Tim Tszyu vs Bakhram Murtazaliev LIVE: Aussie gets smashed to bits in a huge upset as he fails in quest to regain world title

Here’s Murtazaliev a split second after the Tszyu corner rightfully threw in the towel to save their man from further punishment.

Remember, the Russian was paying as much as $5.75 for the win, while Tim was paying just $1.16. Now that’s an upset.

As you’d expect, fight fans are devastated and also highly critical of what the Aussie dished up in Orlando…

‘I simply think they underestimated what was in front of them,’ Shawn Porter says of the Tszyu camp.

It’s hard to argue with that.

Awful, awful game plan by Tszyu, who was trying to walk through a noted power puncher who had a reach advantage on him – and the Russian was far better at not giving the Aussie any big openings to work with.

Peter Badel believes this might have set the Aussie’s ring career back by two years. If that’s the case – and there are good reasons to believe he could be right – that’ll make Tim 31 years old when he next gets a title shot.

Fox commentator Peter Badel said Tszyu ‘looked arrogant early’ as he tried to bang with Murtazaliev before setting it up by wearing his man down round after round.

It’s hard to argue with that. Tim’s been able to smash his way through plenty of opponents but it backfired on him spectacularly today.

Porter was shocked that Murtazaliev was the one circling to the left, looking for openings, instead of just unleashing and hoping his power would get him through.

Both he and Badel are pointing to the moment in the first round when Tim thought he’d been cut in a head clash – they believe he had a bit of a flashback to the Fundora fight, when an elbow opened him up badly.

‘Every time I step in the ring, I’m willing to die here,’ Tim says.

‘He was just that bit better. No excuses … you live and you learn.’

Asked if anything surprised him, he says nothing went to plan after the first shot, which is quite the understatement.

The Aussie is obviously gutted, but stays classy in the aftermath and was speaking cleary despite the battering he just took.

Asked if he has any words for Tim, he said other fighters should be jealous of the Aussie’s will and the heart he showed.

The Aussie didn’t lose any fans or respect in the boxing world after his bloody loss to Sebastian Fundora – but this is nothing short of a complete demolition for him that will see his name drop out of the conversation for belts – and rightly so.

Porter wasn’t the only expert predicting Tszyu would move, be patient, make his man miss and tire him out. Instead, he did just the opposite and turned himself into a human heavy bag.

He can get back into title contention, but it will take time and this has set him back in a huge way.

Murtazaliev was confident he could stop the Aussie, but didn’t know how long it would take.

He said he worked on the same combinations over and over in the lead-up to the bout – and they must’ve decided Tim was vulnerable to the left hook, which he couldn’t deal with.

As soon as Murtazaliev landed that first left hook, Tszyu was on a hiding to nothing – but he was incredibly brave and absorbed shots that would’ve left other fighters out cold.

Tim was upright, walking straight forward, almost like he thought he could batter his way through the Russian. If that was really his strategy from the outset, it was the wrong one.

The end came after 1.55 of round three, and Murtazaliev remains undefeated after a killer display of punching power.

Porter is stunned that Tszyu kept trying to trade after getting smashed. And he gets a reprieve as the doctor gives him a checkup after 10 seconds of this round – very strange, but beneficial to the Aussie.

Tim is not making angles and he is getting hit as he stands straight in front of the Russian. He absorbs a big right there too.

A clinch, then some body work from the Aussie, but he’s not throwing double jabs, preferring to walk straight up behind a single punch.

A left hook absolutely rocks Tim, right on the chin. He is desperately ill. The ref warns him one more and it’s over.

A looping right nails him and the towel comes in. Tszyu loses by TKO!

Tszyu’s cut man is paying attention to a mark on the Aussie’s hairline after he got caught in a head clash. Doesn’t look serious, though.

Tim is still standing straight in front of Murtazaliev and the pair are trading heavy shots, with one right getting through for the Aussie.

A left hook drops Tszyu!

Up at the count of eight and he’s hurt!

Clinching from the Aussie, who is not 100 per cent by any means. He cops another left hook and looks absolutely rocked for a second as his head hits the canvas.

Tim is trying to land the right hand still but he is wobbly. Still a lot of time left here.

Tszyu finds his man with a right and a body shot. And another right. It’s a war in there but the left hook nails him again!

How is he still up?

And as I write that, a third knockdown for the Aussie off a right hand. He’s saved by the bell.

Murtazaliev 10-8.

