In his first title protection, the undefeated IBF junior-middleweight world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev positioned the division on discover on Saturday evening when he stopped the challenger, former WBO champion Tim Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs) within the third spherical.
Coming into the October nineteenth conflict, Bakhram Murtazaliev was a newly topped champion who has spent the primary 22 fights of his professional profession working underneath the radar. His opponent Tim Tszyu is a well known boxer within the sport, and coming into the bout, Tszyu was a 4-1 betting favourite.
Firstly of the primary spherical, Murtazaliev was energetic with the jab. Within the second half of the opening spherical, Tim Tszyu and Bakhram Murtazaliev exchanged strong energy photographs. Tszyu had success touchdown the appropriate hand whereas Murtazaliev was in a position to join with the appropriate hand and the left hook.
Early on in spherical 2, the champion Bakhram Murtazaliev related with the one-two mixture, and instantly adopted it up by touchdown an enormous proper hand. The challenger Tim Tszyu responded by urgent ahead and touchdown a tough proper hand shot.
Seconds later, Murtazaliev landed a left hook that despatched Tszyu right down to the canvas. Tszyu was in a position to stand up, however he went down for a second time when Murtazaliev related with one other sturdy left hand shot.
Standing on wobbly legs, Tim Tszyu stood within the pocket and exchanged energy photographs with the defending IBF champion. In the course of the course of buying and selling energy photographs, Tszyu was visibly harm as soon as once more when Murtazaliev landed a double left hook.
An unbalanced Tim Tszyu tried to carry, however Murtazaliev averted the clinch by touchdown exhausting rights and lefts. Within the closing seconds of the second spherical, Murtazaliev landed an enormous proper adopted by a left hook. Murtazaliev would go on to publish his third knockdown of the spherical when he landed an overhand proper.
A sport Tim Tszyu was ready to exit for the third spherical, however the physician got here within the ring to look at Tszyu. After analyzing Tszyu, the physician allowed the combat to proceed. Tszyu got here out and tried to tighten his excessive guard, however Murtazaliev landed photographs across the guard.
Murtazaliev’s left hook was cash all evening lengthy, as he dropped Tszyu for a fourth time after connecting with a counter left hook. As soon as once more Tszyu was in a position to stand up and proceed, however after getting caught with consecutive proper hand photographs, Tszyu’s nook threw within the towel to formally cease the combat.
Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) completed his purpose of constructing an announcement on the expense of one of the recognizable boxers within the weight class. Instantly after posting the most important victory of his profession, Murtazaliev appears to be able to capitalize on his success.
Previous to his bout with Tim Tszyu, some folks labeled Murtazaliev because the weakest champion at 154. Bakhram Murtazaliev plans on testing that concept as he expressed his need to unify the titles by dealing with WBA champion Terence “Bud” Crawford, or WBO/WBC champion Sebastian Fundora.
