The man who stands in the way of Jeff Horn and another world title shot, Michael Zerafa, says Horn's short-lived bout against Anthony Mundine put his career in reverse and damaged his credibility beyond the repair of any lucrative pay day.
After a long lay-off and less than two minutes of action as he ended Mundine's career last November, the former welterweight champion will be back in the ring at middleweight as he meets Melbourne's Zerafa (26-3-0) in Bendigo on August 31.
For Horn (19-1-1), Zerafa is an unashamed domestic tune-up as he and his management position themselves to fight the winner of the Rob Brant and Ryoto Murata for the WBA middleweight belt later in the year, potentially another stadium affair on home turf.
But Zerafa, who lost a unanimous decision to British star Kell Brook in Sheffield at the end of 2018, will hardly be patting Horn on the back on the way through to the next fight. The Melbourne product is tough, cocky and has already found a way to get on Horn's nerve, which takes some doing.
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The 27-year-old said the Horn-Mundine fight was little more than a farce and, while it made the Queenslander a pretty penny, it painted him as a bully content to beat up boxers well past their prime.
"I wasn't overly impressed. There wasn't much to watch. He was fighting a 44-year-old has-been. He thinks he's stronger at middleweight but he can't brag about that. He'll learn the hard way," Zerafa said.
Everyone saw that he was getting into the ring with a guy that should have retired five or 10 years ago.
Michael Zerafa
"I think it put his career backwards. Everyone saw that he was getting into the ring with a guy that should have retired five or 10 years ago. Take nothing away from Mundine, but he's well past his used-by date. Jeff basically bullied him around.
"Mundine didn't know what was going on. He looked slow and tired. He had no idea out there."
Horn has been a media favourite given his unlikely rise to the elite tiers of boxing and his reputation as one of the friendliest characters in Australian sport. But this fight will be in Zerafa's backyard, and Horn will get a reception befitting the out-of-town fighter in Victoria.
Too easy: Michael Zerafa says Jeff Horn has nothing to be proud of by beating a 44-year-old Anthony Mundine.Credit:AAP
"He's the villain. We've got good support, a good following. The crowd will erupt. The team and I believe we can stop him in six to eight rounds," Zerafa said.
"It's hugely in my favour. He's made that mistake by signing the contract and looking at us as a fight to tick him over."
Zerafa simply doesn't believe Horn remains hungry in the sport now he has a healthy bank balance, the famous scalp of Manny Pacquiao and a happy family. To his credit, an hoRead More – Source
The man who stands in the way of Jeff Horn and another world title shot, Michael Zerafa, says Horn's short-lived bout against Anthony Mundine put his career in reverse and damaged his credibility beyond the repair of any lucrative pay day.
After a long lay-off and less than two minutes of action as he ended Mundine's career last November, the former welterweight champion will be back in the ring at middleweight as he meets Melbourne's Zerafa (26-3-0) in Bendigo on August 31.
For Horn (19-1-1), Zerafa is an unashamed domestic tune-up as he and his management position themselves to fight the winner of the Rob Brant and Ryoto Murata for the WBA middleweight belt later in the year, potentially another stadium affair on home turf.
But Zerafa, who lost a unanimous decision to British star Kell Brook in Sheffield at the end of 2018, will hardly be patting Horn on the back on the way through to the next fight. The Melbourne product is tough, cocky and has already found a way to get on Horn's nerve, which takes some doing.
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The 27-year-old said the Horn-Mundine fight was little more than a farce and, while it made the Queenslander a pretty penny, it painted him as a bully content to beat up boxers well past their prime.
"I wasn't overly impressed. There wasn't much to watch. He was fighting a 44-year-old has-been. He thinks he's stronger at middleweight but he can't brag about that. He'll learn the hard way," Zerafa said.
Everyone saw that he was getting into the ring with a guy that should have retired five or 10 years ago.
Michael Zerafa
"I think it put his career backwards. Everyone saw that he was getting into the ring with a guy that should have retired five or 10 years ago. Take nothing away from Mundine, but he's well past his used-by date. Jeff basically bullied him around.
"Mundine didn't know what was going on. He looked slow and tired. He had no idea out there."
Horn has been a media favourite given his unlikely rise to the elite tiers of boxing and his reputation as one of the friendliest characters in Australian sport. But this fight will be in Zerafa's backyard, and Horn will get a reception befitting the out-of-town fighter in Victoria.
Too easy: Michael Zerafa says Jeff Horn has nothing to be proud of by beating a 44-year-old Anthony Mundine.Credit:AAP
"He's the villain. We've got good support, a good following. The crowd will erupt. The team and I believe we can stop him in six to eight rounds," Zerafa said.
"It's hugely in my favour. He's made that mistake by signing the contract and looking at us as a fight to tick him over."
Zerafa simply doesn't believe Horn remains hungry in the sport now he has a healthy bank balance, the famous scalp of Manny Pacquiao and a happy family. To his credit, an hoRead More – Source
