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

Had to laugh at the interview in the change rooms after the fight where Zerafa calls over cut man Matt Clark to show there is no blood on the cotton swab.

Michael, Michael, Michael,
The doctor didn't stop the fight because there was blood in your eye and he didn't stop it because you were cut. He stopped it because YOU said you couldn't see. That you lied about it later, only makes you look stupider.

@ipswich express

 

Yep here's the interview with Sam Labruna, Zerafa's old trainer.

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It wasn't a bad cut as far as cuts from a head clash go. Bleeding was around the eye, not into it. I've seen far worse.

 

So had the doctor, but once Zerafa said 'he couldn't see' it was over. The referee explained to him what he already knew, seconds later and there was no protest from Zerafa. He did not want to continue.

 

Very capable fighter Zerafa but the picture is becoming clearer that he had self-belief issues.

 

He has blown any chance of a commentary gig now also. I suspect he will have to retire and lay low for a couple years as it will be brought up at every opportunity, and will probably follow him ad infinitum. If he'd put on an effort and was laid out he would still have some dignity.

 

He'll turn 34 in March and retirement has to be a consideration after further damaging his already damaged brand.

Perhaps he'll head overseas for a couple of paydays? But they are hardly likely to be big ones.

 

I even thought in the Lara fight that it wasn't simply just that Lara was better than him I thought that Zerafa looked scared even on his ring walk.

 

In the change rooms before the Nikita fight, whilst Nikita looked relaxed hitting the pads, Zerafa just stalked around his room, looking very serious. Not a smile to be found. He continued to look serious throughout his ring walk and even in the ring prior to the bell.

Not suggesting Zerafa was scared but he was not relaxed. If anything, he looked worried.

 

The only way Zerafa can repay the faith is fight Nikita for free, on a freely streamed platform, and ticket holders from the first fight get free tickets. Any money made from the fight must go 100% to Nikita and he must state that in a media interview.

 

Won't happen, but a gesture like that would be about Zerafa's only way back.

 

I can't see anyone taking a punt on him now.

 

He's ranked #4 in the world by the WBA. Unless they drop him like a hot potato, which is unlikely due to a NC, he'll will land a fight somewhere overseas. That's the reality of the situation.

 

Zerafa has issued another statement and though it again falls short of expectation, it does include a form of apology. Pathetically, it still drips of 'woe is me, poor hard done by me.'

 

At the pre-fight rules meeting Selin, girlfriend of Zerafa, the blonde in the ring after the fight, addressed referee Chris Condon about cuts.

“I was asked by Michael Zerafa’s partner (Selin) what would happen if there was a cut ... who would stop the fight, and I said me, as the referee, I would stop the fight.

“I was shocked. I have never had that question asked of me in my career before at a rules meeting and I’ve done hundreds of fights.”

Now that, is one hell of a 'coincidence.'