Bakhram Murtazaliev proves he’s world class and Tim Tszyu in three to retain IBF junior middle title

Bakhram Murtazaliev wanted the boxing world to find out who he was. They did. The 31-year-old IBF junior middleweight titleholder was making his first defense and was overlooked in his mind.

29-year-old challenger Tim Tszyu was supposed to be the A-Team.

Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 knockouts) changed that. He dropped Tszyu four times, before Tszyu’s corner wisely threw in the towel and ended the fight at 1:55 of the third Saturday night on a PBC event on Prime Video at the Caribe Royale Resort, in Orlando, Florida.

“We just worked on these combinations all the time and when the fight came, it was automatic.” Murtazaliev said. “We worked for 10 weeks on those punches that hurt him. We created opportunities and we believed that we could win this battle.

“When I landed that first big shot, I knew how hard it was. Tszyu is a real fighter and I hope one day we can work together and help each other grow.”

Tszyu started well. He landed a right midway through the first round, which caught the attention of Murtazaliev. He nailed Murtazaliev with a left hook to the body, as the fighters butted heads.

Within the first minute of the second, Murtazaliev landed a right, and Tszyu tried to return. But at 2:20, Murtazaliev plowed Tszyu with a left hook that dropped the Australian and had him in deep trouble. Tszyu’s courage made him stand up again on unsteady legs.

At 1:24 of the second, Murtazaliev knocked Tszyu down a second time with another left hook. Tszyu just hung and wobbled around the ring as Murtazaliev stomped down on him. As the final seconds ticked away in the second, Murtazaliev dropped Tszyu a third time.

Tszyu returned to his corner on his feet.

He was in such terrible shape that the ring doctor was called to check on Tszyu before the third.

Murtazaliev finished the job. He exploded on Tszyu in the third. With 1:24 left in the round, Murtazaliev landed another left hook that dropped Tszyu a fourth time. Tszyu wouldn’t stop coming forward—and he paid a terrible price.

Murtazaliev continued to pressure Tszyu, when Tszyu’s corner finally threw in the towel to end it at 1:55 of the third round.

“Every time I step into the ring, I leave it all in there,” Tszyu said. “Things didn’t go according to plan and the better man won tonight. No excuses. After the first shot, things didn’t start going according to plan. It’s part of boxing, you get hit and reactions slow down. Bakhram is the man at 154.”