The blockbuster fight between Tim Tszyu and Michael Zerafa is on a knife's edge with sources telling Wide World of Sports Zerafa is refusing to leave the state of Victoria due to the current COVID-19 outbreak in NSW.
Yesterday, Zerafa's trainer/manager Sam Labruna declared members of the team "aren't comfortable" travelling for the fight, with Greater Sydney, which Newcastle falls just outside of, in the grip of a COVID outbreak.
With the COVID situation currently in better shape in Victoria, the Zerafa camp will need to gain confirmation about their passage back into their home state after the fight and are currently loathe to leave.
It's understood members of the team are concerned the outbreak may spread and are not eager to quarantine upon return to Victoria.
The situation has left Tszyu, who is usually subdued in nature, seething. The star fighter is all the more frustrated because Zerafa relentlessly chased a clash with him for years.
"Honestly, I'm sick and tired of it. Get this kid here," Tszyu told media yesterday.
"He's been talking it up and he's been chasing me, following me around for the last three years. Couldn't get my name out of this mouth and it's finally come to it. Now they're making all this random bullshit up."
Zerafa's hesitance has also caused major implications for Filipino fighter Joe Noynay who travelled to Australia, completed 14 days quarantine, and now faces the possibility of having his undercard fight against Liam Wilson called off.
"You have to sacrifice in boxing. How come he didn't have sacrifice?" Noynay said in regards to team Zerafa's hesitance.
"You sacrifice in training, then you have to sacrifice this. We know that. I think he is scared.
"You have to come here (to Newcastle) as he already has signed the contract. So he has to come here to fight. If you have a big heart, you come. You come to the fight."
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