Tim Tszyu mauled by Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando
It was expected to be exciting and competitive, but IBF champ simply blew Tszyu away
Bakhram Murtazaliev made a mockery of the oddsmakers’ predictions on Saturday evening, blowing away Tim Tszyu in three gruesome rounds. Headlining in Florida, Tszyu was caught in a daze and never allowed to recover by the rangy IBF super-welterweight champion.
Image Credit: PBC
Australia’s Tszyu lost his own 154-pound belt to Sebastian Fundora and this was viewed as a winnable stepping stone back to the top. While Tszyu had got the better of Fundora before a fight-changing cut left him bloodied, bruised and unable to turn things around, over 12 rounds, this fight was completely different. Murtazaliev stamped his authority from centre ring and never loosened his vicelike grip on the fight.
Murtazaliev later credited Tszyu with the “warrior” tag and that is accurate, possibly to Tszyu’s detriment. He stands in the pocket and tries to trade at every opportunity, attempting to overwhelm his opponents. Younger brother Nikita Tszyu adopts a similar approach and is equally as vulnerable.
After the fight, Tszyu made zero excuses—as is his style—regarding the nature of his second defeat in a row. Talk of new trainers or going back to the drawing board is floating around online, but Tszyu will need to consider a complete style shift to survive and thrive at the top.
Murtazaliev is based in America and made a habit of accepting step-aside money rather than forcing his shot at then-IBF king Jermell Charlo. Tszyu was mildly critical of that decision in the build-up, but the fresher Russian is now an established champion, seeking bouts with Terence Crawford and Sebastian Fundora.
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Tim Tszyu undercard
Fast-rising Cuban super-welterweight prospect Yoenis Tellez had too much firepower for Venezuala’s Johan Gonzalez, stopping him in round seven. Texas-based Tellez completed the job a couple of rounds earlier than Jesus Ramos, who bossed Gonzalez in May.
Unbeaten Cesar Mateo Tapia suffered the first blemish on his slate, drawing with Endry Saavedra after 10 rounds of intense action. Both men hit the canvas at various stages. Saavedra was riding high off the back of a KO over Australia’s Isaac Hardman, but he just couldn’t quite repeat the trick over fancied Tapia here.
Elsewhere on this packed PBC card, streamed through Amazon Prime, Gary Antonio Russell won his comeback bout in round four of a six. Heavyweight prospect Dainier Pero nabbed a third-round knockout and Brian Viloria’s nephew, Justin Viloria, scored a seventh-round KO.
About Steve…
Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.
Previous lives: Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.
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