‘That was disgraceful’: Michael Zerafa’s brother throws punch in farcical scenes
The brother of Michael Zerafa has rushed into the ring and thrown a punch at a rival trainer as the co-main event descended into madness.
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Michael Zerafa’s fight against Tommy Browne has erupted into chaos after shocking post-fight scenes.
Facing the 41-year-old Browne, Zerafa clearly wanted some time in the ring after his last fight loss to Erislandy Lara for the WBA middleweight title in March.
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With a fight with Nikita Tszyu potentially on the line, Zerafa was left fuming after Browne retired on his stool after the first round with a bicep injury.
That was when the chaos erupted.
Zerafa began jawing with Browne’s trainer Tommy Mercuri, who went face-to-face in heated scenes as the Rose brothers of No Limit Boxing, the promoters of the event, stepped in.
But the drama escalated when Zerafa’s brother ran in and threw a punch at Mercuri.
“This is not good stuff,” Ben Damon said. “The fight didn’t get going but now it’s getting ugly regardless.”
Zerafa’s brother was later escorted out of the venue.
“We don’t accept the sort of behaviour at all and unfortunately people get caught in situations that they shouldn’t, but he’s gone now,” No Limit boss Matt Rose said of Zerafa’s brother.
But in a report from Fox Sports Australia, Mercuri called for Zerafa’s brother to be banned for life.
“It was a dog shot,” Mercuri said. “I didn’t even see it — just felt it.
“But he couldn’t even knock out his father. I’m as old as his father.”
Mercuri reportedly also called Zerafa and his team “clowns” and called for Zerafa’s brother to be “Banned from every venue in Australia.”
He also said Zerafa and his team hadn’t apologised — but that he wouldn’t accept an apology either.
“At the end of that first round the doctor was there looking at Tommy — he called it — and then I asked how he was feeling and he says ‘there’s a hole in there’,” Mercuri said.
“Next thing Zerafa has come over calling him a dog, saying he quit.
“So then I start having words with him … then his brother comes in and dog shots me.
“Who are these people? This is a sport, man. You don’t do that.”
As Browne came over to show that his bicep was in fact injured, Zerafa kept saying “you quit”, while Browne questioned whether he should fight him with one arm.
The sledge comes after Browne told CODE Sports that Zerafa had “quit” against Lara in the lead up, which Rose revealed was the catalyst for the bad blood.
While the post-fight interview went down with Zerafa copping plenty more boos but otherwise without a hitch, the drama wasn’t over as Zerafa went looking for Browne in his rooms.
“This is unbelievable,” Peter Badel said on Main Event. “This is quite bizarre.
“I hope this doesn’t escalate, this is not what we need.”
Former two-time welterweight champion Shawn Porter joked: “This happens all the time in America.”
Watching a replay of the incident in the ring, commentators Jonathan Brown said on Main Event: “That’s just wrong.”
Porter added: “I want to see that go to court. That’s just unacceptable. And Michael knows that if his brother has the ability to do that, he shouldn’t be in my corner.”
“That’s almost life ban stuff,” Badel said. “It’s a shame but I don’t think Zerafa’s cornerman or brother, whoever it is, should be involved in boxing again. That was disgraceful.”
Porter added: “If anything, that might be the first time he’s come to the ring with his brother – that should be his last time. That’s unacceptable.”
However, the unsavoury incident will not stop a Nikita Tszyu Vs Michael Zerafa showdown however.
“He (Michael) did what he had to do. He won the fight. He looked like he wanted to go more,” Rose said via CODE Sports.
“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.”
A fight with Tszyu was clearly on Zerafa’s mind.
Zerafa said after the fight he was “in first gear”, before adding “Nikita, I’m coming”.
“My eyes are solid on this, I want the Tszyu boys,” he said.
Zerafa came into the ring to a shower of boos, adding: “I love all my hater, keep on hating, Zerafa ain’t f**king going nowhere.”
Originally published as ‘That was disgraceful’: Michael Zerafa’s brother throws punch in farcical scenes
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