The blood has been shed, the healing has taken hold, and Tim Tszyu is ready to resume the vision he has long maintained to stand as the elite fighter in the sport’s best division.
Australia’s Tszyu surrendered his WBO junior middleweight belt to new titleholder Sebastian Fundora by split decision on March 30 when Tszyu refused to stop fighting through a ghastly, vision-impairing head cut suffered in the opening rounds.
Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) doesn’t regret it, telling ProBox TV/BoxingScene in a video interview this week that his bullheaded response to the injury reflects his old-school attitude toward a sport that has rewarded him by landing him in a return-bout IBF title fight against Russia’s Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) on Oct. 19 in Orlando, Florida, the first free Amazon Prime Video Premier Boxing Champions main event.
In a quick-hitting, wide-ranging talk, Tszyu, the son of former world champion Kostya Tszyu, revealed his enthusiasm for what’s coming and his appreciation for unbending principles that have made him the fighter he is.
BoxingScene: How much tape have you watched on Murtazaliev?
Tim Tszyu: I don’t really watch much tape. I just want to get a bit of understanding of how he fights. I know his physical dimensions and what he brings, and that’s enough. I’ll figure it out on the night.
BS: What does it mean to come off a loss and regain a belt? That’s a rare feat, and it speaks to the respect the industry has toward you.
Tszyu: It’s massive, an opportunity I’m taking with both hands. Two-time world champion sounds pretty good to me.
BS: In the Fundora fight, you could’ve walked away and kept your belt. Yet you showed your heart and likely endeared yourself to so many more fans by sticking it out through all the blood. Why’d you do it?
Tszyu: I’ve always been that kind of old-school, throwback fighter and I wanted to show it. It’s blood and guts at times, and whatever circumstance you’re going through, you never quit. That’s how it’s always been since being a young kid.”
BS: You immediately raised your hand for an Aug. 3 fight with unbeaten junior middleweight Vergil Ortiz Jr. before doctors told you the cut wasn’t healed. How difficult was that to hear?
Tszyu: It was disappointing. It was a fight I was ready for straight away and then didn’t get cleared. Things happen. It’s all part of the plan. Patience is something that every individual needs to learn to master.
BS: What were your thoughts on Ortiz’s Aug. 10 victory over replacement foe Serhii Bohachuk, getting off the canvas twice to win on the scorecards?
Tszyu: He did very well. It was a close fight. Both boys landed big shots. Kudos to both of them.
BS: Did you watch Terence Crawford become a four-division champion by defeating WBA junior middleweight titleholder Israil Madrimov on Aug. 10?
Tszyu: Yeah, Crawford did very well. He had an awkward, tough fighter in front of him and he figured the puzzle out.
BS: Is Crawford the best fighter in the division?
Tszyu: Skills-wise, yeah. Not as someone who’s accomplished in the division. He’s only fought once.
BS: In my opinion, as a boxing writer, Crawford’s power didn’t transfer to 154 pounds. What did you, as a boxer, think?
Tszyu: I don’t know. It went 12 rounds. He did do some damage to Madrimov. It’s [because of] Madrimov’s style. He’s always moving. It’s tough to catch him.
BS: Is 154 pounds boxing’s best division?
Tszyu: It’s red-hot right now.
BS: We hear you have a plan to fight four times a year? No one at your level does that. Why would you?
Tszyu: I’ll do what I can to make as many fights as I can. As soon as we finish a fight, we’re back on to the next one. Keep the train rolling. [It’s about] goals, aspirations, money, legacy and just being the best version of yourself. My vision is quite a bit [to meet]. I’m looking ahead to the next guys: Murtazaliev, then [Erickson] Lubin.
BS: How has this camp gone?
Tszyu: I’m working on different things, my style’s evolving. I can’t wait to see me in six weeks.
BS: Did you hear the comments from Turki Alalshikh that Crawford may only want to fight against Canelo Alvarez? It seems there would be a lot of cash in play for a unification fight against you, as well. Do you want to fight Crawford?
Tszyu: Yeah, for sure, if that opportunity presents itself, I would love for that fight to happen. I’ve got a road map planned and I’ve got a few names I’ve got to tick off before that.
BS: We’ve seen statements and reports indicating hard feelings between Alalshikh, the Saudis and you and your management and promoter. Can you clarify what has happened?
Tszyu: Look, I’ve got a team behind me, No Limit and Premier Boxing Champions, working tirelessly, nonstop, presenting me opportunities. All business goes through them. I’m not going into a meeting as a fighter with a promoter. It’s not the way I do things. It goes through the team. From what I heard, there hasn’t been proper introductions. I’m happy with PBC and No Limit, and we have a great road ahead of us and that’s got my full attention.
BS: Loyalty is rare attribute in this sport, but it sounds especially important to you?
Tszyu: Yeah, that’s what I’m based on. You’re not going to stop working with these people who’ve presented all these opportunities to you and then stuff those guys to say, ‘Oh, there’s a couple million over there.’ I’m not like that and I’ve never been about that. It’s all about the long game. PBC and No Limit have been great to me, and I’m not going to go stab them in the back.
BS: And it’s notable that after PBC placed you in its first Amazon Prime Video pay-per-view card. The Murtazaliev fight is PBC’s first free Amazon Prime Video free card.
Tszyu: Back to the throne.
BS: Was there undue pressure on you to fulfill that first pay-per-view, to fight on, even with that cut?
Tszyu: It’s just how I am. It was an opportunity, such a big opportunity. History’s history. I wasn’t going to let it get away. If we run it back, I’m sure it’ll be different. All good man, we’re in a good position.”
Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.
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