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Polarising Aussie on verge of shock world title fight after Tszyu disaster
Exclusive: Polarising Aussie boxer Michael Zerafa is on the verge of a shock world title fight which he hopes can put an exclamation point on a rollercoaster career.
The 34-year-old Victorian is seeking a bout with Yoenli Hernandez in either December or January, which will likely be for the vacant WBO middleweight belt.
Michael Zerafa during his win over Alejandro Ortiz. Getty Images.
Zerafa revealed the news to nine.com.au on Friday after the WBO released a statement demanding Denzel Bentley agree to fight mandatory challenger Hernandez, or vacate his title by Saturday lunchtime.
Bentley has signed with the controversial Zuffa Boxing league and looks poised to give up his WBO title, which Hernandez will be entitled to fight for.
Zerafa wants to be the man to meet Hernandez in that bout and says his new promoter Eddie Hearn is “working behind the scenes” to secure the title fight.
It would be the first time Zerafa has fought for a world title since losing to Erislandy Lara in early 2024. It was the same card on which Zerafa’s longtime Aussie rival Tim Tszyu lost his world titles to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas.
Ironically, Tszyu is now in negotiations to fight Lara for the WBA middleweight belt.
“It’s funny how everything works out,” Zerafa told nine.com.au on Friday.
“Eddie Hearn basically said to my management, do you want the world title fight? And we said yes 100 per cent.
“Eddie’s the smartest man, he does this on the daily. He gets people world titles, he works with the biggest names in the world of boxing. I'm grateful.
“Normally you get these opportunities at the start of your career, it’s rare you get them at the end of your career. I’m super grateful they are giving me one last chance at it, and I’m not letting it slide this time.”
Zerafa is still in negotiations to fight Chris Eubank Jr, as revealed by nine.com.au last month, but will put that on hold to compete for the WBO title.
He says Hearn – the powerful boss of English organisation Matchroom Boxing - will push for the event to be held in Melbourne.
Nikita Tszyu (left) and Michael Zerafa after their no result in January. No Limit Boxing.
His reveal comes on the same day No Limit Boxing locked in big American fights for Nikita Tszyu and Liam Paro.
Zerafa has endured an on-again, off-again relationship with No Limit, who are considered the leading promoters in Australia currently.
He first raised their ire during COVID when he withdrew from a fight against Tim Tszyu at the last minute, and was then blackballed by the company again in January when a bout with Nikita Tszyu ended in farcical scenes, with the fight ending when Zerafa told the doctor he couldn’t see properly.
He knows public opinion is split, but hopes a world title fight in Australia will restore his reputation among boxing fans.
“I wasn’t going to give up (on my world title dream), it was inevitable,” he said.
“I know I’ve got a lot of haters and a lot of doubters, everyone is going off that one fight (against Nikita Tszyu). One fight shouldn’t define a career.
“I was once the guy who took the belts off Jeff Horn, went the distance with Kell Brook, fought for multiple world titles. Everyone forgets that. I’m here to prove I’m still here, I’m ready to go, and I’m ready to bring back that world title.”
