Thurman vs Jarvis LIVE: Aussie out to shock US superstar as Zerafa dealt brutal reality check

Tim Tszyu’s stablemate Sonny Knight has been left bleeding, and beaten through four rounds, in a surprise upset loss against Shire super welterweight Jordan Martin.

Sharing the same management team as the Tszyu boys, 21-year-old Knight was cut underneath the left eye late in what would eventually be the first loss of his professional career.

While Knight entered the fight on a run of four straight wins, it was $2.70 outsider Martin who took the fight on all three scorecards, 39-37.

CAREER ON THE LINE FOR MICHAEL ZERAFA?

While much of the focus, and understandably so, is on the main event between Brock Jarvis and Keith Thurman, there is also plenty on the line for Michael Zerafa.

A last-start victory over Tommy Browne didn’t really prove anything, with Browne actually having some of the better exchanges of the two before he retired at the end of Round 1 due to a biceps injury.

In Zerafa’s previous fight, he was knocked out by Erislandy Lara.

With that in mind, the Courier Mail’s Peter Badel said on Main Event’s live coverage of Wednesday’s fight card that Zerafa finds himself in a must-win situation against Besir Ay.

“I’ll be honest. I think Zerafa’s career is on the line tonight,” Badel said.

“He’s 32-5, he’s 32 years old and if he can’t beat Besir Ay, who is a tough German but not to me a world-class fighter, then I think Michael Zerafa goes nowhere in boxing from here on in. However, I think he’s got more upside. He needs to show it tonight.

“I thought his second-last performance on the world stage against Erislandy Lara, he was iced in two rounds. He looked overawed by the occasion. This is the moment for Michael Zerafa to show that he is better than the domestic class. He is world-class.”

JARVIS OUT TO SHOCK BOXING WORLD AS STAR-STUDDED GUEST LIST REVEALED

A crew of NRL superstars will descend upon Sydney’s iconic Hordern Pavilion tonight as Brock Jarvis readies to shock the boxing world — and both Tszyu brothers — against brash American superstar Keith Thurman.

On the eve of his hyped showdown with a future Hall of Famer, Jarvis has declared his two-year transition to super welterweight — which has seen him bulk up by 20kg — will result in a shock KO, warning: “I’ve been doubted my whole career”.

The declaration comes as fellow Aussie Michael Zerafa has also hit back at reports suggesting German rival Besir Ay has been aided by Team Tszyu during his final days of camp in the Harbour Cirt, saying: “The guy can train out of Tim Tszyu’s backyard for all I care”.

While both Tszyu boys may be tipping against Jarvis in the biggest fight of his career, the young Sydneysider is convinced he has the size and power required for an upset knockout.

It comes as a host of current and former NRL stars have sought out ringside seats for the No Limit pay-per-view, among them Latrell Mitchell, Zac Lomax, Josh Addo-Carr, Mitchell Pearce and Cody Walker.

“Everyone doubts me and I love that,” Jarvis told Fox Sports Australia this week. “It motivates me big time.”

Only one fight earlier, 32-year-old Zerafa will acontinue his push towards that elusive world title triumph when he throws down against Ay (19-1) for the WBO Intercontinental middleweight strap.

In a surprise twist to the co-main event, Fox Sports Australia can reveal Ay has been finalising his latest camp in Thailand with Tiger Muay Thai trainer John Hutchinson – who also works with former world champion Tszyu.

It is understood the German crew have also finished up camp in Australia this past week at Tszyu’s Rockdale gym, although Zerafa wasn’t biting at the idea of his rival being helped by ‘The Soul Taker’.

“That’s alright,” he told Fox Sports Australia on fight eve.

“I’d heard his trainer his ties to the Tszyu team and that’s fine.

“The guy can train out of Tim Tszyu’s backyard for all I care.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of bad blood between us, but while Tim Tszyu might hate me, I don’t hate the kid.

“But obviously when we fight each other that will change.”

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Zerafa also stressed he had no problem with Thurman revealing this week that he has effectively agreed to a two-fight deal to fight the older Tszyu sibling in July – should he beat Jarvis and the Aussie win his own upcoming bout against US prospect Joey Spencer.

“I’m a big fan of Keith Thurman,” Zerafa said.

“That would be a good fight and I do think Tim gets through Joey Spencer next up.

“The American is a tough fighter who puts on the pressure, but if Tim’s two losses haven’t damaged him mentally, I think he gets the win.

“But you need to remember that my goal when starting out in this sport, it was never to fight Tim Tszyu.

“My goal has always been to win a world title.

“And that’s still my ambition, to fight for a title this year.

“And if somewhere in the mix, there’s a fight with Tim Tszyu so be it.

“We want that too.

“But right now I’m wanting the type of win that gets me back overseas or gets No Limit flying a world champion out here.

“Obviously last year’s loss against (WBA middleweight champ) Erislandy Lara set me back a little, but this fight is for the WBO Intercontinental, which is another stepping stone.

“One or two fights and we’re back there again.”

Thurman vs Jarvis | WED 12 MARCH 7PM AEDT | Australia’s Brock Jarvis will take on former Welterweight World Champion Keith Thurman in a blockbuster event at the Hordern Pavillion. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

Importantly, Zerafa has also spent the past six weeks working with the legendary Nonito Donaire, who the Melburnian flew out from the United States to help him prepare.

However with Donaire being forced home this week due to previous family commitment, ‘Pretty Boy’ will again be cornered by the man who took Jeff Horn to boxing greatness – Queenslander Glenn Rushton.

Asked about his work with Donaire, Zerafa said: “He’s always telling me that I have all the ability in the world — that I just need to start believing.

“Nonito tells me ‘I’ve been all around the world, I’m an eleven-time world champion, and some of the things you do I’ve never seen it’.

“And to get that belief, it’s phenomenal.

“Mentally, I feel I’m a lot stronger than ever before right now.

“I’m a more mature fighter now.

“Hopefully we can make this an early night.”

UNDERCARD WRAP: AUSSIE RISING STARS MAKE STATEMENTS

Hyped Sydney lightweight prospect Charlie Kazzi has continued his stunning rise on the Australian boxing scene, needing less than a round to finish New Zealander Nort Beauchamp.