Michael Zerafa has blasted criticism claiming he was running away from an IBF middleweight world title fight with Brazil’s Esquiva Falcao.
The Victorian fighter dubbed ‘Pretty Boy’ walked away from an IBF middleweight world title fight, leading the Brazilian to label him a “chicken” on social media. The post inspired a report, which Zerafa claims insinuated that he was running away from a fight with an undefeated opponent.
But it couldn’t be further from the truth according to the Aussie middleweight contender.
READ MORE: F1 star penalised after team’s illegal move
READ MORE: Broncos rift followed Bennett to Dolphins
READ MORE: League legends spill on Knights halfback Jackson Hastings
“I had two options, not many people get the chance to have two shots at a world title, and I picked the better option,” Zerafa told Wide World of Sports.
“More money, bigger venue, bigger promotion, bigger everything. No one knows who Falcao is. His own promoter doesn’t even want to know him and that was the facts. Falcao couldn’t sell out a f—-n basketball stadium. He’s a bum, nobody knows who he is.
“Go back to fighting C-class opponents. He’s not even a true champion, the guy got cut they called off the fight. He’s an absolute f—-n idiot. He has no idea.”
Zerafa’s ‘second option’ is a bout with Erislandy Lara, the Cuban-American WBA champion, who was made the division’s sole middleweight champ – with Zerafa the mandatory challenger – when Gennady Golovkin relinquished his WBA ‘Super’ middleweight title last week.
Zerafa could potentially have fought for the IBF belt in his hometown of Melbourne in late April, had he gone to purse bid with Falcao, who is promoted by Top Rank.
But his agent decided to pull out of negotiations and take advantage of the star’s high stocks within the WBA, by entering negotiations to fight Lara for that sanctioning body’s middleweight belt, as the No.1 contender.
“They were offering me $60,000 to fight Falcao in Brazil. The fight with Lara is five times that amount,” Zerafa said. “Why would I take a fight in his backyard for shit money over a fight that’s at a bigger venue, bigger everything?
“With Lara, all I have to do is rock up and fight and I get paid way more I get f—-n everything. It’s in either Las Vegas or New York in June or July. It’s a way better fight.
“Why would I pull out of a fight if it’s going to benefit me? It’s a business. If it doesn’t make dollars it doesn’t make sense.”
To fight Falcao, Zerafa would have taken a loss on every level and put his high standing within two sanctioning bodies at risk. Yet the Aussie said he was painted as someone who was running from the Brazilian.
As part of his decision to walk away from the IBF purse bid, Zerafa’s manager reportedly CC’d a list of contacts, including rival promoters, in an email to the IBF, explaining their decision. The mistake was blown out of proportion, according to Zerafa.
“My manager has got my best interests at heart. They offered me peanuts, everything was against me,” Zerafa said.
“At least this time it’s a little bit more to my side, more money. It’s more beneficial and I’m fighting a harder opponent and a bigger name. Someone who arguably beat Canelo Alvarez.”
Zerafa concluded with a spray for certain members of the media who he claims have an agenda against him.
“These dumb c—s take everything I say and turn it on me,” he said. “We’ve got an Aussie fighting for a world title and instead of getting behind me, we find a way to support Brazil.”
Team Zerafa will now turn their attention to Lara, and will have until April 13 to come to terms with his representatives. If both sides can make a deal, Zerafa could be fighting around the same time as Tim Tszyu’s world title clash with Jermell Charlo, which has been pencilled in for July in Las Vegas.
“There’s a legal document saying Lara has to fight me and I’m the mandatory [challenger],” Zerafa said.
“I’ll take an eight to 10 week camp in the US and this is for a world title, not an interim.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
The backstories and controversies that have ignited feuds involving athletes
