Former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman will likely be commentating for the Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Tim Tszyu combat for PBC on Prime Video Staff this Saturday, October nineteenth on the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Thurman says he desires to see how properly former WBO junior middleweight champion Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) takes the highly effective proper arms from IBF 154-lb champion Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KO) on this combat as a result of he’s an enormous puncher.
(Credit score: Joseph Correa/Premier Boxing Champions)
Tszyu is likely to be weak to Murtazaliev’s energy after his loss to Sebastian Fundora earlier this yr on March thirtieth. Whereas Tszyu stayed on his toes the total 12 rounds and was by no means severely harm by Fundora, he nonetheless took many pictures from the 6’6″ fighter and was a bloody mess on the finish.
Murtazaliev’s energy would possibly show to be an excessive amount of for Tszyu on this combat if he can leap him, and unload with a storm of pictures like he did in his victories over Jack Culcay and Ahmad Cheikho. For Tszyu, it might be an enormous setback for his profession if Murtazaliev knocks him out.
“Out of all of the years combating, all of the obstacles, all of the accidents, on a regular basis off, all of the setbacks, this yr was a really difficult yr,” stated Keith Thurman to Fighthype.
“Fortunately for me, I’ve at all times been a person of religion. Not solely do I imagine in myself, however I imagine within the common larger energy that optimistically, Keith Thurman, has a chance proper now on the planet of boxing; as I come again, I’ve the chance to have one of many best comeback tales of this technology.”
If Thurman desires to return again, he can at all times workforce up with somebody like Israil Madrimov, Vegil Ortiz Jr., or Serhii Bohachuk to indicate followers that he’s severe. These guys would indulge Thurman, and if he beats them, followers would rejoice him.
“We’ve heard great comeback tales all through the years. Motion pictures have been made up on it,” stated Thurman. “Typically life looks like a dream, and searching again at it this yr, it’s fairly dreamy. It’s like, ‘How did this occur? How did that occur?’
“I’m right here. I’m wholesome, and I’m holding sturdy. I nonetheless love the combat recreation, and I’m trying ahead to what opens up in the beginning of subsequent yr. I imagine that in early January or late December, hopefully, we will open up negotiations to see what manifests. I might nonetheless love the Tszyu combat.”
Thurman has been out of the ring for 3 years since his final combat towards Mario Barrios, whom he beat by a 12-round unanimous determination on February 5, 2022. Earlier than that combat, Thurman had been inactive for 2 and a half years. It appears apparent that Thurman doesn’t take pleasure in coaching or combating. He’d be higher off asserting his retirement, and fast teasing comebacks as a result of followers are bored with it.
“I already know that if Tszyu turns into champion once more, he’ll be trying towards unification bouts. He would possibly need a rematch with Fundora. There’s [Jermell] Charlo on the market that he by no means received to combat, however clearly, he’s received to get previous this robust Russian [Murtazaliev] that folks say Charlo prevented,” stated Thurman.
It’s nonetheless early to speak about who Tszyu will likely be combating subsequent, as a result of for all we all know, he could possibly be seeking to rebuild his profession after Saturday evening if he will get knocked out by Murtazaliev. Quite than Tszyu combating Fundora or Charlo, he’d be going through a second-tier fighter, making an attempt to regain his confidence and work on the failings that Murtazaliev has uncovered.
“They noticed lots of people at 154 prevented. So, we’re going to see if he was somebody actually to keep away from or if it simply takes somebody who’s keen to signal the contract, like Tim Tszyu, to show that the Russian is likely to be a champion, however he’s not as scary as everybody performed him out to be.
“So, I feel issues are fairly attention-grabbing at 154, and it’ll be enjoyable to get again in that blend. We wished to do it this yr, however it appears like we’re going to need to do it in the beginning of subsequent yr.
“I’ll be working ringside commentating for the combat. I’m trying ahead to it. We received Prime Video non-PPV. It’s going to be nice for all these Prime members to get this world-class boxing within the consolation of their properties,” stated Thurman.
Being an expert commentator fits Thurman greater than speaking about combating however then by no means doing it. So long as Thurman might keep on subject throughout broadcasts and never go off into left subject, speaking about stuff that has nothing to do with the combat he’s commentating, he would possibly do job.
“Lots of people which have been boxing followers for a very long time. We’ve been by an enormous shift just lately with all the things that’s occurred with Showtime and HBO,” stated Thurman. “I’ve been telling a number of combat followers that boxing is new. Boxing is completely different.
“Preserve anticipating it to vary, however hopefully all of the completely different networks, all of the completely different stream websites that they will put it collectively and get one thing actually thrilling for you guys. I imagine that’s what they’re making an attempt to do with this card right here, with three terrific fights on the cardboard.”
“They only love this combat as a result of they just like the type that their opponent is bringing to the desk as a result of they’re not going to have to search out this man,” stated Thurman about Tszyu and Murtazaliev. “They imagine their opponent doesn’t carry something particular. So, they’re each assured that they’re going to beat, which is what you need. We all know that’s not going to occur. One will prevail.”
Murtazalev vs. Tszyu is a battle between two knockout punchers, each of whom possess the facility to attain stoppages earlier. Neither man has a reverse gear, and it’s going to be attention-grabbing to see which ones will retreat when the going will get robust. Tszyu stated he was going to do extra boxing on this combat, however we’ll see if he truly does.
“Is it Tszyu? Is it Bakhram? I don’t know an excessive amount of about Bakhram. I’ve seen little or no movie on him, however I’m trying ahead to it. I wish to see what sort of assertion he desires to make tomorrow.
“Based mostly on the little little bit of the expertise and the sluggish beginning that Tszyu has, however how he actually turns it up within the later rounds, I query if the brand new champion [Murtazaliev] is not going to fade.
“When you begin to fade and lean up towards the ropes, it makes the combat simpler for Tszyu. So, I imagine that conditioning and by no means placing your self in that dangerous place the place you may’t transfer your toes and do what you must do. That’s going to be a key to victory,” stated Thurman.
Murtazaliev isn’t the kind of fighter who leans towards the ropes in his fights. He’s a well-schooled Russian fighter who tends to maintain the motion within the heart of the ring. His type is much like Artur Beterbiev, however he throws much more uppercuts in shut than he does. Murtazaliev assaults his opponents like Beterbiev and goes after them, not letting them escape.
“The Russian [Murtazaliev] has a robust proper hand, and he’s seeking to make an announcement. He stated he’s not in search of a knockout, but when it comes, it comes. I’m all in favour of seeing if that overhand proper goes to rock Tszyu. We all know he’s robust. We simply noticed him combat a bloody warfare towards Fundora,” stated Thurman.
If Murtazaliev’s chin can stand up to the massive pictures that Tszyu goes to be hitting him with early on within the contest, he’s received probability of defeating him on Saturday evening. Tszyu appeared good within the first 4 rounds towards Fundora final March, however he trailed off and was overwhelmed up within the final eight rounds.
