Zerafa puts his grief aside

Focused on Horn fight after mate’s death in ring

Michael Zerafa says he has fully recovered from the shock of seeing his close mate die in their sparring session two weeks ago and is confident he will end Jeff Horn’s career in Brisbane next month.

Having given Horn the worst beating of his life in Bendigo on August 31, Zerafa says the ex-world welterweight champion has no chance of winning the rematch.

On Monday, Zerafa will attend the funeral of Dwight Ritchie, a 27-year-old father of three and former Australian champion, at Shepparton in Victoria.

Ritchie collapsed in the sixth round of their sparring session in Melbourne two weeks ago and was unable to be revived.

But as he came face-to-face with Horn at the Lang Park PCYC yesterday, Zerafa said

“the grieving part’’ was done and he was “totally switched on because now it’s fight time’’.

“I’m so confident for this fight, and when I’m confident I can’t be beaten,’’ he said.

“This will end faster than the first fight.

“December 18 will be Jeff Horn’s last fight, mark my words.

“He’s done great things for the sport but he will retire after

December 18 and he can then enjoy his life with his family.’’

Zerafa said Ritchie’s death had stunned him but had “no impact at all’’ on his training.

“I was back in the gym the next day,’’ he said.

“Me and Dwight were close – we shared the boxing ring many times from the time we were 13 or 14 years old – but my focus on beating Jeff again on December 18 never wavered.”

Zerafa, 27, said “love and support’’ from Ritchie’s family had helped him cope with “one of the hardest things’’ he had faced in his career.

Horn, 31, said he was “devastated’’ for Ritchie’s family and “scared’’ by the news the boxer might have died from a heart attack. “I know it wasn’t Michael’s fault,’’ Horn said. “I’m glad to be fighting him again. I’ve never lost in Bristo bane and don’t plan on changing it.’’

While Horn said he would be fitter than ever and was training as much as five hours a day, Zerafa’s co-trainer, world No.4 light-heavyweight Blake Caparello, fired a huge broadside into the Horn camp.

“Jeff’s only chance to beat Michael was in the first fight ... now Michael has his measure, he will be impossible to stop,” he said. “Boxing isn’t just about fitness or determination. Jeff can’t fix the fundamentals overnight.”