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 underneath 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.
In the beginning of the primary spherical, Murtazaliev was lively 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 appropriate hand whereas Murtazaliev was in a position to join with the appropriate 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 an enormous 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 stand up, however he went down for a second time when Murtazaliev linked with one other sturdy left hand shot.
Standing on wobbly legs, Tim Tszyu stood within the pocket and exchanged energy pictures with the defending IBF champion. Through 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 prevented the clinch by touchdown onerous rights and lefts. Within the closing seconds of the second spherical, Murtazaliev landed an enormous proper adopted by a left hook. Murtazaliev would go on to put up his third knockdown of the spherical when he landed an overhand proper.
A recreation 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 struggle 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 stand up and proceed, however after getting caught with consecutive proper hand pictures, Tszyu’s nook threw within the towel to formally cease the struggle.
Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) achieved his aim of constructing an announcement on the expense of one of the crucial 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 folks labeled Murtazaliev because the weakest champion at 154. Bakhram Murtazaliev plans on testing that principle as he expressed his need to unify the titles by dealing with WBA champion Terence “Bud” Crawford, or WBO/WBC champion Sebastian Fundora.