Murtazaliev with all the work early on, throwing jabs in bunches before Tszyu tries a straight right to the body, then works his own jab.

Tim slips a jab and tries to get to the body with a left rip. He lands with a right and comes back to the body with the rip. The fighters exchange wild left hooks that don’t land.

A good right from Tszyu, who is coming at the Russian in a straight line, which is risky.

Murtazaliev lands a right. Tim is standing very straight and not showing a lot of movement, almost like he doesn’t respect his opponent’s power.

Close round with some heavy shots, but it’s Murtazaliev’s, 10-9.

We’ve met the judges and the ref ahead of this 12-rounder for the IBF junior middleweight title.

Tszyu is out of the red corner tonight against a man whose cheekbones are so large you could be forgiven for thinking he had his kneecaps transplanted into his face.

Lots of vocal support in the crowd for Tszyu and we’re just moments away from the first bell… the Russian is hit with a cascade of boos.

Like Tszyu, he takes his time and fist-bumps members of the crowd. Naturally bigger than the Aussie, he doesn’t look like he’s blown up too much since the weigh-ins.

Tim is taking his time, fist-dumping fans as he makes his way to the ring. He’s in brown shorts with the image of a bloodied male lion on them.

Dad Kostya is now in the ring with him, with brother Nikita standing on the apron, just over the ropes.

The ex-world champ is looking for Tszyu to show a lot of movement tonight so he can frustrate Murtazaliev into making mistakes as he goes looking for the knockout.

We’ve just seen Tim, gloves on and ready to go, shadow boxing in his dressing room. The ring walks shouldn’t be far off.

He just paid tribute to Ismael Salas and to Gonzalez’s ability in his interview. That takes him to 9-0 with seven knockouts at just 24 years of age.

Asked if there’s a fighter he’d love to get in with, he slips the question and says he’s willing to fight anybody. After watching that, there are probably a few fighters in the division who’d pay him stay-away money to go box somebody else.

The shot that dropped Gonzalez in the final round didn’t hit him on the jaw – it landed on the forehead, and that’s a testament to Tellez’s power.

Textbook example of how to set up and land a straight right…

On paper, Tellez might’ve taken a big leap up a bit too soon by taking on Gonzalez. But once the bell went, he was never in any serious trouble and displayed great mental discipline to break his man down methodically before really unleashing shots from what looks to be a very, very big arsenal.

Great speed, cool, calm and collected, switch hitter, can fight inside and outside, dynamite in both hands. There’s nothing not to like here.

No wonder there’s hype around Tellez. Not only was that a diamond of a right cross, he didn’t wade in like a fool afterwards as he searched for the KO. Very, very measured response for a young fighter.

Smoking left hook knocks Gonzalexz down again, and he’s hurt – can only get back up at the count of eight.

Tellez bides his time again, beautiful punch selection in a long combination – and the ref rightfully steps in to stop it. Tellez by TKO and the rest of the division will have to sit up and take notice.

Gonzalez comes out hard and backs up Tellez. A sneaky right upppercut gets home for the Venezuelan but he cops a barrage in return, finished with a left rip to the body.

Double left jab, right for Tellez, who then does a brilliant job of setting up the left rip by slipping two shots.

Great short right hook lands for Tellez and then another clean right to the chin that takes Gonzalez’s legs out from under him. Brilliant punch there!

Gonzalez is nailed with a right uppercut on the inside and Tellez isn’t rushing this. Outstanding work, 10-8.

Gonzalez is trained by Ismael Salas, who trained Danny Green for his first bout with Anthony Mundine, and Salas has plenty to say in that break – as he should after Tellez’s success with the left to the short rib.

Bit of pop coming off Gonzalez’s punches here but his jab is still working. Tellez slips and absorbs a three-punch combo.

Nice right from Gonzalez. They trade jabs and Tellez gets the better of it. He’s working more variety into his punches, throwing a lead left uppercut.

The left to the body gets through for Tellez but not as well as it did in the fourth.

A Gonzalez right lands but doesn’t hurt Tellez, who is backing up to give himself room. The looping overhand right is starting to work for him and he’s the busier man in the fifth. Tellez 10-9.

Tellez is orthodox again, misses with a big uppercut.

Gonzalez gets him on the ropes and opens up with a couple of combinations. Tellez keeps digging to the body with his left rip, then finds the mark with an overhand right. Another rip to the body. And another. His corner have seen something here, either early in the fight or in Gonzalez’s previous bouts.

