The world of boxing was left stunned as Tim Tszyu, widely regarded as the rising star of the division, suffered a devastating loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev for the IBF junior middleweight belt in a highly anticipated bout, since the Tszyu v Fundora bout earlier this year.
The Russian challenger overwhelmed Tszyu with relentless pressure, securing a third-round TKO after knocking Tszyu down multiple times. The fight, held in Orlando, Florida, has sparked intense reactions from the boxing community, with many questioning Tszyu’s strategy and overall approach to the fight.
Tszyu’s aggressive start, normally one of his greatest assets, seemed to work against him in this bout. From the opening bell, he charged at Murtazaliev, throwing heavy punches and looking to assert dominance early. However, Murtazaliev remained composed, countering Tszyu’s offense with precise combinations that landed cleanly on the Australian. By the third round, the damage was evident as Tszyu was floored repeatedly, and his corner was forced to call the fight off, handing Murtazaliev a victory that many did not see coming.
One of the most prominent figures to comment on the loss was Terrence Crawford, the pound-for-pound king and reigning undisputed champion, who did not mince words when discussing Tszyu’s performance. Crawford was vocal about Tszyu’s apparent overconfidence, labeling him as “arrogant” for not adapting his tactics mid-fight. According to Crawford, Tszyu underestimated Murtazaliev, neglecting key defensive strategies like head movement and ring awareness, which led to his downfall.
“Tim better change up that game plan and start moving his head coming in” Crawford commented on X. Then after the result was decided, he posted: “Told yall”.
Tim better change up that game plan and start moving his head coming in
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) October 20, 2024
Told yall
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) October 20, 2024
Crawford went to say ” “Tim thought he had an easy one. Took this dude lightly and was worried about other fighters.”
This sentiment was echoed by several other figures in the boxing world, who believed that Tszyu’s downfall was due to his inability to respect Murtazaliev’s skill set fully. Analysts pointed out that while Tszyu’s power and aggression have worked well against previous opponents, his lack of tactical adjustments and defensive flaws were exposed against a technically proficient fighter like Murtazaliev.
During the fight, commentator Ben Damon was also left stunned, saying after Tszyu first hit the canvas.
“that first left hook was a monster, I don’t know how he got up”
From there, it only got uglier and Damon said the result was “unthinkable” after the bout came to an end.
“A monstrous upset for Murtazaliev,” Damon said.
“And the Russian sends Tim Tszyu to Veridian Oblivion. It has been an obliteration in Orlando. Tim Tszyu down for times, and Bakhram Murtazaliev retaining his world title in a one-sided beat down.”
The commentary from long time sports journalist Peter Badel was more telling. Speaking on Main Event post-fight, Badel felt Tszyu was had not earned the right to come out so strong so early.
“To me, when he fought Mendoza, he took his time with Mendoza. He was watchful early and then in the third or fourth round he started to apply the pressure.
“But in this fight he tried to almost bang early. This is a devastating loss for Tim Tszyu.”
Shawn Porter, the ex-Welter weight world champion added:
“The body language of Tszyu was very arrogant. They should not have tried to fight fire with fire. I felt like moving and turning and using the jab would have been the right thing to do.”
Fans took to social media following the bout, with many expressing disappointment in Tszyu’s performance. The consensus among fans seemed to mirror the critiques from analysts: Tszyu’s approach was overly aggressive, and he failed to demonstrate the adaptability needed at the elite level. Many were surprised that Tszyu’s corner didn’t advise a more measured approach, especially after the first knockdown. Others questioned whether Tszyu had been too focused on potential future matchups, overlooking the immediate threat posed by Murtazaliev.
Like every setback, there is always a positive silver lining. And this loss is likely to serve as a critical juncture in Tszyu’s career. While it may be a significant setback, it also presents an opportunity for him to reflect on his approach to boxing and make necessary adjustments. Critics have suggested that Tszyu will need to focus on improving his defense, patience, and adaptability if he hopes to bounce back from this loss and continue to compete at the highest level.
It also should be noted, that during Tim’s tine in offense, he did manage to penetrate Murtazaliev’s defenses and land his own big blows. We should also note, that the blows that Tszyu received were among the heaviest that Murtazaliev has ever thrown and it’s a true testament to Tszyu’s strength and his ability to comeback from and withstand some of the biggest blows in the division.
On the flip side, Murtazaliev’s victory has catapulted him into the spotlight. The Russian fighter has shown that he can compete and win against top-tier opposition, and his name will likely be mentioned in discussions about future title opportunities.
In the aftermath of the bout, Tszyu’s camp has yet to issue an official statement, but it is clear that a reevaluation of strategy and training will be needed. As for Tszyu’s standing in the division, this defeat, while humbling, does not erase his accomplishments, but it has certainly injected fresh uncertainty into his future path to stardom.
Highlights are in the video below;
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