Michael Zerafa hit back after being shown zero respect by his unknown but undefeated next opponent Danelo ‘Dash’ Creati on Wednesday.
Zerafa spoke respectfully about Creati to foxsports.com.au before the duo met on stage for their press conference and all hell broke loose.
The Italian declared he was going to put Zerafa in “intensive care” when the pair fight in Sydney on November 23.
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Creati boasts an 8-0 record and more than 100 wins as an amateur and the 33-year-old is confident he’ll beat his Australian rival
Zerafa is 30-4 and has taken the bout at short notice as preparation for his agreed fight with superstar Gennady Golovkin.
“Whoever stands in front of me I’ve got the same job to do, he’s got two arms, a head and bleeds red,” Zerafa told foxsports.com.au.
“I’ve been there with the best and he’s just another opponent in my way of a world title fight.
“I’m in my prime at the moment, I’m 30 years old, I feel good, I feel strong, I’m peaking.
“I’ve never heard of him. I’ve never seen him fight — but god bless him and his family and it’s going to be war.
“He’s talking a big game. Many talk, many fall. We’ll see. Just put the sponsors at the bottom of your shoes because you’ll be looking at the ceiling.”
The WBA have Zerafa ranked as the number one middleweight contender in the world, but Creati isn’t intimidated in the slightest.
“As soon as I start to stare in his eyes I went inside his soul and this is where he starts to smile and talk shit,” Creati said.
“My job is to make him look like a fool and literally a clown because he’s never fought somebody like me.
“I’m so slick, I’m too slick for him. He won’t catch me. I still have my nose straight after 20-years of boxing, 145 amateur fights and eight as a pro.
“He doesn’t know nothing, that’s why I’m laughing inside because I love that he’s over-estimating me.
“Good luck to Michael because it’s going to be a big surprise for everybody.”
It will be Zerafa’s first Main Event card since he infamously withdrew from his headliner fight with Tim Tszyu in Newcastle last year.
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Zerafa was blasted for the move but has since said he was lied to and misled leading up to the fight.
“It’s been tough but time heals everything,” Zerafa said.
“There were a lot of things said and promised and it was a messy part of my career but we’re here now and everything happens for a reason.
“That fight will happen eventually but at the moment I’m just focused on Danelo.”
The No Limit card will also feature the Paul Gallen and Justin Hodges rematch, plus rising Australian star Paulo Aokuso taking on tough Peruvian veteran David Zegarra, while Ty Telford will take on Joel Taylor.