It was supposed to be the triumphant return to the throne for Australia’s Tim Tszyu, paving the way for big matchups against other top super welterweights. Instead, it turned into a celebration for Bakhram Murtazaliev, whose victory had +450 odds from bookmakers! At Caribe Royale Orlando, Murtazaliev destroyed Tszyu in three rounds, knocking him down four times and retaining his IBF super welterweight world title. A victory as shocking as it was decisive, it now propels the Russian fighter towards new prestigious milestones.
In the pre-fight analysis, we predicted a cautious approach from Tim Tszyu for two key reasons. First, Murtazaliev’s well-known dangerous punches, which Tszyu would have been wise to avoid for several rounds; and second, the grueling battle Tszyu had fought less than seven months ago against Sebastian Fundora, which may have left physical residue.
Contrary to our expectations, the Australian showed no signs of reverence, hitting the accelerator from the opening bell and trying to force the champion onto the defensive. Murtazaliev, however, was unfazed and responded with sudden, dangerous right-hand counters.
If the right hand was Murtazaliev’s best weapon in the first round, the left hand paved the way for victory in the second. Tszyu walked right into a perfect left hook from the Russian during a reckless close-range exchange, sending him to the canvas.
A similar incident had occurred to Tszyu in the first round of his debut U.S. fight, but back then, his recovery was aided by facing a less lethal opponent like Terrell Gausha.
Murtazaliev, on the other hand, immediately smelled blood and pounced on his prey, scoring a second knockdown with an inverted one-two: a quick right followed by a brutal left. This was a classic move from the Russian boxing school, one we’ve seen many times from the talented light heavyweight Sergey Kovalev during his prime.
Dazed by the two knockdowns, Tszyu struggled to survive the round, and seconds before the bell, he was floored again, this time by a right hook to the temple.
Tszyu’s corner would have been wiser to prevent him from getting off the stool for the third round, but the Australian’s heart and his proven ability to recover from adversity convinced his team to give him one more chance to get back on track.
Though Tszyu seemed aware of the need to focus on defense in the early stages of the third round, soon his cautious approach vanished, and he resumed the reckless conduct of the previous rounds.
Tszyu landed two beautiful punches, a right straight and an uppercut that struck Murtazaliev squarely in the face, but the tough Russian fighter absorbed them well and retaliated with a terrifying left hook, securing the fourth knockdown of the night.
Although Tszyu got up stoically, it was clear he could no longer continue the fight, and referee Chris Young made a mistake in allowing him to take further heavy blows before his corner mercifully threw in the towel.
Tim Tszyu is 29 years old, theoretically with enough time to recover from this setback and return to high-level competition. However, the brutal nature of the defeat could seriously affect him psychologically going forward.
Tszyu fought with the attitude of a boxer convinced he could dismantle his opponent, but he ultimately showed a vulnerability to absorbing punches. A bitter pill for his pride and a major blow to his self-confidence.
To put this defeat behind him, the young fighter will need to accept that he doesn’t have the tools to brawl with everyone and will have to work hard in the gym on alternative strategies against bigger and more powerful opponents. A tough task at this point in his career, but not impossible.
For Bakhram Murtazaliev, it was an unforgettable night. After years of waiting for a world title shot and capturing the belt without fully convincing experts and fans alike, he took his revenge by asserting himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the 154-pound division.
Without a doubt, Tszyu’s reckless approach, constantly charging and giving Murtazaliev an easy target, played into the Russian’s hands, allowing him to showcase his best attributes. Nonetheless, the champion deserves praise for capitalizing on these opportunities and demonstrating not only considerable power but also an impressive variety of offensive tools.
It will be interesting to see if Murtazaliev is considered by Turki Alalshik for the next Riyadh Season events and whether he gets the chance to square off with one of the many notable figures currently populating the top ranks of the super welterweight division.