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Russian Roulette: Bakhram Murtazaliev Puts Division On Notice With Beatdown of Tim Tszyu

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Russian Roulette: Bakhram Murtazaliev Puts Division On Notice With Beatdown of Tim Tszyu

In a stunning victory, Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) delivered a destructive performance, forcing the corner of former champion Tim Tszyu to throw in the towel in the third round of their Premier Boxing Champions promoted world title fight aired on Prime Video from Orlando, Florida on Saturday.

Tszyu of Australia via Las Vegas (24-2, 17 KOs) suffered four hard knockdowns and never seemed settled as Murtazaliev came straight at him from the opening bell.

“I didn’t know when I was going to stop him. I just created some purposes during my training camp. It was God willing. If it was Tim or someone else, God decides who wins this fight,” said Murtazaliev, a devout Muslim, of his first title defense.

Watch the highlights below.

‘Watch his right hand’

Tszyu and Murtazaliev briefly clashed heads at the start of the fight. Tszyu reached up to check the scar from his brutal cut against current unified champion Sebastian Fundora. Perhaps this was the tell that signaled how the rest of the fight would proceed.

The four-to-one underdog is a prolific puncher, and his approach was no different Saturday. After a busy first round, Tszyu’s trainer, Igor Goloubev told him, “Watch his right hand.”

It was a prophetic statement. At the start of round two, Murtazaliev landed the first knockdown with a hard right on the button, sitting Tszyu down hard. With two minutes left, Murtazaliev had Tzsyu on wobbly legs and dropped him a second time a minute later. It was a rolling disaster.

Bakhram Murtazaliev landed hard right and left hooks, scoring four knockdowns. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

Bakhram Murtazaliev landed hard right and left hooks, scoring four knockdowns. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

Tszyu could have held, but this is not who he is. Murtazaliev knocked Tszyu into the ropes, and it should have been the third knockdown, but no matter. The Russian decked Tszyu as the stunned audience at the Caribe Royale Resort saw a drained Tszyu get saved by the bell.

The ringside physician took a hard look at Tszyu at the start of the third round. He let Tszyu continue. Murtazaliev was unrelenting, and he knocked Tszyu down for a fourth time. Tszyu found his feet. Referee Chris Young told Tszyu, “One more time and the fight is over.”

As the champion came hard at Tszyu, his corner had seen enough and threw in the towel, a devastating end to the evening.

Murtazaliev: ‘God helps you'

Bakhram Murtazaliev, a devout Muslim, said he was drained in his last fight while fasting for Ramadan. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

Bakhram Murtazaliev, a devout Muslim, said he was drained in his last fight while fasting for Ramadan. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

“We just worked on the same combinations all the time. During the fight, it happened. It was nothing specific. It’s all automatically happening during the fight because we worked for ten weeks throwing the same combinations all the time, over again,” explained Murtazaliev.

Murtazaliev had been fasting for Ramadan when he defeated Jack Culcay to win the title. In hindsight, his performance Saturday proved the oddsmakers overlooked this when making him a four-to-one underdog.

“You just create opportunities. It just happens with God’s will. If you believe that God is going to help you, we are human – we are nothing. God helps you, and you create those opportunities, and everything happens,” explained Murtazaliev.

“When I landed that first shot, I felt how hard it was. Everybody can be jealous of his will and what kind of warrior he is. I would like to wish him all the best. One day I hope we can work together, he can come to my gym and we can exchange our experiences and help each other to grow.”

Tszyu: ‘Things didn’t go according to plan’

A dejected Tim Tszyu said later after the fight he couldn't recall what happened. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

A dejected Tim Tszyu said that he couldn't recall what had happened after the fight. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

Tszyu insisted he would bring the heat. His inability or unwillingness to use his boxing skills and defense to buy him some recovery time worked against him. We noted in our preview he could not throw caution to the wind.

“Every time I step in the ring, I’m willing to die. This is the reason why I do it. Things didn’t go to plan. The better man won tonight. No excuses there. He was just that bit better. No excuses. I tried my best and these things happen. Boxing’s not meant to be perfect. You live and you learn,” said Tszyu with a rueful smile.

“I think it was after the first shot things didn’t go according to plan. Again, that’s part of boxing. You get hit. Your reactions get a bit slower, and things didn’t go according to plan. The victory belongs to Bahkram tonight. He’s the man at 154, the IBF champ.”

A short time later, out of the ring, Tszyu spoke briefly with boxing media. He said he couldn't recall most of the fight. Holding back tears, the Australian said, “What the fuck just happened?” Why he wasn't in the back of an ambulance is a serious question.

Super Welterweight in 2025

Fundora and former champion Errol Spence Jr. are reportedly scheduled for a fight. If division champion in recess Jermell Charlo is planning a return, he may not want to go straight into a fight against Murtazaliev. Ironically, he was supposed to fight Tszyu in 2023 when injuries prevented it. There’s a reason the Russian has been avoided by other top names. It may take Saudi money and a sanctioning organization to turn up an opponent.

Tsyzu should take plenty of time off and consider his options. He should have gone straight to a hospital after the fight but participated in the post-fight news conference, which is inexplicable. He need not rush his return to the ring. Time with his family, including father Kostya Tszyu, may be what the doctor ordered.

Tellez Stops Gonzalez In Co-Main

Undefeated Cuban super welterweight prospect Yoenis Tellez brought the heat against veteran knockout artist Johan Gonzalez. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions Bakhram Murtazaliev

Undefeated Cuban super welterweight prospect Yoenis Tellez brought the heat against veteran knockout artist Johan Gonzalez. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

In the co-main event, undefeated Cuban super welterweight prospect Yoenis Tellez (9-0, 7 KOs) brought the heat against veteran knockout artist Johan Gonzalez (35-4, 34 KOs) of Venezuela, scoring two knockdowns en route to a sixth-round TKO win at 1:57 of round seven as referee Emile Lombardy ended the fight.

