Zerafa overcomes ‘bad call’, booing crowd to obliterate US rival in Tszyu statement

Michael Zerafa has been booed by a raucous Sydney crowd after declaring himself ready for Nikita Tszyu – while also opening up on the bizarre knockdown ruling that came moments before his big KO win.

Zerafa needed only a tick over two minutes to finish American Mikey Dahlman, with referee Les Fear waving the fight off as the Chicago native was being teed off on his corner.

In what proved a crazy first – and only – round in Sydney, Zerafa landed a huge right hand early which wobbled Dahlman, but then appeared to slip himself, with referee Les Fear starting a count on the shocked Melburnian.

Regardless, it all counted for little.

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Within moments, ‘Pretty Boy’ was again pouring it on, and quickly finishing.

Yet while he already has a contract in place to face Tszyu in December, Australia’s boxing bad boy refused to amp up the bad blood before the younger Tszyu sibling came out for the main event.

“I like Nikita, he’s a good kid,” Zerafa said. “I’m not fighting Nikita Tszyu tonight so I’m in his corner.

“Come out and do you thing …”

But as for what happens when they do throw down?

“I believe I beat Nikita,” Zerafa grinned as more than a couple of boos rained down.

“He’s doing great things

“Beaten everything in front of him.

“But there is more to do.”

Zerafa also revealed Fear had already apologised to him after initially ruling his slip a knockdown, and beginning to count.

“I said to the ref ‘bad call’,” he said.

“He apologised and said ‘I thought you fell’.

“It was a bad decision but we ended the fight.”