In his first title protection, the undefeated IBF junior-middleweight world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev positioned the division on discover on Saturday night time when he stopped the challenger, former WBO champion Tim Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs) within the third spherical.
Coming into the October nineteenth conflict, Bakhram Murtazaliev was a newly topped champion who has spent the primary 22 fights of his professional profession working beneath the radar. His opponent Tim Tszyu is a well known boxer within the sport, and coming into the bout, Tszyu was a 4-1 betting favourite.
Initially of the primary spherical, Murtazaliev was energetic with the jab. Within the second half of the opening spherical, Tim Tszyu and Bakhram Murtazaliev exchanged strong energy pictures. Tszyu had success touchdown the correct hand whereas Murtazaliev was in a position to join with the correct hand and the left hook.
Early on in spherical 2, the champion Bakhram Murtazaliev linked with the one-two mixture, and instantly adopted it up by touchdown a giant proper hand. The challenger Tim Tszyu responded by urgent ahead and touchdown a tough proper hand shot.
Seconds later, Murtazaliev landed a left hook that despatched Tszyu all the way down to the canvas. Tszyu was in a position to rise up, however he went down for a second time when Murtazaliev linked with one other robust left hand shot.
Standing on wobbly legs, Tim Tszyu stood within the pocket and exchanged energy pictures with the defending IBF champion. Throughout the course of buying and selling energy pictures, Tszyu was visibly damage as soon as once more when Murtazaliev landed a double left hook.
An unbalanced Tim Tszyu tried to carry, however Murtazaliev averted the clinch by touchdown arduous rights and lefts. Within the closing seconds of the second spherical, Murtazaliev landed a giant proper adopted by a left hook. Murtazaliev would go on to submit his third knockdown of the spherical when he landed an overhand proper.
A sport Tim Tszyu was ready to exit for the third spherical, however the physician got here within the ring to look at Tszyu. After inspecting Tszyu, the physician allowed the combat to proceed. Tszyu got here out and tried to tighten his excessive guard, however Murtazaliev landed pictures across the guard.
Murtazaliev’s left hook was cash all night time lengthy, as he dropped Tszyu for a fourth time after connecting with a counter left hook. As soon as once more Tszyu was in a position to rise up and proceed, however after getting caught with consecutive proper hand pictures, Tszyu’s nook threw within the towel to formally cease the combat.
Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) completed his purpose of constructing a press release on the expense of some of the recognizable boxers within the weight class. Instantly after posting the largest victory of his profession, Murtazaliev appears to be able to capitalize on his success.
Previous to his bout with Tim Tszyu, some individuals labeled Murtazaliev because the weakest champion at 154. Bakhram Murtazaliev plans on testing that idea as he expressed his want to unify the titles by dealing with WBA champion Terence “Bud” Crawford, or WBO/WBC champion Sebastian Fundora.
