Tim Tszyu has announced Saturday’s fight with Bakhram Murtazaliev as the start of his “comeback.”
On Saturday at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, Tszyu will challenge for the IBF junior-middleweight title on the occasion of the Russian’s first defense of the title.
Murtasaliyev, 31, grabbed the vacant title in April when he stopped Jack Calcay shortly after Suzu was unlucky to record his first defeat.
Zuzu was the defending WBO champion when he agreed to fight Sebastian. Fundora in the unification bout for the WBO and WBC titles after an injury gave Keith Thurman a completely different opponent.
An elbow then opened a wound on Tszyu’s scalp during the second round. To be sure, he would fight to the conclusion at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in a bloody mess. before being declared the loser by split decision.
If his reputation and marketability were improved to some extent by the setback that represented the launch of Premier Boxing Champions’ broadcast deal with Amazon Prime, then Tszyu received an offer to compete at Vergil Ortiz Jnr is most interesting but cannot be accepted as his cut has not fully recovered yet – he talks like a fighter with a point to prove.
PBC immediately offered him a title fight. It is a further reflection of the extent to which Fundora’s stunning defeat did not happen to him. But at his final press conference on Thursday, the 29-year-old said: “I am not just an ordinary fighter. But this is a fight for revenge.” It’s not just about the world title. But it’s coming back again. I believe I’m a 154 pound guy, I just need time to prove it. I will eliminate them one by one.
“Bakram, there is nothing private there. But I’m not a fighter on the sidelines.
“I was a young boy living his dream. The first man to headline an Amazon Prime pay-per-view card And now it’s the first free-to-air program. It is an honor. As a child, this is what you want. And this is what I dream of and believe in. and work and live my dreams It takes a lot of hard work to do this.
“I always wanted the biggest challenge. This battle is not easy. I have no hesitation, actually I’ve been chasing him for a while now, the[Jermell]Charlo fight between him and Charlo. That’s when he first came on my radar. Then I started looking at him. I remember calling the kids. As soon as Charlo and I stopped fighting. ‘Let’s go get the bacram.’ They didn’t want it. I’m chasing it – a big fight, a big name; The strongest and most terrifying monster. Too bad they didn’t frighten me.”
Shortly before the start of Thursday’s press conference, Tszyu’s father, Kostya, a famous junior welterweight who is widely considered to be the greatest Australian fighter of all time, appeared. It was his first fight since Tszyu’s professional debut in 2016.
In a further change to the setup his son, Joe Quiambo, will take over as cutman due to Mark Gambin, who has been criticized for his involvement. Tszyu-Fundora Unable to use due to needing emergency appendectomy.
Murtasaliyev remains mostly reluctant to speak. And it will remind some observers of the behavior of compatriot Artur Beterbiev a few days before his light heavyweight title fight with Dmitry. Bivol without any problems
When Murtazaliev was asked about suggestions that he had previously been reluctant to fight Tszyu, he replied: “I never hid from anyone. I didn’t run away from him. If he really wants to fight me He was able to make an offer.”
Until then, with Eastern European fighters becoming more and more accepted, he said: “I won’t say much. I just want to thank everyone who helped organize the fight and everyone who participated here. I won’t say much. Wait until Saturday.
“I am very happy to be the champion. I’m glad I can look forward to the fight on Saturday night. God bless you. Everything will be fine.”
The first hint of tension between them comes when Tszyu responds to what Murtazaliev said earlier.
“It is easier to avoid money and risky opponents to secure a mandatory (challenger) title than to take risks with a big bad monster,” Tszyu insists. The monster enjoys playing with his prey. and prepare to bear its teeth
