, and my goal is to become a world champion.

“I’ve fallen short in the past, but I really want to get back into contention and bring a world title belt home.”

The Tszyu brothers’ manager, Glen Jennings said Zerafa is more likely to land a fight with younger brother Nikita than Tim, but Zerafa isn’t interested.

“Glen’s a gentleman, but I think that talk’s more for the cameras,” he said. “Nikita’s doing his thing, and he’s gotta earn his stripes a little bit.

“He’s doing great things, but to say that I’ll be fighting him is a bit of a kick in the teeth.

“He’s doing his thing, I’m doing my thing, and my goal is to be a world champion.

“The fight with Tim, that’s always something in the cupboard for a rainy day – it’s a big money fight – but I’m not gonna keep pushing and pushing for it.

“If it happens, it happens.”

Zerafa has been linked to a fight with exciting Florida-based Sydneysider Mateo Tapia, who stopped Sergei Vorobiev on the Keith Thurman vs Brock Jarvis undercard last Wednesday night.

Mateo Tapia stands over Sergei Vorobiev. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

Zerafa is open to a fight with Tapia. Picture: Steve Marcus/Getty Images

In the funny old way of prized fighting, Zerafa and Tapia formed a friendship which then led to negotiations to eventually punch each other in the face.

“He’s a great dude, and a great athlete and we actually formed a bit of a bond and started talking about potentially fighting each other,” Zerafa said. “We both agreed that if they pay us enough and it’s a fight the people want, we’re both willing to do it.

“He’s one of the nicest blokes I’ve ever met, but it would be a great fight.”

Zerafa walked to the ring to a smattering of boos in Sydney last Wednesday, but left it to applause after his seventh round stoppage win over Besir Ay.

After being portrayed as Aussie boxing’s biggest villain since his pair of wars with Jeff Horn in 2019, he says it’s a refreshing change to have the crowd behind him.

“I got a bit of love on fight night, which was nice,” he said. “I perform better that way, and I think that’s the best thing for me.

“I’m always going to have people against me, but to get a little bit of that love and even a few messages from fans afterwards, it felt good.

“For a long time I wasn’t receiving that, and sometimes you’ve gotta be the villain, but it was nice to turn a few people’s opinions and get that bit of respect.”

Originally published as Michael Zerafa eyes Melbourne headline homecoming as he plans another world title run