A great right hand gets Gonzalez’s attention, but doesn’t appear to hurt him.

Tellez is now the man in centre ring. That left rip to the body is ripping in and Gonzalez has slowed down and become less aggressive.

The Cuban presses him back to the ropes to end the fourth – great round from him, 10-9.

Tellez is orthodox again to start the third and throws a looping left hook that doesn’t break the Venezuelan’s guard.

Good body shot from Tellez, then he goes back to the guts with a straight right, then aother left rip. Gonzalez smiles at him and this fight is really opening up.

Tellez is back to southpaw. His right jab doesn’t have the snap of his left, but he lands with a looping right hook.

Gonzalez again owns the centre of the ring, pushing Tellez back onto the ropes easily. A straight right glances off the Cuban’s temple.

Tellez’s best round so far and he gets it 10-9.

Tellez’s corner wants him to let go with more punches, and he starts working the jab to start the second – doubling up on it as he switches to an orthodox stance.

Gonzalez drops both hands and makes Tellez miss with head movement. He’s stalking his opponent and owning the centre of the ring.

The older fighter is getting through with that jab – but Tellez triples the jab and puts a right behind it – but only finds glove.

Hard combination from Gonzalez, but Tellez wears it all on his arms and gloves.

Gonzalez squeaks this one out 10-9 courtesy of his jab and work rate.

Tellez isn’t alone in landing with force – Gonzalez has 33 knockouts from his 35 wins.

‘This fight is not going to go very long,’ Porter predicts.

Tellez – a southpaw – is giving up reach and a huge gulf in experience here. He’s feeling his man out with the jab. Gonzalez throws the first combination of the fight but doesn’t land. He’s the busier of the two men.

Big, looping shot from Tellez doesn’t land. Straight left to the body follows. Gonzalez backs his man up with a left-right-left. He’s more active with the jab.

Hard to call that – Gonzalez 10-9 for being busier.

Like our main event, this is a super welterweight bout. Tellez is a Cuban with a dynamite punch on him – and he’s been touted as a future big name by some experts.

Shawn Porter said he could see the draw because Tapia won a number of rounds apart from the knockdown. He branded it ‘not a complete robbery’ – so just a bit of a robbery, then.

Tapia just admitted Saavedra ‘got the better of me’. He’s right about that.

He also wants a rematch.

Now Saavedra is being interviewed in the ring – said he didn’t think Tapia would get up, and called the Aussie a Mexican warrior.

He says he doesn’t understand what happened with the verdict, how he could lose after dropping his man three times.

Saavedra’s not alone there. Even if you can somehow give a pass to the two judges who scored it even, the judge who scored it for Tapia did a disgraceful job.

The scores come in and it’s 94-92 Tapia from one judge, 93-93 even from the other two – for a majority draw.

Saavedra has been robbed here. He clearly did enough to take that, three knockdowns to one, and was the busier man in crucial rounds.

Shawn Porter pointed to Saavedra’s strength as the key to this one, and he was able to bully and wrestle Tapia around the ring.

But at the same time, the Aussie could’ve made distance and kept turning his man – but chose not to, despite his corner constantly telling him to do so.

Big right lands for Tapia to kick off the final round. He can’t keep Saavedra off him though, and we’re back to the infighting.

Massive right uppercut by Tapia, but it doesn’t wobble the Venezuelan. Another right uppercut lands but doesn’t get the desired result.

Tapia slips punches in close well but doesn’t counter off that. Lots of body work from him but he is tied up again with a minute left.

A big right misses, then another looping right glances off his opponent. Twenty seconds left.

More body work from Tapia but he’s in too close. Scoring from rips to the gut won’t get his hand raised here.

Tapia misses with a wild right hook to close this one – great fight, but he doesn’t deserve to win.

That punch to the back of the head kicked Saavedra up a gear in round eight. The Aussie needs to take this one.

Instead, he’s loading up with big single shots and getting dragged into inside fighting again.

Finally, a jab/right combination from Tapia and it gets through, but then we return to the fight in a phone booth, and the Venezuelan laps it up.

He volume-punches Tapia to the mat. Tapia’s up at the count of seven but he needs to jab and move.

A minute left and Saavedra is going to the body in close. Tapia tries a big left hook to change the momentum but only hits glove.

The Aussie looks tired and worn down in there. He’s playing Saavedra’s game in close again, trading to the body.

10-8 Saavedra. One round left and Tapia needs a stoppage.

