Within seven minutes, a grudge match that was billed as a career moment for Nikita Tszyu and a final big play for veteran Michael Zerafa fell apart, ending in a medical stoppage, debris being thrown into the ring, and both sides blaming one another.
After an unintentional head collision left Michael Zerafa with a cut above his left eye and complaints about his vision, a ringside doctor advised the referee to end the match early in round three, turning Nikita Tszyu’s eagerly anticipated match against Zerafa into a farce on Friday night.
Three seconds into the third round, the official call was made, and the fight was officially declared a no decision.
Since the injury was considered unintentional and happened prior to the fight, it was commonly referred to as a no contest.
The crowd at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, which was almost full, became enraged by the decision.
Tszyu stayed in the ring, cheering on the few who stayed behind, while boos grew as drinks were thrown towards the canvas during the announcement and Zerafa was escorted away under protection.
Zerafa claimed he informed officials that his vision was “blurry” but that he was prepared to proceed, insisting the stoppage was beyond his control.
However, Dr. Alan Saunders, the ringside doctor, told Fox Sports that the fighter repeated that he was unable to see, so he was forced to suggest that the fight be called off.
Regulators and organisers are as much in the spotlight as the fighters during the fight.
Regardless of the money on the line or the atmosphere in the stands, the safety procedure is straightforward once a boxer reports vision impairment: the referee follows medical advice and the fight is over.
It serves as a reminder that in a sport where controlled danger is the foundation, the most controversial calls frequently result from a brief lapse in control.
In a 10-round, 157-pound catchweight main event against a man with far more professional rounds in his body, Tszyu’s night was supposed to mark his transition from domestic appeal to international prominence.
Rather, it raised more questions than answers, such as whether a rematch would be profitable, whether fans would tolerate another build-up, and what a promotion could do to control crowd behaviour when a match ends in a technical grey area.
No Limit Boxing boss George Rose apologised in the ring and said decisions about what comes next would wait until the following day.
