Michael Zerafa says Tim Tszyu is like a “gold-digging ex-girlfriend” after Tszyu made the surprising declaration that he would be open to fighting his arch-rival if a world title was up for grabs.
Zerafa received official word from the IBF that he will fight Brazilian Esquiva Falcao for the middleweight belt made vacant by fight great Gennady Golovkin in the next 90 days. He’s also the No.1 contender for the WBA and could fight for that sanctioning body’s belt regardless of the result with Falcao.
It’s understood Tszyu, who faces off against the American Tony Harrison at Qudos Bank Arena on March 12 for the WBO interim super welterweight championship, has warmed to the idea of taking on Zerafa if he wins the belt, despite saying he would never share a ring with him after he pulled out of their fight in 2021.
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“Now he’s saying, ‘I’d fight Zerafa if he wins a world title,’ what the f–k is that bullshit?” Zerafa told Wide World of Sports.
“I don’t really care. I’m not worried. I don’t need Tim. It’s the fight Australia wants. For me it’s to shut everybody up. I’m fighting for a world title, why would I need Tim Tszyu?
“If I win two world titles, why do I need him? It’s a fight I want to give back to Australia. But if it never happens, it never happens. I don’t need him he doesn’t need me.
“But I’m going to get a world title shot before him. I’ve got my shot without him. My career is not defined by Tim Tszyu. I don’t need him. I’m just doing me.”
Zerafa questioned why Tszyu would be talking about him in the lead up to his fight with Harrison, a bout the Aussie middleweight tips the American to win. He even suggested ticket sales for Tszyu’s bout against Harrison must be low because they need to mention his name in the lead up to the fight.
”Tszyu is plain as Vanilla he can’t put two sentences together he just ums and ahs. If I’m not in the fight game who are they going to bag? Who are they going to hang shit on?” Zerafa asked.
“Now he’s put my name back in his mouth. He calls me a crazy ex-girlfriend but when it suits him or I’ve got something valuable, he comes out and says, ‘I want to fight Zerafa’.
“He’s like a gold-digging ex-girlfriend, he only wants to come back when there’s something valuable on the line.
“He says nobody knows me when he goes to America, yet I’ve fought in America, fought all around the world. They can’t even pronounce his f—-n last name right.”
As for Tszyu’s chances against Harrison, Zerafa believes the American has more experience and will outshine the Aussie. He felt even more compelled to pick Harrison after hearing Tszyu would entertain a move up in weight to fight him if it’s for a title.
“He’s worrying about me he should be worrying about Harrison it’s funny how the tables turn,” Zerafa said.
“Credit to Tszyu for taking on Harrison, it’s a hard fight. Harrison is no slouch. If it’s the same Harrison that fought Charlo the first time rocks up, he’s going to be a very hard man to beat. My personal opinion, I think Harrison has a little more class.”
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