IBF junior middleweight Champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) is confident that he’s going to send former 154-lb belt-holder Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) down to his second consecutive defeat this Saturday, October 19th 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.
Former WBO 154-lb champion Tszyu, 29, is facing arguably the biggest puncher of his eight-year career, taking on the unbeaten Grozny, Russia-born Murtazaliev, and this fight is coming at the worst possible moment for the Aussie. Murtazaliev is a huge puncher who throws in combinations and is dangerous. He’s like a power version of Dmitry Bivol but more willing to engage. He’s 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 30th. Tszyu’s confidence could be at an all-time low after that defeat because his loss wasn’t due to the cut that he received. He was beaten by the better fighter, Fundora, and had no answers to his size advantage.
“I’m very confident I’m going to win this fight, but it’s all about destiny,” said Bakhram Murtazaliev to the Jai McAllister channel, discussing his title defense against Tim Tszyu on Saturday.
“He was a world champion, and that puts him at a high level. There’s a lot of them. I’ll show you in the fight,” said Murtazaliev when asked if there are any weaknesses in Tszyu’s game. “After I finish with this fight, I hope for a Unification.”
If Murtazaliev defeats Tszyu on Saturday, he could permanently derail his career. It’ll be nearly impossible for Tszyu to come back from this defeat to be one of the major players at 154.
“We’ve prepared for 12 rounds. There are no problems. One round, ten rounds, or twelve rounds,” said Murtazaliev about 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 has knockout written all over it because both guys can punch and will be going for a stoppage. Tszyu won’t be able to get 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 stay champion, that is all that matters,” said Murtazaliev when asked about his thoughts on Tszyu being the A-side in the promotion of their fight.
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