Former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman will be on commentary for the Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Tim Tszyu fight for PBC on Prime Video Team this Saturday, October 19 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Thurman says he wants to see how well former WBO junior middleweight champion Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) takes the powerful right hands from IBF 154-lb champion Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) in this fight because he is a great puncher. .
(Credit: Joseph Correa/Premier Boxing Champions)
Tszyu could be vulnerable to Murtazaliev’s power after his loss to Sebastian Fundora earlier this year on March 30. While Tszyu stayed on his feet the full 12 rounds and was never seriously hurt by Fundora, he still took plenty of shots from the 6’6″ fighter and it was a bloody mess by the end.
Murtazaliev’s power could be too much for Tszyu in this fight if he can jump him and unload on him with a flurry of shots like he did in his wins over Jack Culcay and Ahmad Cheikh. For Tszyu, it would be a huge setback for his career if Murtazaliev eliminates him.
“Of all the years of struggle, all the obstacles, all the injuries, all the time off, all the setbacks, this year has been a very challenging year,” Keith Thurman told Fighthype.
Fortunately for me, I have always been a man of faith. I not only believe in myself, but I believe in the higher universal power that optimism, Keith Thurman, has an opportunity now in the world of boxing; as I return, I have the opportunity to have one of the greatest comeback stories of this generation.
“We’ve heard tremendous comeback stories throughout the years. Movies have been made about it. Sometimes life feels like a dream, and looking back on this year, it’s quite a dream. It’s like” and, “How did this happen? How did it happen?
“I’m here. I’m healthy, and I’m holding strong. I still love the game of wrestling, and I’m looking forward to what opens at the beginning of next year. I believe that at the beginning of January or at the end of December, hopefully, we can open negotiations to see what manifests. I would still like the Tszyu fight.”
Thurman has been out of the ring for three years since his last fight against Mario Barrios, who he beat by a 12-round unanimous decision on February 5, 2022. Before that fight, Thurman was inactive for two and a half years. It seems obvious that Thurman does not like training or fighting. It would be better to announce his retirement, and quickly get back around because the fans are tired of this.
“I already know that if Tszyu becomes champion again, he will look for unification. He might want a rematch with Fundora. There is (Jermell) Charlo out there that he has never had to fight, but obviously, he will pass this tough Russian (Murtazaliev ) that people say Charlo avoided,” Thurman said.
It’s still too early to tell who Tszyu will fight next, because for all we know, he could be looking to rebuild his career after Saturday night if he’s defeated by Murtazaliev. Rather than Tszyu fighting Fundora or Charlo, he would be facing a second-tier fighter, trying to regain his confidence and work on the flaws that Murtazaliev exposed.
“They saw a lot of people at 154 avoided. So, let’s see if it was really someone to avoid or if it just takes someone who is willing to sign the contract, like Tim Tszyu, to show that the Russian could be a champion, but it’s not as scary as everyone pretends to be.
“So, I think things are pretty interesting at 154, and it’s going to be fun to get back in that mix. I wanted to do it this year, but it looks like it’s going to have to be done early next year.
“I’ll be working ringside commentating for the fight. I’m looking forward to it. We have Prime Video non-PPV. It’s going to be great for all those Prime members to get this world boxing in the comfort of their homes.
“A lot of people who have been boxing fans for a long time. We’ve been through a big change recently with everything that’s happened with Showtime and HBO. I’ve told a lot of fight fans that boxing is new. Boxing is different.
“You keep waiting for that to change, but hopefully all the different networks, all the different streaming sites that can put it together and get something really exciting for you. I think that’s what they’re trying to do with this card here with three terrific fights on to paper
“They just love this fight because they love the style that their opponent brings to the table because they don’t need to find this guy,” Thurman said of Tszyu and Murtazaliev. “They believe that their opponent does not bring anything special. Therefore, they are both confident that they will overcome, which is what you want. We know that will not happen. One will win.
“Is it Tszyu? Is it Bakhram? I don’t know much about Bakhram. I’ve seen a little film about him, but I’m waiting. I want to see what kind of statement he wants to make tomorrow.
“Based on the little experience and the slow start that Tszyu has, but how he really does in the later rounds, I wonder if the new champion (Murtazaliev) will not break it.
“Once you start to fade and lean against the ropes, it makes the fight easier for Tszyu. So, I believe that conditioning and never put yourself in that bad position where you can’t move your feet and do what you have to do. It will be a key to victory,” Thurman said.
Murtazaliev is not the type of fighter who leans against the ropes in his fights. He is a well mannered Russian fighter who tends to keep the action in the center of the ring. His style is similar to Artur Beterbiev, but he throws a lot more uppercuts in close than he does. Murtazaliev attacks his opponents like Beterbiev and goes after them, not letting them escape.
“The Russian (Murtazaliev) has a strong right hand, and he’s looking to make a statement. He said he’s not looking for a knockout, but if it comes, it comes. I’m interested to see if it’s the right one to meet Tszyu. We know it’s tough. We’ve seen him fight a bloody war against Fundora,” Thurman said.
If Murtazaliev’s chin can withstand the big shots that Tszyu is going to throw at him early in the contest, he has a good chance of defeating him on Saturday night. Tszyu looked good in the first four rounds against Fundora last March, but he pulled away and was beaten in the last eight rounds.
