- Tszyu was a huge favourite with bookmakers before bout
- Was blasted out in the third round by big-punching Russian
Two of the biggest names in boxing have torn strips off Tim Tszyu and his team after the Aussie’s quest to regain his world title ended in an absolute hammering at the hands of Bakhram Murtazaliev in Florida on Sunday.
Tszyu’s international boxing career is in tatters following the savage world title challenge loss to the Russian, which saw him blasted off his feet four times before his corner threw in the towel.
The end came almost two minutes into the third round when the undefeated Russian sent the Australian crashing to the canvas for a fourth time.
Murtazaliev had dropped Tszyu three times in the second round alone with some ferocious punching, before the official doctor intervened just seconds into the third round to give the Australian a check-up after the referee refused to stop the fight at the end of the second.
The doctor allowed Tszyu to fight on until Team Tszyu sent the white towel into the ring when their charge went crashing down again after being hit flush with another left hook, then smashed with a combination along the ropes.
Within minutes of the loss, stunned Aussie fight fans took to social media in shock – but a famous boxing promoter and one of the country’s best fighters chose instead to tear strips off Tszyu and the team who helped him prepare for the bout.
Lou DiBella Jr – a top promoter and manager whose company has represented fighters like world champions Sergio Martinez and Bernard Hopkins, delivered a withering spray at the decision makers who put Tszyu into the ring with Murtazaliev soon after a controversial loss.
Tszyu had been hoping to beat the Russian and restore order seven months after handing over his WBO strap in a bloody, controversial split-decision loss to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas, when he fought on to the finish despite suffering a shocking head cut from an accidental elbow.
‘Perhaps the worst decision making for a star level kid EVER,’ DiBella wrote in a post on X.
‘Horrible promoter/manager/corner judgment both 1) in allowing Tim to continue in the Fundora fight, and 2) following that with a beast like this guy, who brought NO gate or name recognition to the fight.’
Aussie fighter George Kambosos Jr – who held the unified lightweight world championship from 2021 to 2022 but lost his last fight by stoppage – complimented Tszyu’s heart before going on to claim he’s overrated.
‘This game ain’t easy, I hope Tim is physically ok, he’s always been a good kid, mainstream media wake up, maybe learn your lessons and stop writing bulls**t every second of the day, blowing to much smoke, there’s other great fighters in the country too, god bless everyone,’ Kambosos wrote on X.
Tszyu was blasted by former world champion turned commentator Shawn Porter for being overly aggressive and charging in against Murtazaliev, who is known for his crushing power.
A head clash in round one left Tszyu checking to see if the collision had reopened the ghastly cut that effectively cruelled his chances against Fundora.
But worse was to follow in the second round.
First, Murtazaliev dropped him with a devastating left hook, then he had Tszyu struggling to regain his senses after a heavy combination to the jaw.
A full-blown onslaught had Tszyu on the canvas for a third time in the round and the fight appeared all but over – however, the Aussie found the heart to get up and keep fighting.
But there was no coming back when the Chechen champion delivered another massive left hook one minute, 55 seconds into the third round.
Tszyu’s brother Nikita was the first to throw in the towel, before his trainer Uncle Igor tossed in a second.
‘Things didn’t go to plan. The better man won tonight, no excuses right there,’ Tszyu said.
‘Yeah, no excuses. I tried my best and these things happen.
‘Boxing’s not meant to be perfect. So you live and you learn, right?’
Tszyu had been bidding to join his Hall of Famer dad Kostya as only the second father-son to win at least two world titles each.
Instead, the 29-year-old will return to Australia with his future uncertain after enduring a second straight defeat, after opening his career with 23 wins.
Kostya had joined his son in Florida and walked into the ring with him after previously being banned from attending Tim’s fights because he became too volatile during the bouts.
Tszyu had dreamed of fighting huge names like Terence Crawford and Saul Alvarez, but will now have to claw his way back to regaining his status as a title contender.
He might have to start by fighting fellow Aussie Michael Zerafa, who called out Tszyu following the loss, with the pair sharing bad blood since Zerafa pulled out of a fight in 2021.
