“Kell’s name is a world title to me. No stone’s been left unturned. He’s just a man – he’s got two arms, a head and he bleeds red.”
There’s no denying Australian super welterweight Michael Zerafa is up against it on Saturday night against Englishman Kell Brook. The Brit is in his home city, has more pro fights under his belt and is a former world champion. He’s ranked higher in the world than Zerafa, sixth by Boxrec compared to the Aussie’s 29th spot, and has been in the ring with the likes of world-class boxers Gennardy Golovkin, Errol Spencer Jr and Shawn Porter.
Zerafa, in contrast, has not fought at that supreme level before. His career has primarily been contained to down under, with both defeats coming when he ventured overseas. He went down on points to Arif Magomedov in Moscow four years ago, and suffered a brutal knockout at the hands of Peter Quillin when he stepped up to super middleweight in Mashantucket three years ago.
Many believe he is on a wing and a prayer against Brook this weekend – cannon fodder for the Matchroom-promoted fighter. The bookmakers and fight fans both don’t give him a chance. The recent record of Antipodean fighters heading to the UK for bouts in recent years isn’t good either – Luke Jackson, Joel Brunker, Lucas Browne.
However, Zerafa is respectful of his older opponent, but also quietly confident.
“We’ve been studying him, he’s a great fighter, but we saw a lot of flaws,” he said.
“If there’s too many holes in a ship it sinks. We’ve got a great game-plan in place and come Saturday we’ll lay it all out. It’s in God’s hands now.”
Zerafa has a height and reach advantage over Brook, and is six years younger. He believes his speed and his style can trouble the Yorkshireman.
“It’s a huge opportunity for me and my team. Kell Brook’s done a lot of great things for the sport. We know it’s going to be a hard fight but we’ve come prepared. The best Michael Zerafa’s going to be there and there’s going to be fireworks.”
Beating Brook, who is after a showdown with Amir Khan, would certainly get the Victorian’s name out there. He will need to hope the 32-year-old is starting to slow down and underestimates him, with one eye on Khan. But Brook showed in his last fight, when he destroyed Sergei Rabchanka in March in just two rounds that he has lost none of his trademark speed, skill and power.
Zerafa is trained by former light heavyweight world champion Blake Caparello. His fellow Aussie, who has fought for world titles three times and won the IBO strap in 2013, knows all about upsets and tussling with more credentialed and high-profile foes. Caparello has backed his fighter to spring a shock in Sheffield.
“The good thing about Michael is he comes into camp fit and he’s only a couple of kilos overweight so we can focus straight on the boxing with him,” Caparello said.
“He’s come over here in great spirits, the English public have been awesome towards us. I know they think he’s coming here as an opponent, because there’s big fights ahead, but Michael’s not an opponent, he’s coming here to win. Like Kell did to Shawn Porter, he went to his backyard and took the world title.
“So we’re coming to his backyard and doing the exact same thing. A relaxed fighter is a dangerous fighter. Michale’s got nothing to worry about, he just has to go in there and do his job. We’re looking to put on a great show.”
