Popular Australian trainer Tommy Mercuri has called on Michael Zerafa’s brother to be banned from the national boxing scene for life after delivering a “dog shot” in the ring.
Already dubbed the bad boy of Australian boxing, Zerafa and his team are set to come under scrutiny from both the NSW Combat Authority and Australian promoters No Limit today after chaotic scenes inside the ICC Theatre on Wednesday night.
The drama started after just a round of a fight that saw Zerafa facing veteran Tommy Browne — who is trained by Mercuri — to earn a showdown with Nikita Tszyu.
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However the fight was waved off after just a round, with Browne tearing his bicep tendon from the bone.
A furious Zerafa immediately put his arms in the air at the announcement and shouted at Browne ‘you quit’ – a reference to what the Sydneysider had accused him of doing in his most recent KO loss against WBA champ Erislandy Lara.
That sledge prompted Browne’s trainer Mercuri to then have words with Zerafa.
Moments later, Zerafa’s brother, who was also a cornerman, entered the ring and struck Mercuri.
“And it was a dog shot,” Mercuri told Fox Sports Australia afterwards.
“I didn’t even see it.
“Just felt it.
“But he couldn’t even knock out his father. I’m as old as his father.
“But people like that shouldn’t be allowed in the corner.
“Nobody should be allowed in the corner with emotions like that.
“They’re clowns mate.”
Asked what punishment he expected to occur, Mercuri continued: “Zerafa’s brother should be banned.
“Banned from every venue in Australia.
“It’s ridiculous.”
Zerafa v Browne: Full Fight Highlights | 05:50
Asked if anyone had apologised, he continued: “No, and I wouldn’t accept one.
“They’re clowns.
“The guy (Zerafa) has no respect for anyone.
“At the end of that first round the doctor was there looking at Tommy — he called it – and then I asked how he was feeling and he says ‘there’s a hole in there’.
“Next thing Zerafa has come over calling him a dog, saying he quit.
“So then I start having words with him … then his brother comes in and dog shots me.
“Who are these people?
“This is a sport, man.
“You don’t do that.”
Speaking after the incident, No Limit boss Matt Rose stressed the issue would be followed up and sanctions imposed.
However he added that the chaotic scenes would not impact Zerafa’s three fight deal with No Limit.
“We don’t accept that sort of behaviour,” Rose said. “Sometimes people get caught in situations that they shouldn’t and this is one of them.
“He has left the building now.
“At the end of the day, we want the two fighters fighting, no one else.
“Tommy (Browne) is OK and everyone else seems to have settled down now.”
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Rose added Zerafa’s contract remained secure.
“Michael did nothing wrong in there,” he stressed. “Obviously his brother will be sanctioned in some way.”
Asked about Browne’s injury, Rose added: “It’s ripped off the bone.
“You can see it.
“There were some good exchanges in that first round, Zerafa came out with some good exchanges and then Tommy came home.
“I was looking forward to a good fight.
“We can only see what happens in the next one.”
Mercuri said afterwards he had never been involved in an incident like it in all his years as a trainer.
“I’ve been involved in boxing all my life,” he continued. “Been a trainer for 28 years.
“And never have I been involved in anything like that.
“I was arguing with Zerafa, but it was never going to be me than that.
“He was calling Tommy Browne a dog, a quitter … you don’t do that.
“He was legitimately injured.”
Three years after famously walking away from a fight with Australian superstar Tim Tszyu, Zerafa is now seemingly set for a shot at his younger brother.
Zerafa is convinced that he can beat the younger Tszyu later this year and then catapult himself straight into an all-Australian blockbuster with big brother – who is himself faces reigning IBF champ Bakhram Murtazaliev in October.
Fox Sports Australia understands Team Tszyu are more than comfortable with the 26-year-old Nikita squaring off next against the man who famously stopped Jeff Horn in 2019 and also took British superstar Kell Brook 12 rounds.
Coming into Wednesday night, there were undeniably questions about exactly where the polarising Melburnian was at given he has fought only twice in more than two years – a lacklustre win over Italy’s Danilo Creati and brutal KO loss against WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara.
Zerafa however exploded straight out of the blocks and took it to Browne, who is understood to have injured his left arm late in the first, when lunging with a jab.
He had the injured limb in a sling backstage afterwards and conceded he would require surgery.
Zerafa, meanwhile, looks set for a showdown with ‘The Butcher’.
Despite his comeback from a world title loss lasting only three minutes, there is still no doubting the Melburnian (31-5) is now easily the biggest test of The Butcher’s career.
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