Tim Tszyu feels that the perfect method for him to defeat IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) is to KO him within the first 30 seconds of their struggle this Saturday, October nineteenth, on the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. The previous WBO 154-lb champion Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) needs the match to finish as shortly as doable to indicate that he’s again after his loss to Sebastian Fundora on March thirtieth.
(Credit score: Joseph Correa/Premier Boxing Champions)
“Proper now, it might in all probability be [Jermell] Charlo, Errol Spence, and Crawford,” mentioned Tim Tszyu to Battle Hub TV about who he want to struggle in 2025 if he had the selection. “I’m simply making ready for one of the best model of myself and staying current in each single second of the struggle,” mentioned Tszyu, describing what he’s making ready for in his struggle in opposition to Bakhram Murtazaliev on Saturday.
It’s questionable whether or not Tszyu will get any of the three fighters on his wishlist for 2025, particularly Crawford and Charlo. These two are out of attain for him. If Crawford will get bold and needs to go for the undisputed championship, he’ll struggle Tszyu sooner or later if he can seize the IBF title from Murtazaliev.
“I haven’t thought a lot about him in any respect, in all honesty. I do know he’s robust and harmful and stuff like that. It’s me who’s within the ring. Precisely,” mentioned Tszyu when requested if it’s extra about what he does and fewer about what his opponent, Murtazaliev, is doing within the struggle.
“Possibly in a single given time within the struggle in opposition to Fundora, I misplaced a little bit of focus. Feelings performed an element and distractions. It made me lose a few rounds, which price me the struggle. It was a cut up resolution by just one level. Once you calculate all of it out, each spherical issues and each second issues.
“Yeah, I’d say it was a part of the minimize, particularly within the early rounds within the mid-rounds,” mentioned Tszyu about why he misplaced focus throughout his struggle in opposition to Fundora. “For me, it was a lesson realized. It doesn’t matter what circumstances you’re given, there are not any excuses it doesn’t matter what. That’s how I method it now.”
Speaking concerning the minimize now as the rationale for his defeat makes Tszyu sound like he’s making excuses to the followers. It might have been higher for Tszyu to confess that Fundora’s top was the true downside as a result of he had a whole lot of hassle with the fighter’s size and top. Fundora was stabbing Tszyu with jabs all night time and making him pay for the pictures he landed.
“No, I nonetheless had the idea that was comfy with him at a sure time,” mentioned Tszyu when requested if there was ever a time through the Fundora struggle the place there was a dialogue about probably stopping the competition as a consequence of his dangerous minimize. “So, I felt like I may flip the tide round and land my pictures, those that I used to be touchdown within the earlier [rounds].”
Tszyu was on the lookout for a one-punch knockout of Fundora, attempting to imitate what Brian Mendoza had executed to him, however that wasn’t going to occur. He couldn’t catch him with the right shot to harm him the best way Mendoza did. That was the distinction. Tszyu’s wildness created a whole lot of openings for Fundora to land his jabs, left hooks, and proper arms, which made his face look much more bloody.
“I noticed that he was damage within the early rounds. So, I felt like I may have gotten the job executed. From the highlights, I assumed he regarded fairly good,” mentioned Tszyu about Murtazaliev’s struggle in opposition to Jack Culcay. “No, I didn’t watch. I don’t actually watch fights. I actually don’t watch my fights, in all honesty,” mentioned Tszyu when requested if he needed a replay of his match in opposition to Fundora from March thirtieth.
Fundora regarded like he was there to be knocked out within the first two rounds in opposition to Tszyu earlier than the minimize occurred. As soon as the minimize opened in spherical two, Tszyu’s face was pooled with blood, and he couldn’t see something. He was swinging wildly, lacking and getting countered by the 6’6″ Fundora. The struggle ought to have been stopped when it was clear that Tszyu’s minimize man wasn’t in a position to cease the bleeding.
“30 seconds, however I’m not on the lookout for the knockout,” mentioned Tszyu about what the right struggle can be for him in opposition to Murtazaliev on Saturday night time. “I’m simply trying to present the canine in me, and I’m able to have that feeling again.”
Tszyu should put himself liable to getting clipped by the 6’0″ Murtazaliev, who’s tall and may punch with both hand. He places his pictures collectively and isn’t afraid to get hit. This isn’t the perfect comeback opponent for Tszyu to be preventing, coming off a punishing 12-round cut up resolution defeat in opposition to Sebastian Fundora. If issues don’t go proper for Tszyu on this struggle, he can blame himself for selecting such a troublesome opponent as a substitute of a confidence-booster-level fighter.
