BRISBANE — Boxing manager Mike Altamura hesitated to go overboard when asked about the fallout after Michael Zerafa deemed himself unable to continue two rounds into his grudge match with Nikita Tszyu on Friday night.

"We didn't want an impromptu fight," Zerafa's former manager was heard telling select reporters in the press room as media waited for No Limit CEO George Rose's arrival.

"I was looking forward to seeing how it was going to go," Altamura, among the additions to Tim Tszyu's new-look team last year, added. "Not going to use the word quit, but I believe he [Zerafa] could've continued. All this build-up and anticipation of the Tszyu surname against Zerafa, for it to play out like that is disappointing."

Nikita was more damning in his assessment during the press conference minutes later.

"I definitely do," he said when asked whether he felt Zerafa had quit. "I think he underestimated me, he saw once the cut happened, a bit of PTSD came through, emotions got the best of him and he started to panic. It's some of the stuff Paulie Malignaggi was criticising him over. Doesn't have the heart or is checked out. Once that little bit of pain comes, he's looking for the exit straight away.

"Spewing's the word. I didn't think [the cut] was that bad. It's a shame that he took the first exit that he could find."

Perhaps that's why older brother Tim was so incensed by what transpired that he could've easily been involved in a post-fight melee as Zerafa sheepishly sought to clarify his disingenuous version of events.

Already cut over his left eye earlier in the contest, the pair clashed heads late in Round 2 and referee Chris Condon called a timeout before the third began.

Zerafa repeatedly told the ringside doctor he couldn't see, before being warned by the official what that would mean, agreed and their 10-round headliner was waved off. After this point, though, is where he changed tune.

He denied withdrawing from the fight, citing a loss of eyesight, despite the presence of microphones and broadcast footage saying otherwise, then doubled down in an interview with broadcaster Main Event.

Nikita described himself as "numb," and while refusing to rule out a rematch he later suggested the Tszyu-Zerafa saga was perhaps cursed altogether.

Zerafa (34-5, 22 KOs) later posted a statement on Instagram with user comments turned off, though his reputation and future in the sport look irreversibly damaged.

The irony would not have been lost on Tim, either. Stubbornly continuing with what was described as an "axe wound" against Sebastian Fundora following an accidental head clash two rounds into their March 2024 title fight, he hasn't looked the same since.

Having flown into Brisbane on fight day, the 31-year-old former WBO junior middleweight champ embraced his role as broadcast analyst and fervent supporter, providing insight into Zerafa's headspace, as he was once scheduled to box him in July 2021 before the veteran's curiously timed withdrawal.

"Michael struggles when put into uncomfortable situations," Tim told FOX Sports Australia last week. "Look at Erislandy Lara, who made him uncomfortable early in their fight and by simply taking away a few of his tools. That moment got the better of him and he broke mentally. It's why I see vulnerabilities there."

Nikita echoed the same sentiment in the presser and while the 27-year-old would've been afforded more lucrative opportunities with a victory here, instead is left apologetically ruing what could have been his career-best night after six months of preparation.

Bakhram Murtazaliev makes his second IBF world title defense against Josh Kelly on January 31. Nikita sits at No. 6 with the sanctioning body among the Russian's top-rated contenders. The top two places remain vacant, while Brandon Adams-Caoimhin Agyarko is set to determine his next mandatory come April 19.

Older brother Tim has the high-profile appeal, while Ring and IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia is peerless domestically.

Nikita, raw and exciting, remains a relative unknown, but we're left wondering what's next after a forgettable end to what was billed as one of Australia's biggest boxing events in a decade.