Tszyu vs Murtazaliev: Road to Redemption
Australian sensation and former world champion Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17KOs) looks for redemption as he challenges the undefeated IBF Super Welterweight Champion Bakhram Murtazaliev in a 12 round contest presented live via PBC on Prime Video, Saturday, October 19th starting at 8PM/ ET at the Caribe Royale Resort, Orlando Florida.
Son of International Hall of Fame class of 2011, Kostya Tszyu, Tim Tszyu has been looking to climb out of his dad’s shadow and cement his own legacy. After losing via split decision against the “Towering Inferno” Sebastian Fundora, Tszyu tasted defeat for the first time. The match was a highly contested bout with Tszyu coming on strong and aggressive, but an accidental elbow in the second round opened a nasty cut on the head of Tszyu which made things difficult for Tszyu who still managed to press forward and push through to make the fight so close that it ended in a split decision with the scores being: 116-112, 115-113, 112-116. The outcome might have been different if the accidental cut never took place but that’s boxing and anything can happen. Fundora ended up snatching the WBO and WBC super welterweight titles. After this fight Tszyu was ready to fight Vergil Ortiz, another sensation of the division, but medical staff could not clear him to continue training in which that fight did not come to fruition. Tszyu is looking to put this past him and has nothing to be ashamed about in that fight, both fighters fought valiantly. Former champ Tszyu will be looking to change that title to ” And the NEW…”
While he could’ve opted for a tune-up for his comeback, he is adamant about fighting only the best, telling media Wednesday that it’s his rival’s abilities that excites him the most for this fight. “I know what he brings,” Tszyu said. “He brings the heat, and you hit him, and he keeps coming. Those type of styles, they’re hard because they got the dog in them. Some fighters, they don’t have the dog. They might be skillful, but this guy, he’s got the dog in him, and that always presents a tremendous task ahead. “But I believe in my abilities and everything’s going according to plan. Nothing is supposed to be easy on the road to the top. There’s no such thing as an easy camp or as an easy fight. “You want to get to the top and you want to get the big bucks, you got to go through the fire. Right now, it’s all about going through that fire.”
Murtazaliev and Tszyu both have about a 70% KO percentage. Murtazaliev, is the IBF Super Welterweight champion so he will be no slouch. Murtazaliev will be tough, and he does not want to lose his belt. Murtazaliev acquired he vacant title back in April of 2024 when he defeated Jack Culcay who was 33-4 at the time of the fight. Murtazaliev is 2 years older a 31 but is 6’0 to Tzyu’s 5’8 height but this may not be a defining factor in this fight since Tszyu was very competitive against the 6’6 ” Towering Inferno” Fundora.
Come fight night this has all the makings to be an intense fight in a HOT division. The fans will definitely be the ones who win this fight!