Brisbane boxer Issac Hardman says he may not have the experience of rival Michael Zerafa but he will out-fight him in their high-stakes middleweight duel.
Issac Hardman has rubbished rival Michael Zerafa's claims about his lack of boxing IQ ahead of next month's world title eliminator fight in Melbourne.
The winner will move to No.2 in the IBF middleweight rankings and with champion Gennady Golovkin vacating as he moves up a division to fight Saul 'Canelo' Alverez, there's a title fight looming against top contender Brazilian Esquiva Falcao.
With Hardman more at home in gym gear than a white suit, rolled collar sweater and matching flower lapel worn by Zerafa at recent media conference, the boxers have different styles in and out of the ring.
"Pretty Boy" Zerafa, whose record is 29-4, says Hardman (12-0), known as "The Headsplitter" doesn't have the boxing smarts to match him at the Melbourne Convention Centre on April 20.
"All he relies on is his power, that's all his got, and he doesn't even have that good of a right hand," Zerafa said.
"I move a lot, I counter a lot and I hit with volume.
"He's going to walk forward and do his thing but I know he can't beat me, he doesn't have the boxing IQ."
But Hardman, a former professional MMA fighter, says that while he may not have the experience of Zerafa, he's no mug.
"From the get-go I've been fighting," said Hardman, who is based in Brisbane.
"MMA is the truest form of fighting and I've been doing that since 2014.
"Whether it's kick-boxing, MMA or boxing, it's a fight and I will out-fight that man.
"Let him (Zerafa) think I don't have a boxing IQ, he will figure it out when he's laying flat on his back."
The 25-year-old fought four times last year to move to No.8 in the IBF rankings, two ahead of Zerafa, although the Melbourne fighter is ranked fifth in the WBA with Hardman outside the top 10.
Hardman said he lost all respect when Zerafa pulled out of his fight with Tim Tszyu last July citing COVID concerns.
"That's the difference between me and the fleabag. You put that ring anywhere in the world, I will get in and fight.
"He has to have all his ducks lined up to get into the ring."
The pair almost came to blows before their media conference while Hardman says there have been attempts to unsettle his preparation by luring him away from his manager with the offer of a TV deal, with the fight only set to be shown online.
