Alejandro Ortiz vs Michael Zerafa Preview August 12th, 2026
Michael Zerafa of Australia meets Alejandro Ortiz of Venezuela in a 10-round middleweight tilt in Broadbeach, Australia this Wednesday, August 12th. Zerafa was last in the ring in January when he met fellow countryman Nikita Tszyu for the vacant WBO International Middleweight Title. The fight was called a no-contest in the third round when Zerafa told the ring doctor that he couldn’t see after a clash of heads. However most viewers felt he took the easy way out and quit. Zerafa’s previous outing last August saw him halt Mikey Dahlman in just 122 seconds. It was an action-packed first round as Zerafa was dropped before stopping Dahlman to defend the WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Title which he won in his previous contest by halting Besir Ay in the seventh round. Ortiz was last in action in March when he stopped Wilman Conteras in the second round. Wednesday’s fight can be seen live in most nations on DAZN with the card getting underway at 3am ET while fans Down Under can catch it on Kayo Sports.
Ortiz vs Zerafa Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Alejandro Ortiz +560
- Michael Zerafa -1000
My Pick
The 25 year-old Ortiz climbs into the ring with a fine mark of 26-1 with 25 of those wins coming by knockout. He obviously carries plenty of power in his fists as 96.1 per cent of his victories have come by stoppage. The only one that didn’t was a 10-round unanimous decision over Yeferson Hernandez in 2023. Ortiz measures 5-feet-10-inches in height but unfortunately there’s no reach information. Therefore he’s an inch shorter than Zerafa.
Ortiz turned pro back in 2019 as a teenager and has 76 rounds of experience since. The lone defeat on his record came at the hands of Bakary Samake (who was unbeaten at the time) by way of a fifth-round knockout last October. There’s no disputing the fact that Ortiz has an abundance of power but he’ll be taking a step up in class against Zerafa this week. Just five of Ortiz’s 27 opponents entered the ring with a winning record and when he did step up against Samake, he was stopped.
The 34-year-old Zerafa of Melbourne was a relative unknown until stepping into the ring with former world champion Kell Brook in December, 2018. He showed a lot of heart but dropped a 12-round unanimous decision in England. Zerafa was also stopped by former world champ Peter Quillin in the fifth round in September, 2015 on a nationally-televised bout in North America and was stopped by Erislandy Lara in the second round in 2024.
He halted Jeff Horn in the ninth round in 2019 but lost a 10-round majority decision in the rematch and his other pro loss was a unanimous decision at the hands of Arif Magomedov in October, 2014. That brings Zerafa’s current official record to 34-5 with 22 Ko’s. He stands 5-feet-11-inches tall with a 71.5-inch wingspan and has boxed 223 rounds as a pro since making his debut back in 2011. He’s not a huge puncher but 64.7 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage, including nine of his past 10.
Zerafa has captured several regional and minor titles as a pro and has beaten Anthony Mundine and Isaac Hardman, but other than Tszyu, Lara, Horn, Quillin and Brook it’s pretty hard to recognize any of his other opponents. However, he’s definitely faced stiffer opposition than Ortiz has. The pro belts he’s won include the WBA Oceania Light Middleweight Title, the Commonwealth (British Empire) Light Middleweight Title, the IBF Pan Pacific Middleweight Title, the WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental Light Middleweight Title, and the the Australia – Victoria State Light Middleweight Title.
Prediction…
Ortiz hasn’t fought any top-level opposition at this point of his career but he has 25 knockouts in 26 wins and has been stopped in his lone defeat. Zerafa came under a lot of criticism for the way he ended the fight against Nikita Tszyu so perhaps fans will give him some credit for taking on a power puncher in Ortiz. This fight is going to come down to power and chins so its’ really up for grabs. If Ortiz throws bombs from the opening bell then Zerafa, who’s nine years older, could be in trouble. Don’t be surprised by any outcome here but I’ll go with Zerafa due to his experience and because he’s fighting at home.
Zerafa has the home edge and more experience.
Play Zerafa -1000 @ BetOnline.ag
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Alejandro Ortiz betting • Michael Zerafa betting