'Stuff he said about my dad': Nikita Tszyu 'can't forgive' Michael Zerafa as fight date locked in
Michael Zerafa and Nikita Tszyu will face off in what's being billed as "the biggest domestic grudge match of the decade" on January 16, with a venue and undercard yet to be confirmed.
While the fight between Tim Tszyu and the Melburnian fighter is the one that fight fans want to see, promoters had to settle for Tim's younger brother, who boasts an undefeated record at 11-0, 9KO.
The pair had been preparing to fight in December before Tszyu was injured in a car accident this month in Sydney.
READ MORE: Disaster strikes Matildas after 19 minutes as star sees red
READ MORE: NRL's hottest property to be 'flooded' as free agent frenzy begins
READ MORE: Yeo's replacement named as Origin winner receives captaincy
Doctors advised Tszyu to delay the fight after he suffered whiplash in the crash.
The fight will be at a catchweight, with Zerafa usually fighting at middleweight and Tszyu at super welterweight.
During a press conference in Sydney to announce the fight, the rivals kept their composure with claims by Zerafa that the younger Tszyu is fighting for the family's legacy.
Zerafa, 33, said he had to cancel his wedding for the fight to take place and laughed off claims he would not be in attendance for the bout, in reference to when he pulled out of a scheduled showdown with Tim during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
"I'm the more experienced fighter, I've been in there with bigger names and beaten bigger names," he said.
"But there's no pressure on me I'm expected to lose that's why it says 'Tszyu v Zerafa'. But the Tszyu legacy is on the line.
"Tim fell short and there's only one more to save them. Not many people get too many chances at saving the last name. I do believe there's levels to this.
"There's a level above me and a level below me. I don't think he will be on my level on January 16."
Tszyu, 27, denied his family's legacy rests on his shoulders and insists he "wants to make a name for myself."
The Sydney fighter said he's wanted to fight Zerafa ever since he made light of his father Kostya's knockout loss to the late Ricky Hatton, which ultimately ended his career.
Nikita Tszyu punches Lulzim Ismaili during the WBO Inter-Continental Super Welterweight Title bout at ICC Sydney Theatre on August 20, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) Getty
During the lead up to the 2021 fight with Tim, Zerafa called himself "Micky Hatton" and said he was ready to do what Hatton did to his famous father.
The comment agitated the Tszyu family, and Nikita did not shy away from that fact during the media gathering.
Tszyu also questioned the absence of Zerafa's "bad boy" image, during the press conference.
"I think it all started from the disrespectful comments he made about my family, back when he was being the bad guy," Tszyu said.
Michael Zerafa defeats Mikey Dahlman. No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous
"The stuff he said about my dad. I saw that part where he said 'I'm going to bring out Micky Hatton'. These kinds of things I can't forgive. It's just who I am.
"Those comments they stuck with me. Now five years on, we're in this together."
A location has yet to be confirmed for the January 16 bout but Sydney and Melbourne are most likely ruled out, with both fighters wanting to do battle in neutral territory.
That makes Queensland the most likely option.
Tszyu made a winning return after a year out following hand surgery with a TKO of the previously undefeated Macedonian Lulzim Ismaili.
On the same card in August, Zerafa (34-5, 22KO) smashed American Mikey Dahlman, also inside two minutes, to claim the WBO intercontinental middleweight strap.
