BRISBANE, Australia – Michael Zerafa is fighting Nikita Tszyu with a new sense of “perspective” after watching Anthony Joshua win the biggest fight of 2025 and then endure his own brush with death.
Tszyu and Zerafa on Friday fight at a catchweight of 157lbs in an all-Australian contest on course to prove the biggest of each of their careers. For the 33-year-old Zerafa there is also an awareness that his 40th fight, at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, could even be his last.
In the event of defeat by the 27-year-old, 11-fight professional, Zerafa’s options would not only be limited at world level, he would also be without a rival at home. The tension that has long existed between him and his opponent’s older brother Tim contributed to them being matched together and to the appeal that has made it a pay-per-view contest and one expected to attract a capacity crowd of 10,000.
It is on the former world-title challenger that there would appear to be the greatest pressure, but having seen Joshua beat Jake Paul and then nearly lose it all in a car crash in Nigeria that killed his friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, Zerafa, more than ever before, recognises that what is being treated as a grudge match is little more than a fight.
“It was not that long ago I changed my outlook on things,” he told BoxingScene. “A few weeks back Anthony Joshua beat Jake Paul, made tens of millions of money, and then a week after that he was in a car accident with two of his best mates and trainers. So my perspective on life’s changed a little bit. One minute you can be here; next minute you can not be here.
“[I used to treat victory like] it’s a must. I’ve still got that mentality. But I also have the mentality that there’s more to life than boxing. There’s a family to be made; my team – my circle – to be looked after. There’s a lot more things than boxing. I’ve done this for 27 years, you know what I mean? There’s not much pressure. Like I said, I go out there, and if it’s meant to be it’ll be. I’m here for a reason.
“I feel good. Credit to the promoters and everyone that’s tried to make it as big as possible.
“There’s not much pressure on me. I’ve been here before. I’ve just got to go out there and be me. It’s God’s plan. I’m here for a reason.
“I go out there, it’s God’s plan. If it’s meant to be, I’ll win.”
In the build-up to Friday’s contest Zerafa has also spoken of focusing on nurturing his psyche.
“I’ve always done it,” he said. “I do my once a week sports psych, but I’ve made sure I’ve invested and made more time to make sure that the days off, the resting period, I was utilising that and working the mind, so that when it is time to go to deep waters I’m mentally prepared.
“[It’s] super healthy. Back when I was 20 years old people would think I’ve got problems or whatnot, but it’s the complete opposite. It’s not about life, it's about being present; about going through the emotions and dialling in when it’s needed. It works.”
The aggressive-but-raw Tszyu represents a both dangerous-and-inexperienced opponent. He has cut a considerably more relaxed figure in the build-up to Friday’s contest – perhaps partly because he is undefeated – and Zerafa’s tension in his presence suggested that, as with Tim Tszyu, he potentially dislikes Nikita. But he ultimately insists that he does not.
“I like him – I get along with him,” he explained. “He’s completely different to Tim. I find him a cool dude; he’s a genuine kid, he says some strange things but it works for him. That’s Nikita. I’ve got nothing bad to say about him. There’s no bad blood towards Nikita – I’ve got nothing against him.
“I just see another man standing in my way. It’s purely business for me. I actually – I can see myself on a pier fishing with Nikita one day. I’ve got nothing against him. We actually share the same interests. I’ve got nothing against him; it’s purely business for me, and sadly he’s the man that’s roadblocking my goal to be world champion.
“He’s beaten everyone that’s been in front of him and you can’t knock anyone for that. He’s a tough, hungry kid – I know he’s gonna come and bring it, and that’s what we want. We want a hard fight; I’ve been knocking everyone out, my last few, so it’d be good to go out there and get some rounds in the bank. But, on the other hand, I hope it goes only one or two rounds in my favour. It is what it is. We’re ready for the test.
“He’s gonna walk forward; he’s pressure; he's a southpaw; he wants to fight. He’s got that do-or-die mentality. I know he’s gonna be there to bring it, and I’ve also been there before and proven that I can mix it with the best.”
Declan Warrington has been writing about boxing for the British and Irish national newspapers since 2010. He is also a long-term contributor to Boxing News, Boxing News Presents and Talksport, and formerly the boxing correspondent for the Press Association, a pundit for BoxNation and a regular contributor to Boxing Monthly, Sport and The Ring, among other publications. In 2023, he conducted the interviews and wrote the script for the audio documentary “Froch-Groves: The Definitive Story”; he is also a member of the BWAA.
