Michael Zerafa enters Friday’s showdown with Nikita Tszyu carrying a changed outlook on life and boxing, shaped by recent events involving Anthony Joshua. Zerafa meets Tszyu at a 157-pound catchweight at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in what is set to be one of the biggest all-Australian bouts of their careers, and potentially the final fight of Zerafa’s long career.
With 39 fights behind him, Zerafa acknowledged that the stakes are high. A loss to the unbeaten 27-year-old Tszyu could leave him without domestic rivals or a clear route back to world level. The bout’s intensity has been fueled by long-running tension between Zerafa and Tszyu’s older brother Tim, adding to the pay-per-view appeal and expectations of a sellout crowd of around 10,000.
Watch Tszyu vs. Zerafa face-off here.
Zerafa said his perspective shifted after watching Joshua win a massive fight against Jake Paul, only to survive a car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of Joshua’s friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. The experience reminded him that boxing is only part of life. While he still carries a must-win mentality, he now balances it with an understanding that family, health, and life beyond the ring matter just as much.
That mindset has influenced his preparation. Zerafa revealed he has doubled down on mental training, continuing regular sessions with a sports psychologist while placing greater emphasis on rest and mental recovery. He believes the approach leaves him better equipped for difficult moments in the ring and more present overall, describing the work as “super healthy”.
Despite visible tension during fight week, Zerafa insisted there is no personal animosity toward Tszyu. He described the undefeated contender as dangerous but inexperienced, aggressive, and willing to come forward as for him, the bout is strictly business.
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