Michael Zerafa and his brother have furiously taken aim at the Tommy Browne corner after fireworks erupted in Sydney on Wednesday night.
It was an ugly post-script to what was a soft victory for Zerafa over the veteran Browne, who failed to get up for the second round and the fight was waved off.
As Zerafa sprayed his opponent for failing to compete, Browne’s trainer Tommy Mercuri leapt into the ring and confronted Zerafa.
READ MORE: ‘Incredible’ Kokkinakis stuns Tsitsipas in biggest victory
READ MORE: Aussie considers retirement after wild US Open meltdown
READ MORE: ‘Brutal’ decision as F1 team fires driver mid-season
It was then that Zerafa’s brother jumped in to the brouhaha and punched Mercuri in the face, before No Limit promoter Matt Rose separated the pair.
Mercuri and Browne’s team later called for the Zerafas to be banned but the brothers fired up on Instagram on Thursday.
“So everyone turning on my bro, but no one saying nothing about his trainer taking swings at me,” Michael posted.
“Trainer tries to attack me and my bro is the bad guy… come on guys!
“Team Browne started it, Team Zerafa ended it.”
Jay Zerafa posted on his own Instagram account, “(I) did what any brother would have done”.
Officials were not impressed by the ugly encounter at Sydney’s ICC.
“This is not good stuff,” commentator Ben Damon told the Main Event coverage.
“The fight didn’t get going but now it’s getting ugly regardless.”
Zerafa’s brother was subsequently escorted out of Sydney’s International Convention Centre.
The post-fight interviews went ahead as scheduled with Zerafa booed by the crowd.
Speaking afterwards, promoter Matt Rose said the behaviour of Zerafa’s brother was unacceptable.
“We don’t accept the sort of behaviour at all and unfortunately people get caught in situations that they shouldn’t, but he’s gone now,” he said.
Making matters worse, Zerafa went after Browne’s team again outside their rooms.
“This is unbelievable,” journalist Peter Badel said on Main Event.
“This is quite bizarre.
“I hope this doesn’t escalate, this is not what we need.”
Watching a replay of the incident in the ring, former two-time welterweight champion Shawn Porter questioned whether Zerafa should welcome his brother back as a cornerman.
“I want to see that go to court. That’s just unacceptable. And Michael knows that if his brother has the ability to do that, he shouldn’t be in my corner,” he said,
“That might be the first time he’s come to the ring with his brother — that should be his last time. That’s unacceptable.”
Badel added: ”That’s almost life ban stuff.
“It’s a shame but I don’t think Zerafa’s cornerman or brother, whoever it is, should be involved in boxing again. That was disgraceful,” he said.
Having won his bout via TKO, Zerafa took another step towards setting up a showdown with Tszyu, who also overcame Koen Mazoudier late in the ninth round on Wednesday night.
“Nikita, I’m coming,” Zerafa declared after the fight.
“My eyes are solid on this, I want the Tszyu boys.”
