Aussie boxer Michael Zerafa has revealed he received multiple death threats after the controversial ending to his fight against Nikita Tszyu, adding that the online reaction ‘broke’ him. 

The 33-year-old threatened to walk away from boxing following the no-contest, after he was booed out of the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in January, but has since revealed he is eager to return to challenge some of the biggest names in the sport. 

Fans were left fuming after his fight against Tszyu in January ended prematurely when Zerafa had told a ringside doctor that he couldn’t see out of his left eye after accidentally clashing heads with his opponent.

Later, during a post-fight interview, Zerafa said that the ‘doctor had called it off’. The saga then took another controversial twist, with the Aussie boxer stating that his vision was just ‘blurry’, before adding that he wanted to continue fighting.

Spectators inside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre booed the Australian while some threw cans towards the ring. 

Michael Zerafa (pictured) has revealed that he received 20 death threats in the 48 hours following his controversial fight with NikitaTszyu 

The bout was called a no-contest after Zerafa told a ringside doctor that he couldn’t see out of his left eye after clashing heads with Tszyu (left) 

Tszyu has since categorically ruled out a rematch. 

‘I’m closing the book on it. I’m just disappointed for everybody involved. I’m gutted for everyone,’ Tszyu said.

After the fight, Zerafa claimed in a social media post that he had suffered a shattered eye socket and damage to his retina. He had spent time in a Brisbane hospital, but his team did not disclose the doctor’s findings.

The 33-year-old has now spoken for the first time since the bout, but did not comment on the moment where he declared that he couldn’t see.

Speaking to The BillyJoe Podcast, he said: ‘Still to this day I don’t understand [the hate].

‘People say: “It’s because you b****ed it”, but I didn’t.

‘I had a genuine injury. I was winning the fight.’

After the bout, Zerafa issued an apology to fans, claiming that his choice of words was ‘poor’.

Zerafa had revealed that he had suffered a shattered eye-socket on social media following the fight

Zerafa (left) revealed that the criticism in the aftermath of the bout ‘broke’ him 

He also doubled down on the legitimacy of his injury, stating that his vision was only 6/20. He added that ‘there was an issue with my eyesight, but it does not change the fact that my wording was poor.’

That apology has since been removed from his Instagram.

In the immediate aftermath of the bout, fans took to social media to send him abusive messages, with Zerafa revealing that some had even gone to his sponsors to ask why they were partnering with the Australian.

‘It broke me. I was on top. I’ve given my absolute all for this,’ Zerafa told the podcast. ‘When all that subsided, to see death threats, memes…

‘In that 48 hours, I reckon I copped 20 [death threats],’ he added.

‘We’re talking 48 hours. You get so much crap, man.

‘All directed at me. For what?’

He was pressed further on what kind of threats he received.

‘It was: “When I see you, I’ll make sure I’ll cut your throat, I know where you train, be expecting me there”.’

‘They reach out to sponsors and say: “As if you’re sponsoring this guy”.

‘Sometimes it makes me just want to slap these people. How much do you hate your life?

‘I get you might be jealous, but go and be jealous quietly.’

Questions have mounted over his future in the sport, with Zerafa’s relationship with No Limit Boxing said to have deteriorated.

But the 33-year-old, who holds a 34-5-0 record, added that he is rebuilding and is determined to challenge for a world title.

While he has kept a very low profile over the past two months, the fighter took to Instagram over the weekend to publish a video announcing that he was working hard to get back to competing. 

He even shot a dig at those who had criticised him, writing in the caption of the video: ‘And yeah… I can see now.’ 

Zerafa has now announced that he is hoping to get back to the ring and challenge the best in the game, poking a dig at his critics by writing on Instagram: ‘And yeah… I can see now’

‘I’m not done yet. I know a lot of people would like to see me done, but I’ve still got a fire burning,’ Zerafa said during the podcast, when asked about what the future holds. 

‘I’ve got a lot of people to prove wrong, I’m hungrier and better things are coming.

‘I’ve cleaned out my backyard, it’s time to get back to where I belong, back with the bigger guys, back where people know what they’re doing.

‘Boxing is a beautiful sport, but there’s too many people with their hands in it who are destroying it.

‘And I don’t even need to say names.’