A valuable lesson

I learned a valuable lesson during my second fight with Michael Zerafa: the ‘round-nine dip’ is just in my head.

I used to get tired and let guys come at me too much late in fights. I now know that I don’t have to allow that. I can push through adversity and finish strong.

I had a shaky start to the ninth against Zerafa, but there was only one thing on my mind.

‘Finish him.’

You never want the doctor to end your night and the cut above my eye should have been a concern as it was quite deep and long, but I put that out of my head entirely.

When I caught him flush with that first shot that knocked him down, I knew he was going to be on wobbly feet.

Everyone was screaming and carrying on, but I was solely focused on getting the job done. I finished the fight strong.

Getting my hand raised after 10 rounds was the most amazing feeling of pure elation, especially after all the bad stuff Zerafa had said about me and my trainer Glenn Rushton in the lead-up to the fight.

My wife Joanna probably doesn’t want me to go through another war like that though. I’ll do my best to make an easier night of things against Tim Tszyu.

The fight I don’t want to see

I was surprised to hear chatter about a fight between Michael Zerafa and Anthony Mundine recently. I don’t really understand why Anthony would want or need to step into the ring again.

He’s done very well in our sport and achieved everything that you can. His fight with John Wayne Parr was supposed to be the big farewell, and now it seems that’s not the case.

It was actually quite frustrating to hear that Zerafa’s camp was chasing the fight with Choc. They said I’d fought nobodies my whole career and named Anthony Mundine as one of them. Now they’re the ones who want it.

It’s sad because Anthony doesn’t have any business stepping in the ring with Michael at this stage in either of their careers. These young blokes are too big and strong for him now.

I know people will say that styles make fights, and Anthony’s style would be tricky for Zerafa, but in the end youth would win the day.

I hope it doesn’t happen. I believe that we’re starting to see the impacts of boxing in Anthony’s life, and I think he should give the sport up for his own health.

He’s already a legend of Australian boxing and he doesn’t have anything more to prove.