Michael Zerafa says all the twists and turns of his wonderfully chaotic career – which have included rivalries with Tim Tszyu, Jeff Horn, even Anthony Mundine – are finally about to make sense.
After more than a year of waiting, Zerafa is set to be part of the biggest weekend in Australian boxing history when he fights alongside Tim Tszyu in a pair of Las Vegas championship bouts today.
BOXING: Don’t miss Tim Tszyu in a unified World Title fight this Sunday against 6-foot 6 Towering Inferno Sebastian Fundora. Plus catch fellow Aussie Michael Zerafa taking on Erislandy Lara for his shot to become the Middle Weight World Champion LIVE from Las Vegas | SUN 31 MAR 11AM AEDT | Exclusive to Main Event, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription needed.
Despite being a $4 betting outsider, the fighter dubbed ‘Pretty Boy’ is readying to “steal the show” against WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara.
Better, the Melburnian insists a win over Lara will see all the hype, headlines and harsh grind that have consumed his 13 years on the professional circuit finally “make sense”.
“Because I’m a big believer in everything happening for a reason,” Zerafa told Fox Sports Australia this week.
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“Which I know can sound cringey.
“But sometimes in life there are things that happen which still don’t make sense a week later, a month later, even a year later.
“But when finally I walk out into T Mobile Arena, everything will make sense.”
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‘In his corner’ Zerafa’s Tszyu backflip | 00:51
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Zerafa also said, with his time over, he would definitely still take the 2021 Mundine fight – where he finished the polarising Aussie boxer’s career with a first round TKO.
That fight not only gave Zerafa the WBA Oceania strap, but effectively put him on the road to what is now the biggest opportunity of his professional career.
“That was a legacy fight for me,” Zerafa said.
“I always wanted Mundine on my resume.
“But what people don’t understand, he also brought things to the table.
“So people can say whatever they want … I was offered other fighters, tougher fights, but none of them paid as much or offered as much with a win.
“Mundine not only brought money, he brought a title.
“Beating him gave me a ranking.
“Plus, he was the one who called me out.
“Coming off my Jeff Horn loss – a fight I thought I won — Choc called me out, said ‘I want Zerafa’.
“So I said talk dollars, put a title on the line. And that’s what happened.
“I had to get in there, do the business and move on.”
So as for how he upsets Lara to become world champ?
“By being busy,” Zerafa stressed.
“Get in his face, lots of head movement, lots of feints.
“I respect Lara a lot.
“But I feel like he’ll struggle with my power, which gets underestimated.
“I also know he’ll walk forward, want to take centre ring.
“Unfortunately for him, I’m going to be there.
“I’m taking the centre.”
“Ready to shock world & make statement” | 03:14
Zerafa also praised his new trainer Nonito Donaire for instilling in him a renewed “belief” in his abilities.
“Victory comes when you don’t think about it,” the title challenger said when asked what advice the ‘Filipino Flash’ had provided.
“It’s when you want it so bad sometimes that I can slip away from you.
“So be yourself, have fun, and the world title will come.”
Elsewhere, Zerafa revealed how in preparation to fight Lara, a southpaw, he has been sparring his cousin, Australian heavyweight Kris Terzievski.
Before heading to Las Vegas to complete camp with Donaire, Zerafa said the pair sparred twice a week for the best part of two months.
“And we’d do six rounds, eight rounds, 10 rounds,” he said.
“Kris is a really crafty southpaw and, despite the size difference, is stylistically similar (to Lara).
“He’s a heavyweight who moves like a middleweight, tries to walk you into that left hand.
“I also know, given the weight and size difference, that if I can move around with someone so much heavier then come fight night it should be much easier.”
Soon after, he continued: “I want to steal the show.
“This is the biggest arena I’ve ever been in and this is where my name is going to be made, where I’m going to be taken seriously.
“Fighting for a world title here in Las Vegas, this is every fighter’s dream.
“Massive card, biggest arena, doesn’t get much better.
“I’ve always thought this was inevitable too.
“Always thought the moment would come.
“And now to be here, among so many greats of the sport … this is Michael Zerafa’s time.”
Source Agencies
