Fenech urges Zerafa to retire from the sport… Dib also offers to support the beleaguered fighter

Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech has urged Michael Zerafa to retire from the sport – and plans to tell the beleaguered fighter as much personally while also offering his heavyweight support moving forward.

The declaration comes as fellow Aussie great Billy Dib also has also offered his personal support to Zerafa following what has been 48 hours of the Melburnian being “smashed” following that now infamous finish to his grudge match against Nikita Tszyu.

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Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Fenech suggested the healing process between Zerafa and fight fans could also be started by the fighter donating his entire purse to charity, while also revealing for the first time how he tried phoning Pretty Boy two days out from his headliner against Tszyu — so concerned was he by his approach to the bout.

Yet now as the fallout from last Friday night’s No Limit showcase goes nuclear, both Fenech and Dib have stressed their only concern is for mental wellbeing of Zerafa, who has been widely criticised following the premature end to his bout against Tszyu in Brisbane.

“And I’ve been holding off calling Michael because I know he is going through a lot,” Fenech said on Monday. “But I am going to try him today.

“Just to say that I’m thinking about him.

“I don’t know if he will take my call but Michael needs help right now.

“Yes, he did something deserving of criticism.

“And, yes, it was embarrassing.

“But there is no point adding any further to what has been said.

“Because who hasn’t done things in their life that weren’t embarrassing? I’ve certainly done things I wished I hadn’t.

“So now we have to move on from what was done to ‘why did Michael do that?’.

“Because Michael Zerafa has been a warrior … so something has to be wrong there.”

Chaos erupted inside Brisbane Entertainment Centre last Friday night after Zerafa brought a premature end to his hyped Australian grudge match against Tszyu by telling a doctor and referee Chris Condon he couldn’t see.

After suffering a cut over his eye in the second round, Zerafa was then assessed by ringside physician Dr Alan Saunders at the start of the third – saying at least twice “I can’t see” before the fight was called off.

Yet after the decision was announced, and the crowd started booing loudly, Zerafa said while still in the ring that he had never said he couldn’t see – only that his eyesight was “blurry” and he was OK to fight on – but was overruled.

In the 48 hours since, a host of Australia’s biggest fight names have come out firing against Zerafa, with Fenech initially branding the incident “disgraceful” and suggesting No Limit not pay the fighter dubbed Pretty Boy.

Dib, too, was also understandably critical, and while two of Australia’s most beloved world champions are certainly not backtracking from their initial claims, they have also urged for Zerafa to now received the support, and help, for whatever he is dealing with.

“And that’s why, personally, I believe the time has come for Michael Zerafa to stop fighting,” Fenech said.

“I love the kid, and I’ve always been a supporter.

“I was tipping him to win this fight.

“But he doesn’t need to be where he is right now, it’s not a good place for anyone.

“He wants to get married, enjoy his life.

“And Michael is going to need a lot of help getting back there.

“I know people will say ‘oh, he deserves to get criticised’.

“But does anyone deserve this much?

“And while I know there are plenty of people who don’t want to let up on Michael yet, all I can say is ‘imagine if that was your child going through the same thing’.”

Fenech also suggested Zerafa could start the process of making things right by donating his purse to charity.

“And, look, I understand someone might say ‘well, he still did all the training’,” Fenech continued. “But he trained to fight.

“Same as I know people went to Mike Tyson fights that lasted only a round or two.

“But they went there expecting that.

“The Australian public bought this fight, or travelled to it from all over the country, expecting a 50/50 competition …”

Fenech also revealed he tried to phone Zerafa two days before the bout, worried by how he was speaking in media interviews.

Fenech said he was concerned by how Zerafa was talking up his rival, and that a loss would not matter to him — a point that was also picked up, and heavily discussed, by US fight greats Shawn Porter and Paulie Malignaggi, who were both flown in to work the show for Main Event.

The Marrickville Mauler revealed he tried phoning Zerafa to assess where his headspace was at in fight week, while also wanting to urge him to revive the attitude that had seen him rise up to be a world title challenger.

“But he didn’t answer,” Fenech said.

Elsewhere, Dib also took to Facebook late on Sunday night, writing: “I stand by what I said about the fight, but it’s important we remember something bigger than boxing.

“We can criticise a moment without forgetting how it might affect the person behind it. Fighters are human beings with families and feelings, and mental health matters, even in a tough sport like ours.”

In an accompanying video, he added: “What’s going on boxing fans, Billy Dib here.

“Just wanted to jump on and have a quick discussion about Michael Zerafa versus Nikita Tszyu.

“This is by no means me retracting what I said.

“I was quite disappointed in how the fight ended. Even though the fight started positively and Michael was showing some great skills, so was Nikita, the fight was only getting started when it came to an end – abruptly.

“AS you’ve all seen the boxing world was quite disappointed in the way it ended. But looking at all the messages and things that have been posted, Michael has been getting smashed left, right and centre.

“And I feel, mental health is a real thing.

“And we really need to be mindful of what Michael may be feeling today. I just wanted to come on here today and say Michael, if you are going through anything my friend, if you need any help, please reach out, get the help that you need, mate.

“I wish you all the very best moving forward with your life, your career.

“Take mate, stay well and God bless.

“And guys, let’s be kind to one another. Life is very short and we need to be there for one another.”