BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV could not have been well-known earlier than Saturday evening, however the reigning IBF super-welterweight champion introduced himself to the Stateside viewers in spectacular vogue. Tim Tszyu took some heavy pictures early on, barely knew what time of day it was and by no means recovered.
With a Russian and an Australian combating in Orlando, one thing explosive was wanted to seize the broader consideration. Step ahead Murtazaliev and his punching energy, blended with Tszyu’s reckless bravery and the required warfare was delivered.
Tszyu spent parts of the primary spherical dabbling at a reduce that wasn’t there. The identical laceration inflicted by Sebastian Fundora had clearly left psychological scars in addition to bodily. Generally known as a quick starter, Murtazaliev had recorded first-round knockouts prior to now in addition to a swift knockdown of Jack Culcay in his title-winning effort.
Warning prolonged, Tszyu determined to face inside and bang away regardless. Escaping spherical one with solely hazard indicators within the type of lashing hooks, spherical two marked the devastating starting of a untimely finish.
As two-fisted flurries flooded by his leaky defence, the extra that landed, the looser Tszyu grew to become. In reality, the extra he took, the harder and extra macho he grew to become. Tim fights very like his esteemed father, Kostya, solely with out the identical crunching energy.
Extra terrier than tactician, on the occasions he wanted to hug, maintain and reset, Tim as an alternative opted to face and commerce, providing his face as a goal. Like a ruthlessly adept bowman, Bakhram Murtazaliev peppered the bullseye repeatedly, prompting the towel to fly in and save a fighter who merely couldn’t keep away from the left hook.
Issues transfer quick in boxing. At one level, Tszyu was being groomed for a crack at both Terence Crawford, or, on the very least, Errol Spence Jr. From the break up second Sebastian Fundora’s errant elbow break up open his brow, to the ultimate wave of referee Christopher Younger’s arms final evening in Florida, swiftly the 29-year-old’s profession on the prime stage is sliding alongside skid row.
As for Murtazaliev, he’s on a completely completely different trajectory. Vergil Ortiz Jr holds the WBC Interim title. That may be a enjoyable combat. Terence Crawford will take a look at the IBF champion and fancy a shot if it brings house one other belt and the prospect to unify one other division.
Within the meantime, Erickson Lubin, who is extremely ranked and due a shot on the title, can be a strong contender to face off in opposition to. He’s additionally a PBC fighter, which ought to make issues simpler to navigate.