Good vision of the clash of heads between rounds there – that was a shocker, almost looked like a headbutt by the Venezuelan. Tapia’s corner have done a good job on the injury.

Tapia turns Saavedra and punches him in the back of the head, and the Venezuelan is milking it for all it’s worth, gets a little break to recover.

Saavedra is slowing down visibly – hands, feet and head movement have all gone down a couple of notches.

His desire to pressure the Aussie is still there, though. He bullies him into the ropes and wrestles him around the ring.

More clinching, more of Saavedra using his head on that eye of Tapia’s.

Tapia lands a left hook and a right uppercut, but is getting hit in return.

Saavedra is slower but he’s also busier. Tapia’s corner will be disappointed with this round, he’s not listening to their repeated instructions to make distance.

Saavedra 10-9.

Four more rounds to go and you’d be brave to suggest it will go the distance at this rate.

Tapia loading up on that laser-like right hand, catches his man on the temple – but Saavedra soaks it up. Then another right hand. He has problems with the Aussie’s hand speed, but Tapia isn’t taking advantage of it enough.

A left hook hits Tapia on that problematic eye, he tries to land a right uppercut from the outside and fails.

Tapia can turn his man with ease but again, doesn’t do it enough. Why he wants to clinch so often is a mystery.

Big right hook lands in close from the Aussie, but Saavedra gets through it. His hand speed has gone out the window, though.

10-9 Tapia.

That shot slowed Saavedra down a bit. It was a peach of a straight right; the Aussie rocked back out of range then launched in with a shot right on the jaw.

More clinching with Tapia going to the body. He looks far more dangerous fighting on the outside.

Porter wants the Aussie to stick and move, use the jab to break the Venezuelan down before throwing the big leather.

A looping right from Tapia just misses.A right doesn’t – it forced Saavedra back then, even though it didn’t land flush.

More clinching, Saavedra working the body, taking a left hook in the exchange. Good body work by the Aussie, finished by a right hook.

Tapia 10-9.

Tapia tries to make distance and gets caught with a straight right. The snap has come off his punches a bit and Saavedra is pouring it on early in the fifth.

Good jab, but Saavedra’s head isn’t doing the cut and swelling any favours in the clinches.

A big left hand shot lands and Tapia is backed up and looking a little wobbly again. Porter wants the Aussie to either clinch right up or fight from the outside instead of being in no-man’s land, where he’s getting hit.

Tapia’s corner yelling at him to find range – and he unleashes with a diamond of a right hand that puts Saavedra down!

The bell goes before he can capitalise, but what a shot!

Tapia 10-8.

Shawn Porter says Tapia isn’t picking up on the looping shots from Saavedra, which did the damage in round 3 – in addition to that head clash.

Tapia scores with the jab and needs to create distance here. He’s still throwing with aggression but is also getting caught and can’t keep Saavedra off him for long.

Blood is coming from Tapia’s cut again – that didn’t take long.

Tapia initiates a clinch there and both men land heavy hooks, the Aussie getting backed up to the ropes.

Probing jabs from Tapia at the close of this one, then another clinch, and his right eye is swelling to the point where vision will become a worry.

10-9 Saavedra.

Tapia has the edge in hand and foot speed but looks to be having a little trouble picking up the Venezuelan’s jab.

A lot of inside fighting to start this round before the Aussie makes distance and goes to the body and head, but catches a left hook in the exchange.

Saavedra keeps scoring but Tapia’s punches are crisper with a fair bit more snap on them.

Head clash in the clinch here and Tapia is marked up under the right eye.

The Aussie is in trouble off a left hook, cops a barrage and goes down!

Tapia bleeding under the right eye now. That head clash really took a toll on him and he’s down again!

He’s up at six and the bell goes before Saavedra can get another shot off.

10-8 Saavedra.

Saavedra a little busier to start the second; Tapia loads up with a big right but only hits glove.

Good exchange in centre ring, started by Tapia, finished by Saavedra. The Aussie didn’t show enough head movement at the end of his combination there.

Good straight right by Tapia but Saavedra is completely unfazed. Fair bit of clinching and inside work here.

Saavedra likes the hard business on the inside and is keen to keep the fight that way. But he’s edged by the Aussie again, 10-9 Tapia.

Tapia gets the scoring started with a right hand and uppercut, then there’s an extended clinch, which is pretty disappointing for the first round of a middleweight bout.

Saavedra lands with a jab but Tapia goes to the body well in return.

