Australian world title challenger Michael Zerafa has revealed he and Tim Tszyu’s team were messed around with by venue officials as they struggled to find the entrance.
Zerafa takes on Erislandy Lara for the WBA middleweight title, but he had his own battle with trying to find the correct entrance at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
BOXING: Don’t miss Tim Tszyu in a unified World Title fight this Sunday against 6-foot 6 Towering Inferno Sebastian Fundora. Plus catch fellow Aussie Michael Zerafa taking on Erislandy Lara for his shot to become the Middle Weight World Champion LIVE from Las Vegas | SUN 31 MAR 11AM AEDT | Exclusive to Main Event, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription needed.
Speaking to Main Event’s Ben Damon, Zerafa spoke about how he and Tszyu’s camp were left out in the rain while attempting to get into the venue.
“It was a little bit unorganised,” Zerafa said.
“Me and Tim Tszyu’s team were all out the front trying to get in. We were getting wet.
“We’re the show here today. It was a little bit unfortunate, but we’re here now and no hurdles left to jump.”
TSZYU’S ‘DANGER’ MESSAGE TO US RIVAL AND KEY FIGHT DAY PHONE CALL
Australia’s Tim Tszyu has described himself a “danger” fight for either Terence Crawford or Errol Spence Jnr — while also revealing how a conversation with the Gypsy King finally convinced him of his standing in world boxing.
Set to face towering American southpaw Sebastian Fundora in a Las Vegas title blockbuster today, Tszyu will also arrive at T Mobile Arena later today and, before making the biggest ring walk of his career, phone home to grandfather Boris, back home in Sydney.
While usually unmissable in every Tszyu fight corner – and, indeed, training session – Boris has been unable to make the long haul to the world’s fight capital given his age and difficulties with travelling.
Yet when it comes to family backing, young brother Nikita has been a constant by Tszyu’s side for the past few weeks and knows first-hand his power – explaining how two secret sparring sessions between the pair turned bad after the world champ “f…ed me up”.
START TIME: What time does Tszyu vs Fundora start in Australia?
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything to know ahead of Tszyu vs Fundora
Despite Sunday’s fight being just his second Stateside, Tszyu has become the talk of American boxing this week as coaches, commentators, even fellow fighters discuss the storylines around a Crawford or Spence showdown.
Yet speaking with Fox Sports Australia on the eve of his showdown, ‘The Soul Taker’ described said spotlight as one he only truly started to realise 10 months ago — following a chance meeting with British heavyweight star Tyson Fury.
Back in May last year, Fury jetted into Melbourne to watch close mate Joseph Parker fight on a No Limit Pay-Per-View event in Melbourne – which also saw Tszyu’s younger brother Nikita fight, and stop, local boy Ben Bommber.
During the evening, the Gypsy King not only chatted with the eldest Tszyu sibling, but made special praise of his stoppage win against Tony Harrison only weeks earlier.
“And I started tripping out,” Tszyu recounts with a laugh.
“I had Tyson Fury in front of me and saying ‘I watched your fight with Harrison … I liked that fight’.
“I thought ‘hell, this guy is watching me fight?’
“So now, the attention isn’t really a shock.
“Because you’re talking about elite fighters.
“And I’m elite.”
Full Tszyu v Fundora Weigh In | 05:19
While Tszyu will not have pop in his corner today, the fighter stressed he would still be on the phone to his number one supporter shortly before walking out to face Fundora.
“I’ll definitely give him a call on fight day,” Tszyu said.
“He’s my number one man.
“Everything belongs to him.
“I’ve spoken to him every day for the past two months … (laughs) although mostly it’s him calling me non stop.
“Because if he rings and I don’t pick up, it means I’ve then got another 20 missed calls.
“I don’t think he knows how to leave a message — he just calls and then, if nobody answers, keeps pressing the button.”
Elsewhere, Tszyu also said he was “very pleased” to know his Hall of Fame father Kostya would not be going crazy from ringside after plans to attend his blockbuster were brought undone late.
Asked why he was so sweet with dad’s absence, he explained: “We’re very close, but also quite similar.
