Sports ⢠Boxing ⢠Updated:
Fans searching for a clear winner in Nikita Tszyu vs Michael Zerafa wonât find one â the bout ended early and was ruled a no contest after an accidental head clash opened a cut that left Zerafa saying he couldnât see clearly.
Quick answer: who won?
No one. Nikita Tszyu vs Michael Zerafa was officially declared a no contest, meaning there was no winner and the result does not count as a win or loss for either fighter.
Official result: Nikita Tszyu vs Michael Zerafa â No Contest (stoppage after accidental head clash and doctor intervention).
What happened in the fight?
The grudge match ended abruptly when an accidental clash of heads early in the contest opened a cut above Zerafaâs eye. Ringside officials brought in the doctor to assess the damage, and the bout was stopped before it could properly develop.
Live coverage noted Zerafa told the doctor he couldnât see, and that detail became central to the stoppage decision â and to the angry reaction inside the arena.
One of the clearest round-by-round summaries is in the ABCâs live coverage: ABC live updates on Tszyu vs Zerafa .
Why it was ruled a âno contestâ
In boxing, when a fight ends early because of an accidental clash (rather than a deliberate foul), commissions can rule it a no contest. Thatâs effectively what happened here: the injury stemmed from an accidental incident, and medical advice ended the bout.
The ruling left fans frustrated because it didnât settle the rivalry in the ring â it paused it. Instead of a clear winner, the official record shows an unfinished chapter.
What happens next (rematch talk)
A no contest is often the cleanest path to a rematch because neither fighter takes a loss. If Zerafaâs cut heals quickly and both camps agree terms, this storyline is set up for a runback that gives fans the decisive result they wanted.
Another widely cited reference is ESPNâs live blog here: ESPN: Tszyu vs Zerafa ends in no contest .














