Australian boxer Tim Tszyu is set to take on IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev next month on October 19th in the main event of a non-PPV show at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. The fight will be broadcast live on PBC on Amazon Prime Video at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.
Tim Tszyu’s last fight ended in a twelve-round split decision loss to Sebastian Fundora in March. Despite hoping for a rematch with Fundora, it has not materialized for various reasons. However, a win over the unbeaten Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) could put Tszyu in a position to secure a rematch with Fundora, who holds the WBC and WBO titles.
Bakhram Murtazaliev, 31, claimed the vacant IBF 154-lb title by stopping Jack Culcay in the 11th round last April. Murtazaliev’s professional record includes 10 years in the sport, but he hasn’t faced any notable opponents aside from Culcay and Khiary Gray. This lack of high-profile fights makes it difficult to gauge Murtazaliev’s true skill level.
A victory for Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) over Murtazaliev could open up opportunities for lucrative bouts against junior middleweight champions such as Terence Crawford, Sebastian Fundora, and Vergil Ortiz Jr. Tszyu, 29, has expressed interest in facing Crawford, who holds an impressive 41-0 record with 31 knockouts. However, Crawford is currently exploring other potential matchups, including one against Canelo Alvarez.
George Rose, CEO of No Limit Boxing, is confident in Tim Tszyu’s abilities and resilience following his last fight. Rose stated, “There are very few fighters in the world that can endure what Tim went through in his last fight and come out bigger, better, and stronger than before. Tim Tszyu is that guy. He lives to fight and has a warrior spirit that is completely unbreakable.” Rose believes that Tszyu’s upcoming fight will be one to watch.
Tim Tszyu’s upcoming bout with Bakhram Murtazaliev is highly anticipated and could potentially pave the way for exciting matchups in the junior middleweight division. With his sights set on securing a rematch with Sebastian Fundora and potentially facing Terence Crawford in the future, Tszyu is determined to make a statement in the boxing world.