Michael Zerafa's hopes of ever squaring off with Tim Tszyu have been blown out of the water, with his arch-rival's camp declaring the Melbourne motor-mouth's ship has sailed.
Zerafa once again called out Tszyu after notching a routine TKO win over German Besir Ay at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday night to keep his dream alive of one day fighting for a world title.
But Tszyu's manager Glen Jennings says no amount of money would entice his superstar charge into the ring with Zerafa and that he'd be better off targeting Tszyu's undefeated younger brother Nikita.
Citing COVID-19 as an excuse, Zerafa was a late no-show for a slated grudge match with Tszyu in 2021.
Team Tszyu have not forgotten and have long since moved on.
"I can tell you right now, in Tim's mind, there is no dollar figure (on a fight with Zerafa)," Jennings said.
"For Tim, it's a stand-your-ground point. It was just how it all went down.
"And people can say, 'Oh, you know, get past it, this, that and the other'.
"Some people do. Tim's chosen to move on and go for higher levels, and that's where he's at.
"So it's really not a question of 'why won't he fight him (Zerafa)?' It just doesn't really make much sense."
After rising to becoming a world champion, before relinquishing his WBO strap last year in a bloody, cruel loss to Sebastian Fundora, Tszyu has bigger fish to fry than Zerafa.
"Tim's got his eye, you know, we've got plans for Tim and there's a process he's got to go through now, and Michael doesn't feature in that," Jennings said.
"I can't ever say it would never, ever happen.
"It might be the last fight of Tim's career, if they're still around. They might be 50 years old."
Jennings said while the promoters might want a Tszyu versus Zerafa showdown, the former WBO super-welterweight world champion has no appetite for the match-up.
"That decision was made in Newcastle way back and we've never budged from that," Jennings said.
"And there's always talk about that and No Limit (Boxing) will say, yes, it can happen.
"From our team, we say, 'no' and we stick with that, and that's Tim's thoughts on it.
"He's moved on and I'm sure Michael has too.
"But if there's any chance of Michael s***-stirring a fight, he's going to do it, and we respect that.
"He had a good win and congratulations to him and his team, and I hope he goes on to bigger and better things.
"He may get his wish to find a Tszyu - but I think it'll be Nikita."
