Michael Zerafa


Michael Zerafa is a former Australian disabled boxer. He held the Commonwealth light middleweight title in 2018.

Boxing career

Early in his career, he was the Victorian super-welterweight champion.

Zerafa vs. Magomedov

On 24 October 2014, he lost to Arif Magomedov in his first fight outside Australia when challenging for the WBO Youth and Asia Pacific middleweight titles.

Zerafa vs. Quillin

On 12 September 2015, he lost via knockout to Peter Quillin in his second fight outside Australia. The impact of the knockout caused him to leave the arena on a stretcher.

Zerafa vs. Kirima

On 22 April 2016, Zerafa defeated Yosuke Kirima for the IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title.

Zerafa vs. Harper

Zerafa faced Adam Harper for the vacant Commonwealth super-welterweight title at the Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington on 16 March 2018, winning by unanimous decision.

Zerafa vs. Brook

On 5 November 2018, it was announced Zerafa would face Kell Brook at the Sheffield Arena on 8 December 2018, in a WBA super-welterweight title eliminator. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Zerafa vs. Sherrington

On 12 April 2019, Zerafa returned home to Australia and defeated Les Sherrington via knockout.

Zerafa vs. Horn

He then defeated Jeff Horn for the WBA Oceania middleweight title in Bendigo on 31 August 2019, this time winning via technical knockout. Horn was ranked #3 by the WBA, #5 by the WBO and #14 by the IBF at middleweight at the time.

Zerafa vs. Ritchie

On 9 November 2019, Zerafa was sparring with Dwight Ritchie when Ritchie collapsed in between rounds after a hit to the chest. Ritchie could not be revived and later died.

Zerafa vs. Hardman

On 20 April 2022, Zerafa faced Isaac Hardman in an IBF title eliminator at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre where Zerafa would knockout Hardman in the second round.

World title opportunity

Zerafa was originally slated to fight Esquiva Falcão for the vacant IBF middleweight world title. However, Zerafa opted to pursue a World Boxing Association title fight against Erislandy Lara, so Falcão is now slated to fight Vincenzo Gualtieri for the IBF title.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
37Win32–5Tommy Browne1, 2:0028 Aug 2024ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, Australia
36Loss31–5Erislandy LaraTKO2, 2:5930 Mar 2024T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBA middleweight title
35Win31–4Danilo CreatiUD1023 Nov 2022Aware Super Theatre, Sydney, Australia
34Win30–4Issac HardmanTKO2, 1:2720 Apr 2022Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia
33Win29–4Siliveni NawaiTKO4, 2:5520 Dec 2021Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, AustraliaRetained WBA Oceania middleweight title
32Win28–4Anthony MundineTKO1, 2:0913 Mar 2021Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, AustraliaWon vacant WBA Oceania middleweight title
31Loss27–4Jeff Horn1018 Dec 2019Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, AustraliaLost WBA Oceania and WBO Oriental middleweight titles
30Win27–3Jeff HornTKO9, 2:5531 Aug 2019Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, AustraliaWon WBA Oceania, WBO Oriental, and vacant IBF Asia Oceania middleweight titles
29Win26–3Les SherringtonKO2, 1:3112 Apr 2019Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
28Loss25–3Kell BrookUD128 Dec 2018Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
27Win25–2José Agustín JulioTKO3, 1:4631 Aug 2018Croatian Club, Melbourne, AustraliaRetained WBA Oceania light middleweight title
26Win24–2Wade RyanUD101 Jun 2018Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant WBA Oceania light middleweight title
25Win23–2Adam HarperUD1216 Mar 2018Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant Commonwealth light middleweight title
24Win22–2Tomás Andrés ReynosoKO6, 2:5817 Jun 2017Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
23Win21–2Renato OliveiraTKO3, 2:3210 Dec 2016Melbourne Park Function Centre, Melbourne, AustraliaRetained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title
22Win20–2István ZellerTKO5, 2:3213 Aug 2016Melbourne Park Function Centre, Melbourne, Australia
21Win19–2Yosuke KirimaUD1222 Apr 2016Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title
20Win18–2Gustavo Alberto SánchezKO4 6 Dec 2015Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
19Loss17–2Peter QuillinKO5, 1:0612 Sep 2015Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US
18Win17–1Yuttana WongdaTKO4, 0:4927 Mar 2015Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne, Australia
17Win16–1Bruno CarvalhoTKO5, 1:295 Dec 2014La Mirage Reception & Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia
16Loss15–1Arif MagomedovUD1024 Oct 2014Luzhniki Palace of Sports, Moscow, RussiaFor vacant WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Youth middleweight titles
15Win15–0Joe ReaUD827 Jun 2014Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne, Australia
14Win14–0Luke SharpUD827 Feb 2014Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane, Australia
13Win13–0Athit PraditphonTKO8 13 Dec 2013Club Italia Sporting Club, Melbourne, Australia
12Win12–0Amnat DaengphayapKO2 8 Nov 2013Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne, Australia
11Win11–0Anton OlarteUD107 Jun 2013Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne, Australia
10Win10–0Richard Kenneth CarrTKO3, 0:2719 Apr 2013Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia
9Win9–0Adrian CampbellUD1021 Feb 2013Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, AustraliaRetained WBC-ABCO Continental light middleweight title
8Win8–0David GalvinUD1016 Nov 2012Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant WBC-ABCO Continental light middleweight title
7Win7–0Ariel OmongosTKO2, 2:3429 Jun 2012Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne, Australia
6Win6–0Faisal Fayad811 Nov 2011Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant ANBF Victoria State light middleweight title
5Win5–0Xingxin YangTKO4, 1:0326 Aug 2011Coburg City Hall, Melbourne, Australia
4Win4–0Aswin CabuyUD422 Jul 2011Sunshine Roller Skating Centre, Melbourne, Australia
3Win3–0Jean Claude1, 0:458 Jul 2011Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne, Australia
2Win2–0David Gall41 Apr 2011Malvern Town Hall, Melbourne, Australia
1Win1–0Peter Makrypodis1, 1:4218 Mar 2011Sunshine Roller Skating Centre, Melbourne, Australia

Personal life

His mother is from Australia and his father is from Malta.