“And when you put two alphas together in one room (Tszyu starts bashing his fists together).
“Especially when your son is the alpha now, it’s a bit hard.
“Even though I respect him so much, say ‘yeah, yeah, yeah dad …’.”
TSZYU’S BIG CALL ON POTENTIAL NEXT FIGHT
While all his focus has been on Fundora, Tszyu also welcomed talk of Crawford being next up should he unify the WBO and WBC titles.
Asked what message he has for the US superstar now moving up to become mandatory for the WBO super welterweight crown, Tszyu grinned: “Danger … don’t play with fire’.”
Australia’s boxing poster boy also welcomed talk that Spence will be in the crowd, saying simply “I’ve wanted Errol for a long time”.
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia, talks between Tszyu and Team Crawford have already been underway for months – with the fighter’s manager Glen Jennings even confirming an offer to throw down just before Christmas last year.
Yet with the undisputed welterweight king having now confirmed his interest in moving up to become mandatory for Tszyu’s strap, only a loss this weekend could cruel one of the biggest fights ever in Aussie boxing.
Asked what Crawford would learn about Tszyu in Sunday’s headliner, the Aussie replied: “He already knows.
“After I beat Carlos Ocampo last year, I remember Crawford tweeted out ‘he’s dangerous’.
“So he knows.
“And he’s a fighter who is willing to take on dangerous opponents, take on big challenges.
“So for me a fight like that, going up against the world’s No.1 pound-for-pound … it’s about greatness.
“But right now, my only focus is Fundora.”
One fighter backing a big Tszyu victory is younger brother and Australian super welterweight champ, Nikita.
Back in February, the WBO champ revealed how the brother’s famed sparring ban had been temporarily lifted so that Nikita, a southpaw, could help him prepare for initial opponent Erickson Lubin.
However it only lasted two spars as little brother won the first and, naturally, big brother sought redemption in the second.
“It was during one of my first spars for this latest preparation,” Tim explained at the time.
“I went six rounds with somebody and then in comes Nikita for the last four. I’m tired, sore and my brother comes in all fresh, ready to go and belts the f… out of me.
“Body, head, body, head … (laughs) I left the ring with a red face, contemplating my life.”
But the following Thursday, he says, “I put Nikita in first”.
Asked for his version of events this week, Nikita laughed: “Exactly the way my brother described it to you.
“That’s all fairly spot on.
“I got him in the first one and then, in the second, he f…ed me up.”
Only last week, US media confirmed Crawford had enforced his ‘WBO Super Champion’ status during a visit with the sanctioning body last month in San Juan.
The designation allows claimants to immediately challenge for a WBO title at another weight class.
Crawford has not fought since stopping Errol Spence Jnr last July, however a showdown with Tszyu Stateside would be a guaranteed blockbuster.
MAIN CARD
Tim Tszyu v Sebastian Fundora — for the WBO and WBC super welterweight title
Rolly Romero v Isaac Cruz — for WBA super lightweight title
Erislandy Lara v Michael Zerafa — for WBA middleweight title
Julio Cesar Martinez v Angelino Cordova — for the WBC flyweight title
Serhii Bohachuk def. Brian Mendoza via UD — for the interim WBC super welterweight title
HOW DO I WATCH?
Australian fight fans can catch all the action from Tszyu’s world title showdown against Fundora on Main Event via Kayo Sports.
The prelims are also available to watch on Kayo Sports as well as Channel 503.
BOXING: Tszyu v Fundora + Zerafa v Lara LIVE from Las Vegas | SUN 31 MAR 11AM AEDT | Exclusive to Main Event, order on Kayo Sports. No Kayo subscription needed.
WHEN DOES IT START?
The prelims for Tszyu vs Fundora kick off at 9am (AEDT) before the main card gets underway from 11am.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Tim Tszyu
Age: 29
Record: 24-0 (14KO)
Height: 174cm
Reach: 179cm
Stance: Orthodox
Sebastian Fundora
Age: 26
Record: 20-1-1 (13KO)
Height: 197cm
Reach: 203cm
Stance: Southpaw
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