This Saturday at Caribe Royale in Orlando, USA, Russian boxer Bakhram Murtazaliev will defend his IBF super welterweight world title against Australian challenger Tim Tszyu. For Murtazaliev, it will be the first defense of the belt he won in April by knocking out Germany’s Jack Culcay in eleven rounds. Meanwhile, Tszyu will aim to become a world champion for the second time after losing the WBO title by decision in a bloody battle with towering Sebastian Fundora. Here’s our preview of Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Tim Tszyu.
Bakhram Murtazaliev: The Giant in Quicksand
If boxing rings were only four square meters, Murtazaliev would likely be one of the world’s top athletes. The Russian, with an extraordinary physique that could easily pass him off as a super middleweight, boasts incredible power that he can even express through seemingly innocuous punches. However, his footwork is less impressive; the IBF champion struggles to pair his powerful punches with effective leg movements, sometimes appearing like a giant trapped in quicksand. His world title victory six months ago highlighted both his strengths and weaknesses. Veteran Culcay often made Murtazaliev uncomfortable with quick changes of direction and fast footwork, but visibly suffered under the weight of his punches during exchanges until the final knockout. A difficult-to-interpret match that many observers thought Murtazaliev was losing, although the author of this article disagrees.
Tim Tszyu: A Worthy Heir to His Father
Many sons of boxing legends have failed to live up to the expectations of their famous parents and fans. Some, like Marvis Frazier, lacked the necessary qualities to reach the top. Others, like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, crumbled under the pressure. Tim Tszyu, on the other hand, has made his father Kostya proud, not only for his technical skills but also for his resilience. In his incredible and emotional fight against “The Towering Inferno” Fundora, Tim fought bravely for ten rounds despite a severe cut caused by an accidental elbow, contending with blood obscuring his vision. Many boxers would have sought a technical draw after such an injury within the first four rounds, but Tszyu chose to fight on, earning a close and controversial points defeat along with admiration from the boxing world.
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Tim Tszyu: What Will Happen? Boxe Punch’s Prediction
Throughout his career, Tim Tszyu has shown significant improvement thanks to the careful management of his rise to the world stage. A few years ago, the Australian was an instinctive, fearless boxer, ready to trade punches without caution from the opening bell. Today, he’s evolved into a more calculated and prudent athlete.
The turning point may have been Tszyu’s bout against American Terrell Gausha in March 2022, during his U.S. debut. After a typically aggressive start, Tszyu was unexpectedly knocked down in the first round—an event that shook him for at least two rounds before he regained control of the fight.
This risk, especially against a boxer not known for his power like Gausha, has likely influenced Tszyu’s tactical approach in subsequent fights. This became particularly evident in his clash with American puncher Brian Mendoza, whom Tszyu slowly dismantled in the first half of the match before stepping on the gas in the later rounds.
This newfound maturity could be extremely beneficial against a fighter like Murtazaliev, who thrives when given a stationary target but struggles against opponents who are more elusive and adept at varying distances and angles.
If Tszyu chooses to go toe-to-toe, he might prevail, given his superior variety of punches, hand speed, accuracy, and fundamental technique compared to the champion. However, such a choice would expose him to a grueling and risky fight—not ideal after his brutal battle against Fundora in late March.
It seems more likely that Tszyu will adopt a cautious approach at the start, keeping his guard high and working on the mid-range while softening up his opponent with quick two-punch combinations before stepping out of Murtazaliev’s range.
This in-and-out strategy should frustrate and neutralize Murtazaliev, who lacks the hand speed to counter Tszyu’s attacks and the leg mobility to close the distance and force a close-range fight.
The author of this article expects the defending champion to fall further behind on the scorecards as the rounds progress, making more and more mistakes in a desperate attempt to turn the tide—only to absorb increasingly hard punches. If this happens, Tszyu’s aggression will likely increase, as it did against Mendoza.
The outcome of the fight could depend on how sturdy Bakhram Murtazaliev’s chin is, as he will have to endure a grueling ordeal if he hopes to win, with real risks of serious damage. While we cannot rule out that the Russian, due to his physicality, might hold out until the final bell, I expect Tszyu’s punches—perhaps via a cut or corner stoppage—will eventually force the champion to surrender.
Thus, I predict a technical knockout victory for Tim Tszyu in the later rounds of the fight.