By Declan Taylor
TIM TSZYU is seeking to bounce again from his bloody defeat to Sebastian Fundora in March and has been handed an instantaneous alternative to win the world title once more – however the undefeated IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev stands in his approach.
The pair have a mixed report of 46-1 with 33 of these victories coming inside the space – however which wins on every man’s resume are finest? We check out their high three.
TIM TSZYU THREE BEST WINS
3. Jeff Horn, 26.8.2020, Townsville – TKO 9
It’s truthful to think about this the victory the place Tszyu, who was 15-0 on the time, actually introduced himself as the following dominant drive in Australian boxing as he dropped and stopped Jeff Horn in violent vogue.
After all Horn had etched his title into the nation’s boxing folklore by beating all time nice Manny Pacquiao for the welterweight title three years earlier. However he had no reply to the onslaught from Tszyu up at 154lbs. Horn had been down in rounds three and 7 earlier than he did not emerge for the ninth. “I simply wish to let everybody know,” he mentioned afterwards. “My title is Tim, not the son of Kostya.”
2. Carlos Ocampo, 18.6.2023, Broadbeach – TKO 1
At 35-2, Carlos Ocampo had been seen as one thing of a step-up for Tszyu, who had been anticipated to face a couple of new challenges by the hands of the skilled Mexican.
However he made a mockery of these pre-fight predictions by surging by way of Ocampo in simply 72 seconds with a Knockout of the Yr contender. He dropped him first with an enormous proper hand which Ocampo solely simply managed to rise from.
However the restoration could be quick lived as Tszyu swarmed him and brutally ended the battle with a left hook which left Ocampo out chilly on the underside rope.
1. Brian Mendoza, 15.10.2023, Broadbeach – UD 12
This was not the crash, bang, wallop current in a lot of Tszyu’s stoppage wins however in what was the primary defence of his WBO light-middleweight title, the Australian boxed brilliantly en path to a transparent UD over Brian Mendoza.
For a lot of, this was No.1 in opposition to No.2 within the division and Mendoza got here into the battle off the again of knockout victories over Jeison Rosario and Sebastian Fundora. However Tszyu neutralised that energy and dominated the second half of the battle to win by scores of 117-111, 116-111 and 116-112.
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 15: Tim Tszyu connects with a punch in opposition to Brian Mendoza through the WBO super-welterweight world title bout between Tim Tszyu and Brian Mendoza at Gold Coast Conference and Exhibition Centre on October 15, 2023 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Picture by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Pictures)
BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV THREE BEST WINS
3. Fernando Carcamo, 4.8.2018, Atlantic Metropolis – TKO 1
After ending his first two 10-rounders within the fifth spherical, Fernando Carcamo, 23-8 on the time, was supposed to supply an analogous stage of resistance to the Russian puncher. Nonetheless, Murtazaliev had completely different concepts, stopping him in simply 41 seconds.
In what stays the quickest stoppage of his profession, Murtazaliev piled on the stress from the off and wobbled Carcamo with a pointy left hook which despatched him stumbling again in the direction of the ropes.
Clearly in no temper to make it into the second spherical, Murtazaliev went by way of the gears and ultimately dropped his opponent for the primary and final time with a proper hand. He rose on the depend of 10 and referee Eddie Claudio waved it straight off.
2. Jorge Fortea, 2.11.2019, Las Vegas – UD 12
This was not essentially the most explosive efficiency of Murtazaliev’s profession but it surely was an eliminator in opposition to a great opponent in Fortea, who did effectively to spoil plenty of the Russian’s work.
Even so, Murtazaliev was workmanlike and affected person, outworking the Spaniard and touchdown with the cleaner, more durable photographs all through to safe a unanimous resolution in his first 12-rounder.
Lisa Giampa had him a 120-108 shutout winner, whereas Tim Cheatham (119-109) and Steve Weisfeld (118-110) had it barely nearer on the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment.
1. Jack Culcay, 6.4.2024, Falkensee – TKO 11
That victory over Fortea was imagined to be an eliminator for a world title shot however, regardless of remaining undefeated, Murtazaliev needed to wait till April of this yr to lastly battle for a belt.
And, in what his clearly the perfect win of his profession so far, Murtazaliev gave away dwelling benefit to his opponent when he travelled to Germany to face Jack Culcay. He was forward on two of the three playing cards as they went into the eleventh however he was in no temper to go away it within the judges’ palms and as an alternative discovered a end after 2:50.
Murtazaliev had harm Culcay quite a few occasions all through the eleventh and it was outstanding he was nonetheless standing with 10 seconds left of the spherical however with one last, crunching proper hand, Culcay was down and out with Murtazliev topped the brand new IBF 154lb champion.
