Nikita Konstantinovich Tszyu vs. Michael Zerafa & Blake Wells vs. Ainiwaer Yilixiati RBR.

Zerafa fumbled that badly. He could have done a better quit job by taking a punch and pretending to be super hurt and got stopped that way. What he did was just so tasteless. The clear quit job and then lying directly after it is unrecoverable in the Aussie market now especially since that was a PPV. Other promotors elsewhere who are building prospects at 160 will be looking at that and thinking that Zerafa might be a bargain now. They can offer him a reduced purse to fight a prospect and feel confident that he will pack it in once the going gets tough. I think he could get some fights like that but the negativity surrounding what he did is probably too damaging for him to have a big fight in Australia again.

 

I noticed Nikita had a clear strength advantage without landing any big punches. Not a big fan of Nikita’s skills but he rag dolled Zerafa in the clinches to a degree you don’t often see in boxing.
I’m pretty sure that played a big role in Zerafa deciding to turn it up. He knew he was physically outmatched so thought he could wimp it out. Hes a wimp.

 

Nikita looked like a villain in a movie lol

 

He barely had a scratch on above his eyelid. What a terrible liar.

 

Zerafa wanted out but didn't want to take the loss. If he stayed with his story that he couldn't see, he would have been fine. But he could clearly see and was rattled by the crowd and under pressure folded like a deck chair.

 

oh ok, didnt realise that
thought MZ was based in Melbourne and had a trainer down there

 

Fox reckons Zerafa could receive a life ban for the stunt, which points to severe issues not related to this fight like perhaps PTSD as Tszyu mentioned, or another neurological, psychological or psychiatrist disorder. It was early primary school level "deception", and the only one who believed it was Mick.

 

He seen others put Nikita down with right hands in the opening of fights.
His plan was to do the same and finish Nikita off in 1st round.
He couldn't do it and Nikita started to get some range in the 2nd round and was warming up.
He knows after the 2nd round Nikita is like a Zombie that wants to do real bad things to you.
Zarafa didn't want none of that and he would of had an escape plan from day 1 if he couldn't KO Nikita in the 1st round.

 

On rewatch I saw Zerafa was already complaining to the ref about Nikita rough housing him in the first round so I reckon you are right he would’ve tried getting Nikita disqualified or fake a hand injury maybe.

 

He would of had a list of escapes. Pretend slip and claim twisted knee. Wild swing that misses and claim shoulder injury. Fake hand injury.
He was not going to the 3rd round.
He wanted a NC to save himself from having an L next to his name especially from inexperienced little brother Nikita so he wasn't going to fake a knock out from a punch.

 

I think he might’ve gone another round or 2 but the opportunity was there when the doc was checking him out and he took it.

 

I think that 'could receive a life ban' is just clickbait. Can't see how that could even be a possibility.

 

Meanwhile, Zerafa has issued a far from satisfactory statement that isn't going to help his cause at all :

MICHAEL ZERAFA'S STATEMENT

"Tonight didn't end the way anyone wanted.

"A no contest is a tough pill to swallow, especially when I truly felt like we were just getting started. Nikita and I were warming up, finding our rhythm and I genuinely believe we were about to put on a show for everyone watching. I have nothing but respect for him as a fighter and as a man.

"I've sacrificed more than most people will ever see to be here. This isn't a hobby for me. I am a fighter and this is my full-time living. An accidental head clash resulted in me not being able to see out of one eye. I followed the doctor's instructions and told the truth about my condition at all times.

"What's difficult to accept is that at no point was I asked whether I could continue, nor was I given the opportunity to try. When you prepare for months, put your body on the line and make the sacrifices required at this level, having that decision taken completely out of your hands is incredibly frustrating.

"I respect the process, but I won't pretend it doesn't hurt. Fighters live for these moments and when they're cut short through circumstances beyond your control, it leaves a bitter feeling."

 

A life ban is a stretch, but an appropriate suspension might have the same effect.

He seems to be locked into kiddy level histrionics and he doesn't like to be hit. Maybe the Lara fight has triggered him too. What mature and rational adult would think all this crap would fly? Doctors are virtually unimpeachable so he adds to it attacking the quack. Honestly my 12yo kids used to come up with far better scenarios when they were trying to put one over.

 

So in other words he is still showing what a lying coward he is even though there is proof everywhere he quit and not once signalled he wanted to fight on.
Was interesting watching his previous trainer being interviewed on youtube yesterday. Told it how it was that he flat out pulled out of the Tim fight for no reason and threw the same trainer and team under the bus. Wanted to claim a fake injury the night before the Hardman fight,
basically a head case that needed more mental than boxing training.