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Michael ‘Pretty Boy’ Zerafa 29-4 (18) is refusing to be intimidated by Isaac ‘The Headsplitter’ Hardman 12-0 (10) ahead of their grudge match at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday night.
Zerafa and Hardman have clashed both verbally and physically in the lead up to the bout. At a pre-fight press conference last month Hardman grabbed Zerafa by the throat. Zerafa responded by throwing a glassful of water at Hardman.
It is fair to say there is no love lost between their pair ahead of their 12-round IBF world title eliminator. Zerafa is ranked number 10 by the IBF while Hardman sits at number eight. The winner is expected to fill the currently vacant number two position behind number one contender Esquiva Falcao 29-0 (20) of Brazil.
“He thinks he’s scary,” the 30-year-old Zerafa from Melbourne said. He anticipates more attempts from Hardman to get under his skin at the weigh-in.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. That’s just what he does.
“I know his game plan. He’s done it to all his opponents. It just shows that he’s a child, and just shows his character. He’s got no brains and he’s got no respect.
“It doesn’t faze me. It shows me that he’s worried, and that I’m getting under his skin.”
The 25-year-old Hardman from Brisbane burst onto the scene in 2017 with a fisrt-round knockout of the capable Lucas Miller. Four of his first seven bouts ended in first round knockouts before he ran into Tej Pratap Singh in a fight for the Australian middleweight title. Hardman won by majority decision, but many fans and pundits felt the fight should have gone the other way. Four more wins have followed, all via stoppage.
Meanwhile Zerafa has had his own ups and downs while competing at a much higher level. He bested former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn by ninth-round knockout in August 2019 only to lose the immediate rematch by majority decision four months later.
Zerafa was scheduled to face rising star Tim Tszyu in July last year before withdrawing shortly before the fight with concerns about the quarantine restrictions his team would face upon travelling interstate.
This time around, he says everything has run smoothly in camp.
“I know every fighter says it, but at some camps previously I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but this camp’s just been so smooth,” Zerafa said.
“Everything’s gone to plan, everything’s on track. There have been no injuries, no Covid problems, the sparring quality was excellent – we’re exactly where we want to be.
“A clear-minded fighter is a dangerous fighter, and I feel great. I’ve got a job to do on Wednesday night, and once it’s done, I can focus on Falcao.”
Speaking to AAP, Zerafa said: “Everyone thinks you’re old and past your use-by date but it’s the opposite, it’s young and dumb,” Zerafa told AAP on Saturday.
“I’m at my peak. I’ve matured as a fighter and an athlete.
“I’m working smarter, not harder, and mentally and physically I feel like I’m in one of the best positions I’ve really ever been in.
“When I was younger, I used to work so much harder and do everything wrong, which I thought was right, but the penny’s dropped and I know what needs to be done… He’s a tough kid and I know he’s hungry and he’s going to come bring it, but I don’t think he’s going to bring anything that I haven’t seen before.
“With my experience, he’s overlooking a lot.
“I’m just going take it as the fight comes but I truly believe that I’ll get my hand raised and I’ll teach them a few things on the way.”
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