Michael Zerafa has spoken out for the first time since his brother punched a trainer in chaotic scenes earlier this week and made a huge call in the process.
Zerafa secured a TKO victory against Tommy Browne, but the event was overshadowed by an altercation involving his brother, Jason-Manuel Zerafa.
After Browne withdrew from the match due to a bicep injury, tensions flared, leading to a heated exchange between the two corners.
In the ensuing chaos, Jason-Manuel entered the ring and punched Browne’s trainer, Tommy Mercuri.
The incident resulted in Zerafa’s team being escorted out by security and moved from the fighter hotel later that night.
Promoters No Limit responded by banning Jason-Manuel Zerafa for life from all their events.
Michael Zerafa has now confirmed that his brother will no longer be part of his team. But he hoped they could both move on from the incident.
Australian boxer Michael Zerafa reacts during his bout against Tommy Browne at the International Convention Centre in Sydney
Zerafa’s brother Jason-Manuel punches trainer Tommy Mercuri, earning him a life ban from No Limits event
‘I’m disappointed with how it all panned out because I don’t condone anything that happened from either team,’ Zerafa said.
‘It was s***. My brother threw a punch and that’s not cool at all. He’s been really apologetic since and I know that’s not in his character. And if he’s banned, he’s banned.
‘Even if that isn’t the case I won’t have him in my corner again. He’s burned some trust with me.
‘As much as he only had my back – and I do appreciate him standing up for me – it wasn’t on. He’s all good now though.’
Zerafa said the chaos started after he was sledged by the Browne team and said it could all have been avoided if Mercuri hadn’t acted first.
‘This whole thing, it’s not just one way,’ Zerafa said.
‘There are two teams in this situation. And if Tommy didn’t do what he did, nor would my brother have done what he did.
‘My brother, he was in defensive mode. He’d been in the corner, looked up and saw Tommy Mercuri coming towards me while I was pushing him away.
‘He didn’t even realise the fight was off. He just saw Tommy Mercuri start walking towards me, swearing and flicking his hands in my face.
Zerafa has revealed his brother will no longer be allowed in his corner because of his actions
‘I was trying to push him away but he kept walking forward, abusing me. And that’s when my brother entered the ring.
‘I didn’t even see him at first. I had my back to him. It was so spur of the moment.
‘He could only see my back, Tommy was coming at me pushing me and flicking his hands in my face so my brother thought ‘what the f*** is going on?’.
‘At that point there was no real security in the ring besides (No Limit promoter) Matt Rose so he went defensive, thinking Mercuri was throwing shots at me.
‘But two wrongs don’t make a right.’
Police investigations continue into Jason-Manuel Zerafa’s conduct while he has been banned for life from all future No Limits promotions.
