Michael Zerafa has branded himself as the Deadpool of Australian boxing after becoming the focus of two major fight week dramas – including the forced rush for blood tests to ensure his hyped return to the ring can even go ahead on Wednesday night.
The eleventh hour medical issue comes as veteran rival Tommy Browne also slammed the Australian boxing bad boy, suggesting he had crossed the line by bringing up his divorce during a No Limit promotional video.
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia, Zerafa’s return to the Australian boxing scene remains in limbo due to drama surrounding the fighter’s medical clearance.
As of Tuesday’s weigh-ins, the fighter named ‘Pretty Boy’ had not yet been cleared by the NSW Combat Authority for his showdown with popular veteran Tommy Browne.
The fight should serve as co-main to Nikita Tszyu’s latest Pay-Per-View headliner against Koen Mazoudier at the ICC Theatre, Sydney.
However, on Monday afternoon, the NSW Combat Authority informed Zerafa that he had not yet completed the relevant medical tests to be cleared to fight.
This includes being signed off by a doctor and having blood tests done.
BOXING: NIKITA TSZYU V MAZOUDIER | WED 28 AUGUST 7pm AEST | Order now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
‘Zoned in’ Nikita ready for battle | 02:34
It is understood the misunderstanding arose because Zerafa’s last fight took place in the US, where he was stopped by WBA champion Erislandy Lara in March.
As a result, he is now considered an international fighter and must be cleared before 10am on fight day.
As soon as he was informed of the problem on Monday, Zerafa went to have the relevant tests done and his blood work done – but the results have not yet come back.
On Tuesday, both he and Browne weighed 71.2 kg.
In the main event, meanwhile, Tszyu hit the scales at 69.34kg, while Mazoudier was a slightly heavier 69.78kg.
Requested by Fox Sports Australia Then Zerafa laughed to explain the blood test situation: “You guys will do anything to tell a story about me.
“I think I need to sell Pay-Per-Views for the Main Event.
“I am the Australian boxer Deadpool.
“But my blood values are all good, No Limit is just waiting for an email.
“But officially I did everything months ago…”
So you weren’t in a hurry to test on Monday?
“On Monday I had blood drawn to keep everyone’s peace of mind,” Zerafa continued.
“I don’t know why they’re making me do this though, I fought three months ago.
“I did it to shut them up.”
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Zerafa also dismissed the drama when asked about it during the Main Event weigh-in coverage, saying, “If I sneezed, y’all would think I have Covid.”
Much less impressed, however, was Zerafa’s rival Browne, who was informed overnight of a No Limit promotion in which the fighter attempted to settle his divorce.
“He needs to focus on being a good husband,” Zerafa said. “Instead of worrying about educating me, he should be worrying about being a better husband.
Asked about the sled after weighing in at the ICC Theater on Tuesday, Browne said: “I caught a bit of it.
“He talks about being respectful and leaving personal matters aside, and I haven’t said anything about his life.
“I have been through a divorce.
“I don’t want to go into too much detail, but it was two and a half years ago.
“The divorce is over.
“I moved on with my life and boxing saved me.
“It has kept me from going down a bad path.
“I am a good father.
‘I was a good husband.
“New things are happening now in this life…”
Browne added that his rival had crossed the line, continuing: “He has gone too far by bringing up my personal life… and it has given me more motivation to hurt him tomorrow.”
And what does the situation say about his character?
“It says the country is right about him,” Browne shrugged. “He doesn’t have many fans and I understand why.”
BOXING: NIKITA TSZYU V MAZOUDIER | WED 28 AUGUST 7pm AEST | Order now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Nikita talks amusingly about Mazoudier clash | 02:27
But when asked if the build had become too personal, Zerafa said: “For him it’s something new, but for me I’ve been here before.
“When you’re the bad guy, every fight is like this.
“And I love it.
“I’m excited.
“Winning against me would be a world title for Tommy Browne.
‘And he says he’s better now than he was ten years ago.
“But that Tommy Browne doesn’t even beat 15-year-old Michael Zerafa.
‘I don’t know what he’s smoking.
“But tomorrow I can hit him on the head.”
Zerafa also admitted that he was ready for the post-weigh-in staredown to get violent, adding: “I was ready to put my forehead to his nose.
“I’ve done it before and had no dramas with it.”
Elsewhere, Browne also revealed that the contract he signed with No Limit also guaranteed him a shot at Nikita Tszyu if he could pull off an upset in the co-main.
