Nikita Tszyu has urged Michael Zerafa to hang up the gloves following their controversial clash, warning Australia’s boxing bad boy risks taking unnecessary damage by continuing his career.
Tszyu admitted he felt “let down” in what was the biggest fight of his career after his grudge match with ‘Pretty Boy’ descended into chaos, with Zerafa claiming he could not see following a head clash.
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And Tszyu made it clear the fallout has left him with no interest in a rematch. Instead, ‘The Butcher’ says he hopes the Melbourne fighter seriously considers retirement.
“At this point you don’t need to keep fighting,” he said at a press conference on Friday.
“You don’t need to keep proving yourself. He’s had a great career, he’s done a lot in sport, but I don’t think he’s mentally there anymore – and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
“It happens with the hard fights you get into and the traumatic side of boxing.
“While you still have your brain cells. While you’re still healthy, get out.”
Tszyu went on to suggest that Zerafa had “one foot out the door” during the lead up to the fight and may have been thinking about his exit strategy from the sport.
When pressed if Zerafa was looking for an opportunity to exit the contest with Tszyu via a doctor’s stoppage, Tszyu shook his head.
“No, I don’t think he was looking for it, but once he saw it he couldn’t unsee it,” he explained.
“I think he knew after those first two rounds… I was putting pressure on him and he was on the backfoot for pretty much the whole fight. And when it did get in close, I was playing rough with him.
“I could feel that he wasn’t happy with that.
“He knew the hard fights he’s been in and it probably took him back to that place and it’s probably not worth it for him.”
Tszyu’s comments come after other prominent Australian boxing figures – including Jeff Fenech and Tszyu’s longtime manager Glen Jennings – also urged Zerafa to consider retirement.
Jennings added it wasn’t just his fighter who was “robbed”, but everyone watching on the night.
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Tszyu said he was doubtful Australian fans would see Zerafa fight locally again.
“Whatever promoter is willing to risk it [it’s a possibility],” he said.
“But I don’t see anybody wanting to. Too much of a liability.
He made some really big mistakes. It’s a shame.
“He really screwed himself over.”
Following the contentious bout, Zerafa claimed he had shattered his eye socket and damaged his retina – claims Tszyu dismissed bluntly.
“Yeah, my a**e,” he said.
“My a**e it was shattered. A fractured eye socket puffs up instantly and his eye was good for a while.
“Show us the proof. I want to see x-rays.”
“But even then, fight on with it. Get on with it.”
The undefeated Sydneysider went on to explain that he’s seen a few fractured eye sockets over the years.
“When Canelo Alvarez did it to [Billy Joe] Saunders, when Kirra Rushton did it to Tonga Tonotongo… it swells up like a balloon in minutes,” said Tszyu.
“I saw him [Zerafa] in the change rooms and his eye looked allright.”
When asked if he felt robbed by the ending, Tszyu didn’t hesitate.
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“I do. In, like, a very shameful way,” he said.
“A lot of work went into that and it was just taken away.
“It was the biggest opportunity for me to really show myself, prove myself to the world.”