Copyright Yardbarker
Two weeks removed from a car accident where he suffered minor injuries, Nikita Tszyu will be returning to the ring at the top of the year. Tszyu (11-0, 9 KOs) will take on veteran Michael Zerafa (34-5, 22 KOs) on January 16 at a location to be announced soon and streaming live on PPV (Kayo Sports in Australia). Although Tszyu competes at the junior middleweight division of 154 pounds, this fight will be at the catchweight of 157 pounds. Below is the press release by No Limit Boxing with quotes from Tszyu, Zerafa and No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose. This bout carries more than four years of history. In 2020 Zerafa withdrew from a scheduled fight with Nikita’s older brother Tim Tszyu in Newcastle during the Covid pandemic. That decision sparked ongoing animosity between the camps. Since then tensions have escalated through public exchanges and repeated negotiations culminating in today’s confirmation. Zerafa with 39 professional fights 34 wins 5 losses and 22 knockouts is a former world title challenger and one of Australia’s most experienced fighters. He enters this clash on a run of strong form. In August he delivered a brutal first round knockout of Mikey Dahlman his third fight in a busy recent period. With years of experience on his side the Melbourne fighter is determined to silence his critics and defeat a Tszyu on the biggest stage. Tszyu has a record of 11 wins no losses with 9 knockouts and has rapidly become one of Australia’s most exciting boxing stars. The younger brother of former world champion Tim Tszyu overcame hand surgery that kept him out of the ring for much of 2024 and returned in August with a devastating first round stoppage of Lulzim Ismaili. Despite having just one round of action in the last 16 months the 27 year old Sydney fighter insists he is ready to step up and end the bad blood with Zerafa once and for all. Both fighters have faced obstacles in the lead up with Zerafa recovering from a training injury and Tszyu walking away unharmed from a minor car accident in October. Both camps have declared their fighters will be at their peak on fight night. No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose said: “We’ve been hanging to put this fight on. Tszyu and Zerafa are the two biggest names in Australian boxing right now. They’re two of the best fighters in the country, and it’s a matchup we’ve been desperate to deliver. To finally confirm it’s officially taking place on January 16 is massive. “We’ve had some false starts along the way. This fight was first meant to happen back in 2021, but circumstances stopped it. I never doubted it would happen. I put the energy out there and knew it would come together, because when you’ve got two fighters of this calibre, with the level of bad blood that exists, it’s inevitable.” “Michael Zerafa is the bad boy of Australian boxing, a guy who’s fought across the world, shared the ring with five former world champions, and is about to step into his 40th professional fight with 22 knockouts on his record. That’s double the number of fights Nikita has even had. The experience is all in Zerafa’s favour.” “On the other hand, Nikita Tszyu is the most exciting fighter in Australian boxing today. He’s unpredictable, an absolute entertainment machine. He’s fought nine undefeated opponents and taken the ‘0’ from seven of them. Nobody else’s first ten fights look like Nikita’s résumé.” “This is the best possible matchup in Australian boxing right now. Both of these guys are stars with genuine world-class credentials. What happens after this fight could open the door to anything on the global stage.” Nikita Tszyu said: “It all started with the disrespectful comments he made about my family years ago. I’m a very family-oriented person, and those words stuck with me. That’s where the rivalry began. Now, five years later, it’s me and him in the ring. This is my chance to close that chapter once and for all.” “I’ve heard excuse after excuse from him and his team about why the fight with my brother didn’t happen. He has a way of feeding the media stories to run with. This is my way to finally close that door.” “On January 16 my mindset will change. I’ll have no remorse. I’ll have to be a killer. I want this fight to go as long as possible, to stay in there, impose myself, and put a beating on him.” Michael Zerafa said: “I’ve fought the best and beaten the best in this country. I’ve been on top for many years. I know Nikita is a big puncher, but I believe there are levels in this sport, and on January 16 he won’t be on mine.” “I’ve been painted as the bad guy before. I can play the bad guy if needed, but in this fight, there’s no need. I’m just being me. People say I ran from the Tim fight, but that’s not true. I fought Kell Brook in England, went to Russia, went to Vegas. I’ve fought all around the world in opponents’ backyards. At the time, I had legal issues with my team. It wasn’t fear. I’ve fought bigger names than Tim Tszyu.” “I’ve cancelled my wedding for this fight. That’s how much I want it. This is happening. To everyone watching: don’t miss this fight. Tszyu has made a big mistake.” “I believe I’m the more experienced fighter. I’ve been in there with bigger names and beaten bigger names. There’s no pressure on me. I’m expected to lose. If I lose, people will just say, ‘Zerafa wasn’t good enough.’ But the Tszyu legacy is on the line. Not many people get two chances to save a family name. This is his chance.”
