In a stunning turn of events, Australian boxing star Tim Tszyu has voiced a level of regret over his part in the fierce backlash directed at rival fighter Michael Zerafa. This comes after a controversial bout between Zerafa and Tim's brother, Nikita Tszyu, ended abruptly last weekend.
The Controversial Stoppage and Immediate Fallout
The highly anticipated fight between Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa was dramatically stopped by the ringside doctor before the third round could begin. The decision came after Zerafa repeatedly told the doctor "I can't see" following a series of accidental head clashes in the frenetic opening rounds.
The crowd erupted in jeers as officials declared the bout a 'no decision' due to an accidental head butt. In a tense post-fight interview in the ring, Zerafa insisted his vision was blurry but said he was ready to continue, questioning why fans were booing him. "I don't know why everyone's booing me. I didn't stop it, the doctor stopped it. It's not my fault," he said at the time, immediately calling for a rematch.
Tim Tszyu, who was ringside, confronted Zerafa, mocking him as a "pussy" and "cowardly," fuelling a wave of anger from the Tszyu family and boxing fans towards the Victorian fighter.
Apologies and a Change of Heart
On Monday, Zerafa broke his silence with a lengthy statement, taking "full responsibility" for his post-fight comments and apologising for his "poor choice of words." He explained that he was speaking with adrenaline high and emotions raw, and that medical observations later recorded his vision as 6/20, confirming an issue. However, he conceded his wording was poorly handled.
Perhaps more surprisingly, Tim Tszyu later issued his own emotional video response, expressing a sentiment he never thought he'd feel. "I never thought I'd be making this video, especially about someone that I've had so much anger towards," Tszyu admitted.
He acknowledged his own role in the backlash, stating, "I'd say at first I was part of this whole backlash but I think we've gone a step too far... I think over the last few days, just watching it from the outside, we have gone too far."
In a heartfelt conclusion, Tszyu said, "I never thought that this day would ever come but I do feel sorry for Michael. I do feel sorry for him. We are fighters but at the same time we're all human beings."
Career Crossroads and Community Reaction
The bitter episode leaves Michael Zerafa fighting for his career amid significant anger from Nikita Tszyu's camp and promoters. There is currently no clarity on whether a rematch will be organised.
The drama is compounded by history, as Zerafa had previously angered the Tszyu family by pulling out of a scheduled fight with Tim back in 2021, a fact Nikita had used for motivation.
Australian boxing legend Jeff Horn weighed in on Tim Tszyu's apology, commenting simply, "Well done Tim. I hope Zerafa is coping." The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the intense pressure and personal toll on fighters in the spotlight of Australian boxing.
