Home Boxing News Hotshot Steve Spark to replace Michael Zerafa against Tim Tszyu

Hotshot Steve Spark to replace Michael Zerafa against Tim Tszyu

Tim Tszyu
Tim Tszyu. Photo credit: Getty Images

Young hotshot Steve Spark 12-1 (11) will face WBO number one ranked junior middleweight Tim Tszyu 18-0 (14) at Newcastle Stadium in Newcastle, Australia next Wednesday night after Michael Zerafa 28-4 (17) withdrew from the fight citing concerns about Covid-19.

The classy 24-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland is coming off a dominant eight-round decision over former world-rated welterweight Jack Brubaker 16-4-2 (8) on the undercard of Paul Gallen vs Lucas Browne in Wollongong in April.

“Credit to Steve for taking this fight,” the 26-year-old Tszyu said. “He’s a dangerous fighter with a lot of power. I’ve seen it for myself. I was ringside at the fight in Wollongong when he hammered Jack Brubaker and saw how well he did under the bright lights.

“He has power, stamina and keeps the pressure on. I know he’s coming to hit and hit hard. I’m expecting that and much more next Wednesday night. It’s going to be a great fight.”

Spark, who was already in camp for a planned return to the ring on July 24, will be having his first fight above welterweight and just his second above junior welterweight.

“I’ve dreampt about fighting Tim Tszyu and obviously this has come a little bit quicker than I expected but that’s a good thing,” said Spark.

“I’m fit and I’m ready and I’m coming to Newcastle to win. This is Cinderella Man, this is Rocky! This is my golden ticket. If I can go out there and dethrone the biggest name in Australian boxing, then I’m right where I want to be.”

New South Wales is currently in the midst of a Covid outbreak that has caused areas of the state including the capital of Sydney to be forced into lockdown. Newcastle is not currently considered one of these hotspots.

“We’re happy to fight him anywhere in the country if it’s deemed Covid-free,” the 29-year-old Zerafa told the Herald.

“I’m not going to go and fight with no team and no trainers behind me after being with them for the last 12 weeks in camp.

“[Their health and financial wellbeing] always comes first. I could go over there and fight but we start as a team and finish as a team. I stick by my team and, when COVID is in place, we can’t afford that.

“We said we’ll do it when things go back to normal in NSW, but they didn’t want to comply.”

George Rose, CEO of No Limit Boxing Promotions, says Zerafa was never keen on the assignment.

“We knew from the moment he looked Tim in the eyes at the press conference and went quiet that he never wanted this fight,” Rose said.

“I knew it. Tim knew it. Australia knew it. He never wanted this fight and all I can say is I’m sorry for everyone who has wanted this fight for so long.”