Australia’s biggest boxing rivalry explodes as fighter ATTACKS arch rival Michael Zerafa as their social media war turns violent ahead of world title eliminator in Melbourne
- Issac Hardman and Michael Zerafa came to blows at their press conference
- The middleweights square off on April 20 in Melbourne with a title shot at stake
- Zerafa, 29, went to greet Hardman, 25, but the Headsplitter was not interested
- Hardman tried to grab his rival by the throat before Zerafa threw a glass of water
A glass was smashed sending water everywhere and boxers Michael Zerafa and Issac Hardman had to be separated when the two crossed paths before a pre-fight press conference in Melbourne on Wednesday.
A social media war got real with the two squaring off ahead of their high-stakes fight on April 20 at the Melbourne Convention Centre, with a chance of a world title fight now on the line.
The winner will move to No.2 in the IBF middleweight rankings and with champion Gennady Golovkin vacating as he moves up a division to fight Canelo Alverez, there’s a title fight looming against top contender Esquiva Falcao of Brazil.
Tempers flared ahead of Issac Hardman’s pre-fight press conference with Michael Zerafa
Hardman, 25, did not take kindly to Zerafa, 29, approaching him ahead of their media call
The Headsplitter shoved his rival before a glass of water was thrown in the opposite direction
Zerafa arrived at the venue and went to greet Hardman’s team but the 25-year-old Queenslander, who goes by the name of The Headsplitter, wasn’t happy.
He attempted to grab the veteran by the throat and then Zerafa countered by trying to throw a glass of water on his rival only for it to be batted away, shattering on the floor.
After exchanging barbs on social media over the past few months Hardman, whose record is 12-0, said his hatred for Zerafa was genuine.
He said he lost respect for the Melbourne fighter (29-4) after his late withdrawal from last year’s fight with Tim Tszyu citing COVID-19 concerns.
Their high-stakes middleweight match will see the winner move within reach of a title shot
‘This is a sport built on integrity and honour and courage and he pulled a heart-string and dogged it,’ Hardman said
‘It was a coward’s act … he’s a crybaby and he’s too emotional.
‘He was kicked to the kerb then and when I smash him to pieces that’s the end of Michael Zerafa.’
A former MMA fighter, Hardman said he didn’t think he would be within reaching distance of a world title for another few years.
‘It’s massive – the IBF world title 13 fights in, it’s unheard of,’ he said.
The undefeated Hardman (L) has vowed to ‘smash’ Zerafa (R) when they meet on April 20
Zerafa said that Hardman’s behaviour showed he was a ‘pig’.
‘He’s worried, he’s scared – anyone who is going to show that much aggression before the fight has even happened, it shows that they’re generally worried,’ the 29-year-old said.
‘I get the whole fight game and revving each other up but he’s got no respect for fighters, for family, for people so it will be good to silence him.
‘Seeing him here today just made me want to punch him in the head even more.’
With his career hitting a low after the Tszyu debacle, Zerafa rated the fight as the most important of one of his and said he wouldn’t let it slip.
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