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Michael Zerafa didn't officially suffer another loss on his boxing record Friday, but the reputational damage could be just as costly.

The much-anticipated Australian domestic clash between Zerafa and rising star Nikita Tszyu — the brother of former world champion Tim Tszyu and son of Australian boxing legend Kosta Tszyu — was declared a no-contest just seconds into Round 3 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Boondall, Australia.

An accidental clash of heads led to a cut opening around the left eye of Zerafa in Round 2. The cut was far from some of the worst seen in boxing and appeared to be manageable.

But when referee Chris Condon called time out seconds into Round 3 to have the former title challenger's eye checked by the ringside doctor, Zerafa repeatedly said the cut was affecting his vision and that he couldn't see. As a result, the doctor advised Condon to stop the bout, and since the cut was caused an accidental clash of heads and four rounds hadn't been completed, the outcome was declared a no-contest.

The ending was extremely controversial, with boos ringing around the arena and objects being thrown into the ring from the 10,000-strong crowd in Brisbane, who had paid to see one of the biggest Australian grudge matches in recent years and were left with a disappointing anticlimax.

Claims were made by Nikita, the FOX Australia broadcast team and online that Zerafa had opted to quit rather than fight through adversity.

"I didn't think it was that bad," Tszyu said of Zerafa's cut. "It's a shame, but what can you do. At least I got two rounds out of it.

"I definitely do [think Zerafa quit]. I think that he underestimated me, and once the cut happened, I think there was a bit of PTSD coming through. His emotions got the better of him, he started to panic. Some of the stuff that Paulie Malignaggi was criticizing him over — that he doesn’t have the heart and he’s checked out … once that little bit of pain comes in, he’s looking for the exit straight away."