Michael Zerafa vs Mikey Dahlman Preview August 20th, 2025
The WBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Title is on the line this Wednesday, August 20th as champion Michael Zerafa of Australia meets Mikey Dahlman of Chicago Heights, Illinois. The 10-rounder from Sydney can be seen live in Australia on Fox Sports, Kayo and Main Event. Zerafa last saw action in March when he stopped Besir Ay in the seventh round to win his belt. Dahlman last fought in June when he halted Pedro Verdu in the third round.
Zerafa vs Dahlman Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Mikey Dahlman +1000
- Michael Zerafa -2000
My Pick
The 33-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 record to 33-5 with 21 Ko’s. He measures 5-feet-11-inches tall with a 71.5-inch wingspan and has 222 rounds of experience under his belt since turning pro in back in 2011. He’s not a huge puncher but 63.6 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage, including eight of his last nine.
Zerafa has captured several regional and minor titles as a pro and has beaten Anthony Mundine and Isaac Hardman, but other than Lara, Horn, Quillin and Brook it’s pretty hard to recognize any of his other opponents. 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.
The 33-year-old Dahlman makes the ring walk with an impressive mark of 18-1 with 16 Ko’s. He made his pro debut in 2017 and has boxed just 47 rounds since then as he rarely goes the distance. Eighty nine per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he was halted in his lone defeat. He was stopped in the second round by Fidel Monterroza Munoz in April, 2022.
Dahlman has gone the distance just twice; against Chukwuka Willis on a four-round unanimous decision in 2019 and in a six-round unanimous decision over Danny Rosenberger in 2020. He stands six-feet-tall with an unlisted reach so is an inch taller than Zerafa. measures 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 75-inch reach so is an inch shorter than Zerafa. Dahlman will be taking a step up in class as just seven of his 19 opponents entered the ring with a winning record.
Prediction…
Zerafa has experience at the world level but has fallen short against those opponents but he’s still a level above Dahlman. This is a must-win situation for Zerafa if he hopes to earn another world title shot down the road. However he needs to be wary of Dahlman’s power. Zerafa definitely possesses the better boxing skills but power is the great equalizer. As long as his chin holds up I’m expecting Zerafa to retain his belt.
Zerafa’s a level above Dahlman.
Play Zerafa -2000 @ BetOnline.ag
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Michael Zerafa betting • Mikey Dahlman betting