Tim Tszyu eyes a homecoming fight in December as he defeats IBF junior middleweight belt holder Bakhram Murtazaliev when they meet at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Fla. on October 19.
According to News Corp, the 29-year-old from Sydney, Australia is keen to get back on track this calendar year after spending months on the sidelines recovering from a nasty scalp laceration. split decision loss to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas in March.
There are several names on the shortlist, but it is understood that Erickson Lubin is the frontrunner, if the 28-year-old American southpaw can be convinced to fly to Australia. Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs) is The Ring’s No. 7 contender at 154 pounds.
“It’s important to stay connected with the Aussie fans because they are the ones who put me in this position,” Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) told the media yesterday.
“When I fight, I feel like I have a whole country behind me, so it’s a good feeling.
“Of course I would like to fight back in Australia for the fans, it means a lot. We are a small island, we are isolated from the rest of the world. Even to LA it’s a 15 hour flight.
“But we have talent out there (in Australia). Many fighters. We have this stigma that Aussies are tough bastards who only fight, but we like to have a crack and we know what we’re doing.
“It’s also nice to be with the other Aussie combat athletes.”
Tszyu plans a statement performance against Russia’s Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs), who will make the first defense of the IBF belt he won last April against Jack Culcay in Germany. In that fight, the 31-year-old pulled away late in the fight and knocked out the local boy in the penultimate round.
Tszyu vowed to end his 10-year undefeated streak in the pros.
“I bring the heat,” said Tszyu, The Ring’s No.5 contender. “Hopefully he doesn’t take a step back because everyone knows my style.
“You will see a bad show. The level will be merciless and something that shocks people and also shocks my opponent.”
In his Las Vegas debut against six-foot-six southpaw Fundora, Tszyu landed a stray elbow to the top of the head at the end of the second round that immediately caused a large gash on his scalp. The wound bled profusely for the rest of the match and he was forced to fight through a mask of blood.
Tszyu fought bravely in the circumstances and eventually dropped a 116-112, 113-115 and 112-116 decision. The loss cost him his WBO belt and the chance to pick up the vacant WBC trophy.
Tszyu’s corner came under criticism at the time for not stopping the bout in the first four rounds, but the brave Aussie says he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Forfeiting is not in my blood,” Tszyu said. “I’d rather die in the ring, that’s the mentality I have. Losing the belt feels like going back to the drawing board.
“There is no fear in me. Whoever they call the ‘bad guy’ in this section, give him to me, feed him to me.
“He (Murtazaliev) has the dog in him and it presents a tremendous task.
“But nothing is supposed to be easy on the way to the top. There is no easy battle. If you want the big money, you have to go through the fire and now I’m going through the fire.
“I want to be the shot-caller and make the big fights and you do that by having the ties.”
