Murtazaliev vs. Crawford: Fans Demand Matchup After Tszyu TKO

December 13, 2024

28

Bakhram Murtazaliev asked his followers today if they wanted him to face “The Monster” Terence Crawford next, and many answered in the affirmative. However, they doubt that Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) will want to fight the undefeated Murataliev (23-0, 17 KOs) after what he did to former WBO 154-lb champion Tim Tszyu on Oct. 19.

Who is the monster?

Murtazaliev is the TRUE “Monster in the 154-lb division, not Crawford. There is no doubt who is the better fighter between the two. Turki Alalshikh would do the world a real solid if he made Crawford an offer he couldn’t refuse to fight Murtazaliev.

Crawford would never agree to fight Murataliev without Turki insisting he face him. If he doesn’t want to go up to 168 to prove himself against the killers in that weight class to earn the Canelo fight, then he needs to fight once or twice.

Turki’s role

Murtazaliev is the one Turki has to negotiate for Crawford to fight because the Nebraska native’s recent performance, or lack thereof, against former WBA 154-lb champion Israil Madrimov on Aug. 3 has shown he is incapable of moving up two weight classes to move to fight Canelo at 168. .

A better test would be to throw Crawford in with Murtazaliev and see how he fares against the King of the division. The comfortable think Crawford is the king of the 154-lb division. But he certainly isn’t. Turki, just throw Crawford in there with Murataliev, like hand feeding a shark, and watch the madness.

Fans who can actually think of it believe that Terence has received too much credit for his victories against the shop wires Errol Spence and Shawn Porter. These are Crawford’s best wins when he takes Madrimov out of the equation.

Crawford’s form

Terence’s last performance against Madrimov showed he is just an average fighter in this weight class and will take losses when he comes in against Muratazaliev and other top fighters with talent. Madrimov would have beaten him if he had let his hands go. He showed Crawford too much respect and spent most of the game pointing but not throwing.

IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram dropped Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs) four times before scoring a third-round TKO at the Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando, Florida. Referee Chris Young waved it off at 1:55 after Tszyu’s corner threw in the towel.