Australian boxer Michael Zerafa has sensationally hinted he may walk away from the sport following a controversial and hostile bout against rival Nikita Tszyu that ended in chaos and a 'no decision'.
Chaos in the ring as fight is waved off
The highly anticipated grudge match was stopped by the referee before the start of the third round, leading to furious scenes. Disappointed fans reacted by hurling beer cans and water bottles into the ring after the official result was declared a 'no contest'.
The stoppage came after Zerafa repeatedly told the ringside doctor "I can't see" following a series of head clashes in a frenetic second round. Officials later cited an "accidental head butt" near the end of that round as the reason for halting the fight.
Zerafa's conflicting statements spark confusion
In a confusing post-fight sequence, Zerafa changed his story during his in-ring interview. While broadcast audio clearly captured him telling the doctor he couldn't see, he later told the crowd, "I said it's blurry, but all good. Let's go."
"I don't know why everyone's booing me. I didn't stop it, the doctor stopped it. It's not my fault," Zerafa insisted to the hostile audience, before calling for an immediate rematch.
Backstage, his frustration grew. He claimed the doctor never gave him a chance to continue, simply waving the fight off after his response about blurry vision. "(There was no) 'Do you wanna continue? Do you wanna still fight?' Nothing," Zerafa lamented.
Explosive retirement hints in expletive-laden rant
The situation reached a boiling point when Zerafa spoke to host Ben Damon. In an emotional and expletive-laden rant, the fighter strongly suggested his career could be over.
"I don't know if they are going to see me back in the ring again. I'm f***ing done," Zerafa declared. "I've bled for this sport, I've done everything for this sport. I never get the credit I deserve. This is f***ing bullshit."
He expressed sympathy for Tszyu, the fight fans, and himself, while also questioning the actions of the New South Wales doctor. Zerafa later reiterated his desire to have continued the fight in a statement posted on his Instagram account.
The controversial conclusion has left the future of this fierce rivalry, and Zerafa's career, in serious doubt, overshadowing what was a brutal and compelling contest while it lasted.
