Tim Tszyu takes on the damaging puncher IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev tonight in a must-win for the previous WBO champ on the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
There’s an argument to be made that Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) didn’t have to take a dangerous combat like this, and he ought to have chosen to take a tune-up to regroup after his current loss to Sebastian Fundora on March thirtieth.
Tszyu could also be too courageous for his personal good. If he loses tonight, he’ll throw his profession within the dumpster. He wants Murtazaliev’s title as a bargaining chip to get the larger cash fights in opposition to the opposite champions, however he selected a troublesome one.
“He understands what he has in entrance of him. This isn’t a simple combat. I feel Tim Tszyu goes to be ready for something Murtazaliev can dish out and vice versa,” stated Chris Algieri to Probox TV about this Saturday evening’s combat.
“Murtazaliev remains to be actually tall and he can actually punch. So, it’s not a simple combat. You’ve obtained a tall man that may actually punch with the suitable hand. It’s very completely different from Fundora clearly, but it surely’s a tall man, and you bought to shut the space. I feel Tim Tszyu is 5’8 1/2″. He’s not very tall at 154. So, he’s going to have an obstacle on this combat as effectively.”
The peak of the 6’0″ Murtazaliev could possibly be an issue for Tszyu, however the attain and the highly effective proper hand could possibly be the true points for him. Murtazaliev can actually punch with each fingers, particularly his proper. If he’s in a position to hit Tszyu as usually as he did Jack Culcay, he’s not going to make it out of this combat along with his hand raised.
“It’s a comeback combat for Tim Tszyu. Everyone seems to be anticipating him to appear like the Tim Tszyu of outdated. I feel we’ll be capable of see that,” stated Antonio Tarver to Fighthype about this Saturday’s combat between Tim Tszyu and Bakhram Murtazaliev.
“That is Tim’s alternative to indicate the world that he’s nonetheless one of many greatest names at 154. After this combat, we will get enthusiastic about who he’s dealing with subsequent, however Tim after carry out just like the ex-champion that he’s.”
This can be a combat the place Tszyu wants to indicate that he’s able to nonetheless beating the highest guys within the 154-lb division as a result of he sort of obtained uncovered just a little by Sebastian Fundora on March thirtieth. That was actually the primary huge check that Tszyu had been given throughout his profession. Tszyu’s finest wins had come in opposition to these fighters: Brian Mendoza, Tony Harrison, Terrell Gausha, Takeshi Inoue, Carlos Ocampo, Dennis Hogan, Steve Spark, and Jeff Horn. They’re good fighters, however not A-level.
“It’s an enormous combat due to the danger. Two fights back-to-back, if he loses, could be disastrous,” stated Ben Damon of Principal Occasions to Jai McAllister about Tszyu. “It’s a good distance again. The Fundora combat, there are excuses for certain. His star most likely grew out of that efficiency whatever the outcome. But when he loses one other one, that sort of goes away, and he’s simply on the slide to a sure extent.
“So there’s lots on the road for Tim Tszyu, and everybody invested in him and in his journey. There’s most likely a faculty of thought that he may have gone a safer route with a comeback combat earlier than launching straight right into a world title combat in opposition to an undefeated man like Bakhram. However he’s taking the dangers like he’s carried out all through. He desires to be busy, and desires to be in huge fights. That is precisely that.
“He’s on the most important stage because the A-side, and it’s a extremely powerful combat in opposition to a man who doesn’t know how you can lose. He’s going to be resilient, and he’s going to attempt to be relentless,” stated Damon about Murtazaliev. “He’s obtained a reasonably awkward model as effectively. He’s an enormous, tall, tremendous welterweight as effectively. He’s obtained a attain benefit and is clearly lots greater than time.
Murtazaliev is a pure slugger, and he doesn’t let up when he’s on the assault. Tszyu has the ability to probably damage him if he can land sufficient of his huge photographs earlier than he will get to him with salvos.
“the factor about him is he’s solely had two fights at an excellent stage. Jack Culcay and the combat again in 2019, the place he grew to become necessary for the very first time for this belt. Aside from that, he’s actually been passing the time. Step apart fights and constructing fights, however when he has gone to that prime stage, he’s received.
“Jack Culcay was barely on the decline when he obtained him earlier this yr, however he nonetheless stopped him in a world title combat in Germany with all the chances in opposition to him. It was throughout Ramadan. There have been quite a lot of issues that the German operation tried to do to unsettle him, and regardless of that, he received.”
Culcay nonetheless fought effectively regardless of being 38, and now not in his prime, however Murtazaliev was too highly effective for him and chopped him aside to get a knockout of their combat for the IBF 154-lb title.
“He’s a man that isn’t coming to lose, and you might inform that this week along with his workforce and his coach. They’re clearly right here to win. Off the again of a victory right here, No Restrict and Principal Occasion desires to do is have an enormous homecoming combat for Tim later this yr. That’s clearly enormously enticing to him and thrilling for everybody concerned.”
After ten years as a professional, Murtazaliev is lastly getting his big-name opponent, who’s keen to combat him. He’d by no means been in a position to appeal to any of the opposite well-known fighters within the division to face as a result of he was too harmful and didn’t have e something to supply.
“Then you definitely begin to take a look at some huge fights. It’s an thrilling division,” stated Damon.
Murtazaliev is aware of that is his probability to place himself in place for some big-money fights if he can defeat Tszyu tonight. So, he’s going to be combating his coronary heart out on this conflict, trying to knock out Tszyu.
