‘Getting knocked the f*** out’: Aussie champ’s dire Tszyu warning for hyped bout

One of Nikita Tszyu’s toughest rivals is tipping him to get knocked out in his all-Australian grudge match with Michael Zerafa, declaring: “I don’t know how much passion he has for the sport”.

Little more than a year removed from his own domestic headliner against Tszyu, Koen Mazoudier has told Fox Sports Australia he expects Zerafa to win his hyped January 16 headliner against ‘The Butcher’ at Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Tszyu vs Zerafa | Friday 16 Jan from 7pm AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

Currently, oddsmakers agree with Australia’s super welterweight champ, albeit in what is effectively a pick ‘em fight.

According to the TAB, Zerafa is $1.85 favourite, with the undefeated Tszyu slightly wider at $1.95.

When it comes to Mazoudier’s KO call meanwhile, Zerafa is paying $3, and Tszyu $3.30.

Both fighters are at odds of $4.20 to win on points.

Back in August last year, Mazoudier was trailing narrowly on the scorecards when stopped by Tszyu – 75-77, 74-78, 75-77 – in what was Australian promoter No Limit’s 2024 Fight of the Year.

In the 16 months since, the now Central Coast-based fighter hasn’t only rebounded to win the Australian title, or defend twice, but now sees himself in position for either a second crack at the younger Tszyu sibling or fellow No Limit stablemate Brock Jarvis.

After defending his title on the undercard of Tim Tszyu’s recent Sydney homecoming in December — beating Dominic Molinario — Mazoudier said he wants either a crack at the loser of Tszyu-Zerafa or Jarvis, who is currently recovering from shoulder surgery.

Nikita Tszyu, meanwhile, has fought just once since the Mazoudier win, due to ongoing problems with a troublesome left hand that required surgery after the domestic showdown.

Back in August, The Butcher needed only a round to finish Macedonia’s Lulzim Ismaili, while Zerafa, a longtime world title challenger, and who boasts a decade more experience than Nikita Tszyu, also finished American Mikey Dahlman within a round on the undercard.

So as for Mazoudier’s Zerafa-Tszyu tip?

“It’s a really hard one to predict, man,” the Australian champ said of finding a winner. “And really is about who wants it more.

“I think Nikita is a true warrior — and that Tszyu name is special in Australia — but I don’t know how much he has passion for the sport.

“Where Zerafa, he has passion for the sport.

“Has that ego, too.

“So I’ll edge towards Michael getting it done.

“But I’ll say this, someone is getting knocked the f*** out whichever way it goes.

“Because both those guys can both hurt each other, and they can both get hurt.”

Certainly there is no doubting the bad blood fuelling the Tszyu-Zerafa showdown.

Already, Tszyu has branded Zerafa an insecure, attention-seeking “coward” – and welcomed the opportunity to “crush every bone in his body” when they eventually throw down early in the new year.

Back in October, Nikita also told Fox Sports Australia how he and his family will never forgive Zerafa’s infamous ‘Micky Hatton’ sledge, which occurred during the build for what was supposed to be a 2021 domestic blockbuster with Tim Tszyu.

Zerafa was conducting a ‘Face Off’ interview with Tim Tszyu and Main Event’s Ben Damon when he made the remark, which was a direct reference to the boys’ Hall Of Fame father Kostya Tszyu — who 14 years earlier had suffered a career-ending loss to the late, great Englishman Ricky Hatton.

“I’m Micky Zerafa,” Zerafa had declared, without prompting. “It’s f***ing Micky Hatton rocking up. I’m taking over.”

Sitting across the table, Tim Tszyu initially appeared shocked by the surprise comments before eventually firing back: “Don’t talk about that fight man. Don’t talk about that.”

Four years on and the fallout from that sledge still lingers.

“[Because] my first thought? What a f***ing piece of s***,” Nikita said.

“That fight of my father’s, it was a dark moment in our family history. A time that wasn’t easy on any of us.

“I mean, boxing is a f***ed sport.

“And for us growing up within that sport, we’ve seen all the trials and tribulations, all the pain.

“And what my dad had to go through in that fight, it was one of the hardest things to watch. I remember he was pissing blood for weeks afterwards.

“So to take a shot at that? To use it as a way of insulting our family?

“It shows the type of character you are.”

Asked in a separate interview about Zerafa walking away from the 2021 fight with his big brother, Nikita also fired: “There is one thing he can never deny, he was a coward when he chose to run his mouth, then run from the fight with Tim.

“He knows this, and it lives with him every day.”

Elsewhere, Mazoudier stressed he is now ready to take on some of the country’s biggest names after responding from last year’s Nikita Tszyu loss with three straight wins.

“I think Brock Jarvis makes sense,” the champ said when asked who he wants next.

“He’s coming off an injury and has only ever lost to [former world champions] Liam Paro and Keith Thurman.

“We’ve had a bit of beef too, a few push and shoves.

“And I also called him a few names the other day that he wasn’t happy about. So that one looks like a reality.”