IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) is confident of dispatching former 154-lb belt holder Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) to his second straight loss this Saturday, October 19 in their fight at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The fight will be shown live on PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video Action.
Facing arguably the biggest punch of his eight-year career, former WBO 154lb champion Tszyu, 29, faces the undefeated Murtazaliev of Grozny, Russia, and this fight comes at the worst possible moment for the Aussie. Murtazaliev is a big puncher who throws combinations and is dangerous. He’s like a power version of Dmitri Bivol, but more willing to engage. He is not a runner.
In Tszyu’s last fight, he was dethroned by Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora, losing a 12-round split decision on March 30. Tszyu’s confidence may be at an all-time low after this loss because his loss was not due to the cut he received. He was beaten by the better fighter, Fundora, and had no answers to his size advantage.
“I’m very confident that I’m going to win this fight, but it’s all about fate,” Bakhram Murtazaliev told the Jai McAllister channelwho discusses his title defense against Tim Tszyu on Saturday.
“He was a world champion, and that puts him on a high level. There are many of them. I will show you in the fight,” Murtazaliev said when asked if there were any weaknesses in Tszyu’s game. “After I finish this fight, I hope for a unification.”
If Murtazaliev defeats Tszyu on Saturday, he could permanently derail his career. It will be nearly impossible for Tszyu to bounce back from this loss to be one of the big players at 154.
“We prepared for 12 rounds. There are no problems. One round, ten rounds, or twelve rounds,” Murtazaliev said of his prediction for his title defense against Tszyu. “It’s going to be very exciting and fun to watch. It’s going to be a very good fight.”
Murtazaliev vs. Tszyu wrote a knockout as both guys can punch and go for a stoppage. Tszyu won’t be able to be hit as often by Murtazaliev as he was in his loss to Fundora last March. Murtazaliev is a much bigger puncher and will cut him up and force a stoppage.
“It doesn’t matter to me. As long as I remain champion, that’s all that matters,” Murtazaliev said when asked about his thoughts on Tszyu as the A-Team in the promotion of their fight.
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