The long awaited fight between two of the biggest names in Australian boxing will take place at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre this July.

Four years in the making, it’s no easy tale that led either fighter to this point, but now that they’ve both arrived, neither will take a backwards step.

Tim Tszyu, the son of legendary former boxer Kosta, has proven himself time and time again. Going into the July fight unbeaten, the prodigy of Australian boxing is coming off a five round demolition of Irishman Dennis Hogan, earning himself the WBO Super Welterweight Title, the belt he’ll put on the line against Zerafa.

The resumed No. 1 contender for the unified WBO, IBF, WBA and WBC super welterweight titles, is likely to go onto fight Brian Castano or Jermell Charlo later this year as those two fighters do battle.

“Where I want to be, I have to make a statement,” the unbeaten star told Ben Damon on Main Event’s Boxing Podcast.

Asked what that looks like, Tszyu was unequivocal, “Out, out, out before the 12th round,” Tszyu said.

“Nar, a win’s a win. But I’m looking to go my hardest,”

“I think he’ll be awkward at first. Not awkward, he’ll be hard to hit at first but once the pace goes into my favour we’ll see a change of fight,” he predicted.

“We’ll see what he brings and what his game-plan is, and counter that.”

Michael Zerafa hasn’t had an ideal run up to this fight, in fact, it couldn’t of gone worse. Hospitalised in mid-may, there were many speculating that he wouldn’t be fit enough to step into the ring come July. Then, to throw another hurdle his way, a Covid breakout in Melbourne forced the state into lockdown, and Zerafa’s training into chaos.

Zerafa is sitting at 28-4-0 with 17 KO’s to his name, he’ll go into this bout as the underdog, but that won’t phase him.

"He hasn't fought anyone like me and I've got a lot of things up my sleeve that I'm going to bring out on the night," he said.

"I believe if we implement what we've been doing in training, there's a huge possibility I can stop him - I've got a lot of power.

"He's a tough opponent, he's doing great. It's going to be a good fight and the winner out of all this is Australian boxing."
“I know deep down he knows I’m going to be his hardest test. I take nothing away from him, every fight he’s getting better. He is a champion, he holds himself really well, but I’ve been in there with some big boys, and heart is going to play a big role in this fight.

“I’m a different caliber. I’m not going to make any predictions but I know I’m going to be his hardest fight.”

Still, it is quite the unique situation for 26-year-old Tszyu, whose legendary father Kostya fought in Newcastle seven times.

Renaming it ‘Tszyucastle’ was the brainchild of promoter George Rose, who wondered if it could be done after Tszyu dismantled Dennis Hogan in his previous bout there to those chants.

“I thought we were mad for even thinking of it, so the fact we’ve been able to pull it off is pretty cool,” Rose said.
“Tim Tszyu must be one of the few athletes in the world to have a stadium named after them while they’re competing in it.”

The magnitude is not lost on Tszyu (18-0, 14K)), who is the WBO No.1 contender and wants to fight a unification bout for the super-welterweight championship if he disposes of Zerafa (28-4, 17KO). >>> https://www.tszyuzerafa.com/