Michael Zerafa has engaged lawyers after being “publicly shamed” for not turning up to a press conference on Monday, despite having been told by the promoter he wasn’t needed.
Just two days out from his bout with Mikey Dahlman in Sydney on Wednesday, the Victorian was nowhere to be seen at the traditional pre-fight presser.
No Limit Boxing boss George Rose was asked about Zerafa’s absence straight off the bat.
MORE: 'Jeffrey Dahmer sh*t': Nikita Tszyu's placenta and breastmilk regimen not to everyone's liking
“I have just been informed he won’t be here but will be at the weigh-in tomorrow,” Rose said.
Several other fighters on the card, including potential future opponents for Zerafa in Nikita Tszyu and Brock Jarvis also commented on the situation.
“I haven’t been told much about it,” Tszyu said, before referencing Zerafa’s last-minute pullout ahead of a scheduled bout with Tim Tszyu in 2021.
“But I think George [Rose] might have some PTSD.
“He wasn’t liking it.”
Jarvis also brought up Zerafa’s history.
“I don’t know what that’s all about,” Jarvis said.
“But it shows the kind of man he is.
“He’s ran before, done things that are unprofessional … that’s all I can say.”
No Limit Boxing
Zerafa, however, has put the blame back on the promoter, claiming he was told he wasn’t required at the press conference, only to then become public enemy number one.
“Let me make this very clear,” he shared in a message on social media.
“At 9:41am, I received a call from No Limit telling me I was no longer required at the press conference. When I asked why, the response was vague ‘we've had to make some changes.’ No further explanation.
“We knew it didn't sit right, so we released a statement two hours before the press conference, laying out the facts. Still, they went ahead and falsely told national TV and streaming audiences that I ‘no showed.’ That is not just dishonest it's defamation.
“You cannot remove someone, then publicly shame them for not being there. That's a direct attack on my integrity, my professionalism, and my name. And that has real consequences.
“I've spent years building a brand I'm proud of and I won't sit back while others try to damage my reputation to serve their own narrative. This attempt to damage my reputation is serious and it won't be ignored. Our legal team has now been contacted. Enough is enough.”
Despite the clear tension between Zerafa and No Limit Boxing, it appears as if the 33-year-old still intends to fight, which will come as good news to his opponent, who described his 36-hour journey to Sydney as “horrible.”
The hard-hitting American Dahlman was diplomatic when asked about Zerafa’s absence.
“I know Zerafa is a bad boy and he’s a villain. I’m not even here to entertain that, I’ve got a job to do and control only what I can control,” Dahlman told reporters.
“It could be a tactic on his end. I’ve got a job to do, I’m not going to change my gameplan off him not showing up to a press conference.”
Zerafa and Dahlman are set to face off in the chief support at the ICC Sydney Theatre on Wednesday night, with Nikita Tszyu taking on Lulzim Ismaili in the headliner.