Michael Zerafa has continued to take swipes at his Australian rival, unbeaten WBO interim-junior middleweight star Tim Tszyu.

Zerafa, who has no issue with playing a heel role in Australia, was scheduled to face Tszyu in 2021 but withdrew from the contest.

Ranked at number one under the WBA at middleweight, Zerafa was given a step-aside deal to allow world champion Erislandy Lara to make a defense against Danny Garcia in August.

As part of that deal, the winner must face Zerafa within 120 days.

Tszyu is the WBO's mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Jermell Charlo. That planned fight scenario fell apart when Charlo agreed to move up by two weight divisions to challenge Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez for his undisputed championship at super middleweight.

While the middleweight situation plays out, Zerafa wants to stay busy.

"It's my time to win a world title,' Zerafa told News Corp. 'I'm about to head to America for a seven-week camp. All my sparring is lined up and we're finalizing an opponent in the next few weeks. I've told my manager I want a world-ranked opponent, I don't want the type of bum that Tim Tszyu fought when he beat (Carlos) Ocampo in the first round, which was embarrassing for him. For some reason, there seems to be a lot of hate and adversity for me in Australia, but I will fight soon for a world title and when I win it, I will be the true king of Australian boxing.

"Everyone wants to go on about Tszyu being the risk taker, but I will risk it all and actually fight someone decent. I want a worthy world-class opponent, not a bum like Ocampo who had two left feet and lasted 70 seconds. Interim champions mean nothing. Technically, I can say I am an interim world champion but it's a lot of crap. It's a mock world title. Tszyu is walking around like he has conquered the world, but he's won nothing yet. Tim Tszyu has a lot of people fooled, but he won't fool me."