New claim in no-show saga as controversial star explains deleted post at Tszyu weigh-ins

Controversial Aussie boxing star Michael Zerafa has backed down from legal threats made against boxing promoter No Limit as more detail on his press conference absence emerged on Tuesday.

The boxer dubbed “Pretty Boy” has again been embroiled in drama after not attending Monday’s press conference ahead of Wednesday’s night’s fight card in Sydney, headlined by Nikita Tszyu vs Lulzim Ismaili.

Nikita Tszyu vs Lulzim Ismaili | Wednesday 20 August 7PM AEST | Order this PPV event now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

Zerafa, who takes on American Mikey Dahlman, blew up publicly after claiming he had been instructed not to attend the press conference — accusing the promoters of then painting it as a no-show in a “direct attack on my integrity.”

Zerafa was in attendance at Tuesday’s weigh-in in Sydney as all of the top billed fighters successfully made weight for the event.

Code Sports reporter Peter Badel reported on the Main Event broadcast that Zerafa’s absence stemmed from a “secruity issue” regarding Zerafa’s brother Jason-Manuel, who infamously struck popular Australian trainer Tommy Mercuri in the ring with a post-fight “dog shot” last year.

A life ban was handed to Jason-Manuel but still had to be formally imposed, Badel said, with Zerafa told not to attend until the issue had been settled.

The fighter himself reiterated he was only following instructions but now appears happy to move on from the incident.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia after the weigh-ins however, Zerafa did not mention his brother as being the cause and instead blamed the media for painting him out as the villain – despite other issues being at play.

However, the fighter would not be drawn on what said issues were, insisting he was also still in the dark about why he had been asked to stay away from the event.

Zerafa added that his decision to delete an Instagram post where he threatened legal action against No Limit — suggesting they had defamed him – came after speaking at length with the promoters.

The Melburnian also stressed there was no ongoing beef between himself and No Limit, and said he looked forward to sitting down after this fight and working through a deal for a Nikita Tszyu showdown.

Asked about his press conference no show, Zerafa started: “I woke up on Monday to what I thought was going to be a beautiful day.

“But then I was told not to attend the press conference.

“And that upset me.

“I thought there was going to be some sort of game happening.

“Something shifty going on.

“So I released a statement on my social media.

“And I have to apologise to No Limit because I assumed it was them (looking to paint him in a negative light) … it wasn’t.

“It was miscommunication …”

Pushed on the no show, Zerafa shifted blame to the media.

“I was told by No Limit not to attend for certain reasons,” he said. “I thought it was to make out like I didn’t attend.

“But that was the media.

“They made out like it was a no-show.

“I just feel like I always get blamed as the troublemaker.

“But I woke up Monday and the trouble found me.

“I don’t get it.”

So as for why specifically was he asked not to attend?

“I still don’t know,” he shrugged. “Have no idea.

“I’m in the dark with it all.

“They’ve said we will sit down after the fight and work it all out.”

Nikita Tszyu, meanwhile, said after weighing in that he had seen Zerafa at the weigh-ins and they had been “all smiles” – despite The Butcher having branded his likely future rival an attention-seeking coward only last week.

“Even at the Bondi thing,” Tszyu said referencing Sunday’s open workouts, “he came up, shook hands everything was OK … then apparently he said some s*** afterwards”.

Specifically, Zerafa told Fox Sports Australia that the youngest Tszyu was embarrassing the legacy created by his Hall of Fame father Kostya, and should drop the schtick around his ‘Butcher’ persona.

Surprisingly, Tszyu has since shrugged off that attack but was asked after Tuesday’s weigh-ins what his grandfather Boris, a constant by the side of both fighting Tszyu brothers, had said about all that?

“I don’t think he knows,” the fighter grinned. “And my granddad probably thinks I’m an embarrassment as well.”

Elsewhere, the younger Tszyu sibling also said he had “zero issues” with the weight cut, and suggested he was set to prove himself to be a “more patient, thinking fighter” in his comeback.

The 27-year-old added that he knew he had to make changes after last year’s Fight of the Year with Koen Mazoudier, a rival he says took him to places he had never been before.

“So I know what that dark side feels like now,” he said. “I’m prepared for it.

“And if I do go there again I know how to react.

“Know the changes I need to make.”

And as for Wednesday night’s opponent, Lulzim Ismaili?

“He’s going to come to fight,” Tszyu said.

“He hasn’t come all the way here from Germany for no reason.

“He has the desire to win.

“It’s my job to take it away.”

Elsewhere, Zerafa also spoke of his ongoing fight build with the younger Tszyu sibling, saying: “We’re building a weird relationship.

“We shake hands and say hi to each other when we see each other.

“He’s a strange kid.

“I just hope he goes out there and makes a statement.

“Then there might be a chance to sit down with his team.

“But I still feel like the biggest fight in Australia is myself and Tim Tszyu.

“But he has to get his mind right before returning.”

FULL CARD & WEIGH-IN RESULTS

MAIN CARD (from 7:00pm AEST Wednesday)

Nikita Tszyu (10-0, 8 KOs) – 69.48kg vs. Lulzim Ismaili (12-0, 7 KOs) – 69.40kg — 10 rounds, Super Welterweight – WBO Inter-Continental Super Welterweight Title

Michael Zerafa (33-5, 21 KOs) – 72.20kg vs. Mikey Dahlman (18-1, 16 KOs) – 72.32kg — 10 rounds, Middleweight – WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Title

Brock Jarvis (22-2, 20 KOs) – 70.96kg vs. Sam Beck (7-0, 4 KOs) – 70.96kg — 8 rounds, Middleweight Catchweight (71kg)

Ahmad Reda (6-0, 5 KOs) – 59.88kg vs. Bruno Tarimo (29-4-2, 8 KOs) – 59.88kg – 10 rounds, Super Lightweight – Australian Super Lightweight Title

Jasmine Parr (7-1, 2 KOs) – 52.00kg vs. Efasha Kamarudin (8-0-1, 6 KOs) – 51.30kg – 5×2 rounds, Super Flyweight

PRELIMS (from 5:30pm AEST)

Jacob Clenshaw (5-1-1, 4 KOs) – 66.32kg vs. Isaias Sette (3-3-1, 1 KO) – 66.48kg – 5 rounds, Welterweight

Ashleigh Heal (Pro Debut) – 74.32kg vs. Shannon Rose (0-1, 0 KO) – 74.90kg – 4×2 rounds, Super Middleweight Catchweight (75kg)

Blair Geraghty (Pro Debut) – 63.40kg vs. Naki Saguba (1-1, 0 KO) – 61.70kg – 4 rounds, Lightweight

Brandon Grach (3-1, 2 KOs) – 114.92kg vs. Bensyn Pauga (0-3, 0 KO) – 114.12kg – 4 rounds, Heavyweight