Tellez handled his business, showing confidence in his own power against any threat from Gonzalez’s power. He gained momentum round by round as he figured out what Gonzalez had to offer. The Cuban’s speed and accuracy were the difference.

Using his jab as a lead power punch, Tellez landed the first of his knockdowns in the final seconds of the fifth round with a right hook, snapping Gonzalez’s head around. He didn’t have enough time to work with.

Yoenis Tellez scored two knockdowns, the second with a left hook to win the fight. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

Yoenis Tellez scored two knockdowns, the second with a left hook to win the fight. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

Gonzalez made it to the seventh round before Tellez struck gold again with a left hook. It took one more knockdown to secure the victory,

“I was facing someone with a lot of experience, over 38 fights. It was not going to be easy. I listened to my corner and did the best I could to follow instructions in order to take the win,” said Tellez.

“The only weapon that I actually have is the will to become a world champion and to make sure my country is proud. The minute I left my country, that was my dream. That’s the only tool I actually use,” said Tellez. When pressed on a future opponent, Tellez named Puerto Rican Xander Zayas.

Mexican-Style Guerra Ends in Draw For Tapia and Saavedra

Despite three knockdowns, Endry Saavedra and Mateo Tapia fought to a draw. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions Bakhram Murtazaliev

Despite three knockdowns, Endry Saavedra and Mateo Tapia fought to a draw. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

In the Prime Video opener, fans saw a classic slugfest between undefeated middleweight Mateo Tapia, a Mexican-born resident of Australia (17-0,-1 10 KOs), and unheralded Endry Saavedra, a native Venezuelan training in Tijuana, Mexico (16-1-1, 13 KOs).

Despite three knockdowns by Saavedra, Tapia escaped with a majority draw on the cards, with one card for Tapia of 94-92 and 93-93 twice.=

“His style was really awkward, he kept getting me with his little short shots, taking my wind and taking my legs,” said Tapia. “I showed my heart in there, and I fought back,” giving himself a C. “I didn’t feel the best. His tools got the better of me tonight … I escaped, I’m happy. I’m not a bullshit artist, I feel it could have gone either way.”

Saavedra came at Tapia with guns blazing, throwing nearly double the number of punches over ten rounds. He drilled Tapia to the body and scored his first two knockdowns in the third round with wicked hooks to the head.

Mateo Tapia was fortunate to escape with a draw. Rematch talk will ramp up. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

Tapia’s corner told him, “You’re better than this.” For the next few rounds, it seemed Tapia would stage a comeback. His powerhouse right hook dropped Saavedra at the end of the fifth round. If not for the bell, Tapia might have finished off Saavedra. He didn’t, and it was a Mexican-style Guerra for the rest of the night.

“Be careful, don’t give it away!” Saavedra’s corner told him. Saavedra returned to the bodywork that had served him well earlier, forcing Tapia to hold several times. In the ninth round, Saavedra knocked Tapia down a third time, not wanting the fight to go to the judges. But it did, and the result was the draw.

“I saw he was hurt. I didn’t think he was going to get up. Like every single Mexcian warrior, they will always take it to the end of the line. Today was not my day,” said Saavedra with a rueful smile on his face. “I really don’t understand what happened. I don’t understand how I could take him down three times and not get the win.” Although disappointed,  Saavedra said he proved he’d be around for a long time.

Saavedra landed 208 or 558 punches thrown (37%), including 183 of 438 power punches (42%); Tapia landed 128 of 387 punches thrown (33%) with 104 of 216 power punches (48%).

Undercard Results From Florida

Cuban heavyweight Dainier Pero added another knockout win. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

Cuban heavyweight Dainier Pero added another knockout win. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

Undefeated heavyweight prospect Dainier “The Fear” Pero of Las Vegas (9-0, 7 KOs) stopped Willie Jake Jr. of Indianapolis (11-6-3, 5 KOs) with a third-round knockout.

Pero came at Jake Jr. without hesitation from the opening bell, controlling the fight and landing heavy-handed shots. With Jake Jr.’s defense weakened, Pero landed a hard right hand midway through the third round, sending him to the canvas, where he was counted out.

“I felt strong and focused tonight,” said Pero. “I knew I could break him down with my power, and I stuck to the game plan we developed in training. I’m glad I was able to finish the job in the third round and put on a good show for the fans here in Orlando.

“This win is another big step forward for me. Staying undefeated is important, but I want to keep improving and taking on tougher challenges. My goal is to get closer to a title shot, and I believe tonight showed that I’m ready for the next level.”

Bantamweight Gary Antonio Russell (20-1, 13 KOs) returned two years after his first loss by technical decision after a cut from an accidental headbutt with a knockout win in round 4 over Jaden Burnias (6-3-2, 4 KOs).

Justin Villoria tested himself against the durable journeyman Diehl Olguin. Photo: Joseph Correa, Premier Boxing Champions

Justin Viloria of Whittier, California (7-0, 5 KOs) defeated the durable Diuhl Olguin of Mexico (16-41-7, 10 KOs) by seventh-round TKO. It was an action-packed fight as both men stood and traded shots until Olguin had finally taken too much punishment. Villoria is the 20-year-old nephew of former world champion Brian Villoria.

 

 

 

Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist and the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). She is West Coast Bureau Chief based in San Diego, California.