Aussie boxing star Tim Tszyu was left staggered by a bizarre approach from rival Michael Zerafa on Wednesday night.
Zerafa claimed an emphatic victory against German Besir Ay via a seventh-round TKO at the Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday night.
The Australian, 32, dominated the fight before landing a brutal uppercut and a right-hand hook on his opponent.
While he survived two knockdowns, the referee deemed he was not in a fit state to continue and called the bout in round seven.
It means he has now claimed back-to-back victories following his defeat by Erislandy Lara 12 months ago, which means Zerafa’s record now sits at 33-5-0.
Despite revealing that he thought he had broken his hand in the bout, attention quickly changed following the fight to potential future opponents.
Tim Tszyu (pictured) was left stunned on Wednesday after Michael Zerafa claimed victory against Besir Ay
After claiming the win, Zerafa subsequently turned to bid Tszyu ‘good luck’ in his upcoming bout against Joey Spencer
‘The main question I always get asked is Tim Tszyu and I know he’s here in the building,’ Zerafa said in the ring.
While the pair have held a heated rivalry over the years, with Zefara having branded Tszyu a ‘gold-digging ex-girlfriend’ and having previously claimed he would ‘end Tszyu’s career’, tonight he shocked the audience by uncharacteristically bidding his bitter rival good luck in his upcoming fight.
‘I’ve got nothing against Tim. He’s got a big fight coming up and as an Aussie, I’m getting behind him.
‘I hope he beats Spencer, I think he does beat Joey Spencer and he’s done nothing to me.
‘Obviously, when we fight each other, we want to punch each other’s head in.
‘But he’s a great athlete, I believe I’m a great athlete and that’s the biggest fight in Australia and I’m not going to talk smack about Tim.
‘He’s got a big fight and god bless Tim and his team, hopefully, they get the win.’
Tszyu is coming off the back of successive defeats and will square off against undefeated American Spencer on April 6.
Zerafa (right) claimed victory in seven rounds, with officials stopping the fight after Ay (left) had been knocked down twice
The pair have danced back and forth over a deal to fight over the years, with Zerafa understood to have previously rejected a $2.5million offer to fight Tszyu back in 2023.
Responding to Zerafa’s comments, Tszyu said: ‘He did a smart job (against Ay), did what he needed to do. Didn’t get hit much and outboxed him in every round,’ he said.
‘I’ve already got a few boys on the list and right now the list just keeps growing and growing.’
It comes after Tszyu was also called out by Keith Thurman on Wednesday.
‘I’m just looking at one fight at the moment and that’s Joey Spencer.
‘(Zerafa) woke up today and he’s in a different mood.
‘I’ve never had compliments (from him) in my life. I’ve just got to take it all in.’
Thurman had dispatched Aussie star Brock Jarvis in three rounds on Wednesday but called out Tszyu after the fight.
Tsyu (pictured) is due to face Joey Spencer on April 6 and said that was his only focus right now
Zerafa and Tszyu have been locked into a bitter rivalry for many years but the former appears to have changed his tune
It comes as Keith Thurman, who also won on Wednesday claimed victory on Wednesday and called out Tszyu
‘Yeah, I just raised the bar on you, Tszyu,’ he said.
‘This is three years of inactivity. You see what I do.
‘You wanna come back, baby. You gotta come back hard, baby. Show them what you got.
‘Best of luck to Tim. I’m looking forward to fighting anybody in the world of boxing.
‘If that contract (with Tszyu) manifests, you know what Keith Thurman will do. Send the contract. I’ll sign it. I’ll be happy to take the fight.’
