The much-anticipated Australian domestic clash between Zerafa and rising star Nikita Tszyu, brother of former world champion Tim Tszyu and son of Australian boxing legend Kosta Tszyu, was declared a no-contest just seconds into the third round at the Brisbane Entertainment Center in Boondall, Australia.
Advertisement
An accidental clash of heads caused a cut around Zerafa’s left eye in the second round. The cut was far from one of the worst seen in boxing and appeared to be manageable.
But when referee Chris Condon called a timeout seconds into the third round for the ringside doctor to check the former title challenger’s eye, Zerafa repeatedly said the cut was affecting his vision and he couldn’t see. As a result, the doctor advised Condon to stop the fight, and since the cut was caused by an accidental clash of heads and four rounds had not been completed, the result was declared a no contest.
Advertisement
The finish was extremely controversial, with boos echoing throughout the arena and objects thrown into the ring by a crowd of 10,000 in Brisbane, who had paid to see one of the biggest Australian grudge matches in recent years and were left with a disappointing anticlimax.
Nikita, the FOX Australia broadcast team and online claimed that Zerafa had chosen to resign rather than fight adversity.
“I didn’t think it was that bad,” Tszyu said of Zerafa’s cut. “It’s a shame, but what can you do? At least I got two rounds.”
“I definitely think so (I think Zerafa quit). I think he underestimated me, and once the cut happened, I think a little bit of PTSD kicked in. His emotions got the better of him, he started panicking. Some of the things that Paulie Malignaggi criticized him for: that he’s heartless and vetted… once that little bit of pain hits, he looks for a way out right away.”