Shawn Porter is praising the Aussie, saying he looks good on the outside and inside – then Tapia gets caught with a jab and a left hook.

Good round for the Aussie overall, he gets that 10-9. His corner is warning him about trading on the inside too much and being impatient as he looks to hit a ‘home run’ shot.

Aussie middleweight prospect Tapia comes into this bout with a 17-0 record – with 10 of those wins coming inside the distance.

Saavedra’s record sits at 16-1, with 13 of his victories coming by KO.

The former undisputed world champion will walk to the ring with Tim. This is a bit of a surprise, as the Tszyu camp had said Kostya would be sitting ringside, but wouldn’t have any further role in his son’s preparations.

Looks like that changed after Kostya’s emotional surprise reunion with his son yesterday…

Much has been made of Kostya Tszyu making the trip to Florida for this fight after he spent years being barred from ringside at Tim’s bouts. No hint of any problems here as the Hall of Famer hugs his son and gives him some words of encouragement as he begins his preparations in the dressing room…

The former world champ turned commentator believes the Aussie will have the edge in terms of his game plan, mental toughness and ability to adapt.

Porter says he feels he still has to convince Aussies that Tszyu is in the very top ranks of world boxing – and that while Murtazaliev is tough and iron-hard, the Tim will be able to remain calm, figure him out and use his footwork to maintain a good distance.

Basically, Porter is backing Tszyu to adapt to the Russian’s style – while branding the IBF champ more one-dimensional than the Aussie challenger.

Tszyu is a huge fan of American muscle cars – and he’s selling off his beloved 1955 Chevrolet in anticipation of moving to Vegas with his fiancee.

‘I’ve said goodbye to Australia and started to look at houses here. I’m definitely moving … The future does belong here in America,’ he said before the biggest fight of his life.

His manager Glen Jennings is certain the switch to the States is the way forward for his fighter.

‘It’s inevitable, really,’ Jennings said.

‘America is where Tim needs to be to get ready for the highest levels. This is where all the best sparring is and Australia is so small by comparison, and it’s a long way away.

‘As much as Tim will miss home, he will still ahve the luxury of fighting, then shooting home to Sydney for a holiday and getting back to the US.’

They’re saying Tszyu, Tszyu, Tszyu – and it’s not even close.

Sportsbet has the Aussie paying $1.16 for the win, with the Russian at $5.75.

Bet365 isn’t far off, with the Aussie at $1.16 and Murtazaliev at $5.

Pretty surprising odds there considering both men are proven knockout artists who like to be aggressive and mix it up. Even when there’s a bit of a gap in class between fighters of that nature, bookies often hedge their bets due to the unpredictable nature of puncher vs puncher fights.

While a big fight down under beckons the 29-year-old if he gets past Murtazaliev, it could also mean he’ll be distancing himself from his Aussie fans – literally.

Tszyu’s backers at boxing promotions company No Limit want him back in the ring, in Australia, before the end of the year if he secures the IBF strap today – with four Aussie cities shortlisted to host the event.

Kostya and Tim seem to be back on good terms, with the ex-world champion hugging his son as he arrived in Orlando for the flight yesterday – but things haven’t always been rosy between the pair after the former undisputed lightweight king walked out on his family and returned to Russia to live when his eldest son was still a boy.

Now Kostya has revealed why he hardly sees his boys – and what he’s now prepared to do for them when they need his help.

Record: 24 wins, 17 victories by knockout, one loss

Height: 174cm

Reach: 179cm

Weight: 69.3kg

Bakhram Murtazaliev

Record: 22 wins, 16 victories by knockout, 0 losses

Height: 183cm

Reach: 183cm

Weight: 69.6kg

Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Tim Tszyu (IBF junior middleweight/super welterweight title)

Yoenis Tellez vs Johan Gonzalez (super welterweight)

Dainier Pero vs Willie Jake Junior (heavyweight)

Justin Viloria vs Diuhl Olguin (super featherweight)

Carlos Jackson vs Ryan Lee Allen (super bantamweight)

Gary Antonio Russell Jr vs Jaden Burnias (super bantamweight)

Thanks for joining us for Daily Mail Australia’s coverage of Tim Tszyu’s battle with Bakhram Murtazaliev for the IBF Super Welterweight world title.

The Aussie might be a big favourite with the bookies but this promises to be a war between two fighters who are known for their aggression and punching power – plus there’s a quality undercard to soak up before we get to the main event.