Tim Tszyu goes down four times in three rounds in comeback disaster against Bakhram Murtazaliev
Tim Tszyu was blown away by Bakhram Murtazaliev, going down four times inside three rounds in a horrific comeback that could have serious consequences. See how it unfolded and the aftermath here.
Boxing/MMA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
“What the f**k just happened?”
Those were a devastated Tim Tszyu’s first words after his stunning world title defeat to Bakhram Murtazaliev.
With his face marked up and head bowed down, Tszyu was barely able to hold back tears as he spoke just 30 minutes after younger brother Nikita saved him by throwing in the towel.
“What the f**k just happened? What did I get hit with?” he asked to no one in particular, his voice only slightly above a whisper.”
He was already attempting to look at what comes next – possibly a domestic money-spinner against Michael Zerafa – but the confusion and heartbreak was plain to see.
“You regroup, things don’t go your way,” he said. “It didn’t go according to script.
“You just have to bounce back.
“I was positive after Fundora. I need to find more answers.
“It didn’t go according to script. It was a bit different. I felt unbelievable, I had great prep.”
A first round head clash was a bad case of déjà vu as Tszyu rubbed at his noggin, expecting to see blood.
Flashbacks turned to nightmares a round later as Murtazaliev scored three knockdowns on the way to the biggest victory of his career.
“He got me. He was the better man, the smart man,” Tszyu said finally, as his voice cracked and he was allowed to leave with his family.
After all the hype and headlines around Kostya Tszyu’s arrival in Orlando this week, it was Tim’s mum, Natasha, who stepped in to console her defeated oldest son.
As Tim struggled to hold back tears, she placed a loving hand on his back and walked with him out of the building, taking one last look behind her as if to agree: What the f**k just happened?
Gleeful manager rubs salt into the wound
For the second time in just over two weeks, powerful boxing manager Egis Klimas has struck a brutal body blow on Aussie boxing.
And he wasn’t shy in telling everyone within earshot at the Caribe Royale in Orlando his feelings.
Klimas, who manages Bakhram Murtazaliev, Vasily Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk, couldn’t wipe the smile of his face.
“I’ve got a new name for Bakhram,” he laughed. “Murder-zaliev. Not Murtazaliev, but Murder-zaliev.”
Just two weeks ago, the Klimas managed Janibek Alimkhanuly scored a ninth round stoppage win over the No Limit-promoted Andrei Mikhailovich in Sydney.
As he left the building he called out: “Hey, tell Matt Rose, ‘Sorry’...but not really.”
What it means for Tszyu’s future
Tim Tszyu’s career is in tatters after the Aussie was brutally knocked down four times on the way to a stunning third round beating at the hands of Bakhram Murtazaliev.
In what can only be described as a sporting disaster, Tszyu was knocked down three times in the second round of their IBF super-welterweight world title fight.
He was assessed by the ringside doctor before the third round, but was never on steady legs and was knocked down a fourth time in the third frame.
UPSET ALERT! Bakhram Murtazaliev DROPS Tim Tszyu with a left hook counter in ROUND 3, Tszyu beats the count but looks unsteady, and the towel comes flying, IT’S OVER! 🇷🇺 #MurtazalievTszyu | #Boxingpic.twitter.com/qtGf08quCC
— RINGOFHIGHLIGHTS (@ringofhighlight) October 20, 2024
Trainer Igor Goloubev threw the towel in before the Aussie could take any more damage.
Murtazaliev entered the fight as a $4.50 underdog, with Tszyu’s team already looking towards a world title homecoming in Australia in December.
It’s Tszyu’s second consecutive defeat, throwing his plans for world domination into disarray.
“Every time I step into the ring, I’m willing to die,” Tszyu said. “Things didn’t go to plan. The better man won tonight, no excuses.
“I tried my best, no excuses and these things happen.
“Boxing’s not meant to be perfect. You live and learn.
“After the first shot,things didn’t go according to plan. That’s part of boxing. You get hit, your reaction’s slower and things don’t go to plan.”
Murtazaliev, who had been all business all week, sent Tszyu to the canvas just 50 seconds into the second round.
Tszyu couldn’t regain his senses and suffered another knockdown courtesy of a right-left combination.
Tszyu kept swinging, but was floored a third time after copping a barrage of unanswered shots in the final 10 seconds of the frame.
The ringside doctor looked close to stopping the fight before the start of the third. It gave Tszyu a few more moments to recover, but Murtazaliev was ruthless.
Tszyu attempted to keep the Chechen champion at bay with a jab, but a minute into the round, was stunned by perfect left hook.
He was nearly limp as he collapsed to the canvas, before Nikita stopped the fight.
1:30pm Social reaction: What just happened to Tim Tszyu?
What I just watched happen to Tim Tszyu 😳
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) October 20, 2024
Tim Tszyu just absorbed an absolute beating from Murtazaliev. Wow. Tszyu dropped four times in three rounds before his corner mercifully threw in the towel. Statement win for Murtazaliev, who will undoubtedly look to unify in the future.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) October 20, 2024
1:08pm: It’s over
IT’S ALL OVER!!
TIM TSZYU HAS BEEN BEATEN.
Tszyu was knocked down a fourth time, and Igor Goloubev throws in the towel.
The finish comes at 1:02 of the third round.
1:06pm: Doctor clears Tszyu for third round
Round Three: The doctor is assessing Tszyu before the start of the round. The crowd boos. Tszyu is arguing with the doctor, wanting to continue, and he’s allowed to.
1:04pm: Round 2 - Tszyu goes down three times
Tszyu dropped by a left hook!
Tim Tszyu is in big trouble. HE’S DOWN AGAIN
The second knockdown came from a right-left combo, and this is a disaster for Tim Tszyu who GOES DOWN A THIRD TIME
BOXING: TSZYU V MURTAZALIEV | Tim Tszyu faces off against undefeated IBF super welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev | SUN 20 OCT 10:30AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
1pm: Round 1
Round One: Bakhram was wild early on, but Tszyu landed the first teling shots with a left-right combo.
Tszyu thought he was cut again!!! He wiped his right glove on his head ahead reeling backwards. Thankfully there wasn’t a river of blood like the Fundora fight.
Good round for Murtazaliev.
12:57pm: It’s on - Tszyu v Murtazlaiev underway
Tim Tszyu and Bakhram Murtazaliev are both in the ring.
Kostya’s in there too, and we’re ready for the introductions and anthems.
We’re straight into it in Orlando - round one is underway!
12:38: Tellez triumphs, Tszyu up next
Tim Tszyu’s comeback fight is imminent. Yoenis Tellez takes down Johan Gonzales in seven rounds.
12:20pm AEDT: Promoter’s admission after controversial Aussie opener
No Limit boss Matt Rose says he is already working towards an immediate rematch between Aussie Mateo Tapia and Endry Saavedra after their controversial split draw.
In a fight of the year contender, Tapia picked himself of the canvas three times – and even knocked Saavedra down in the fifth – before ringside judges scored it 94-92 Tapia, and 93-93.
The crowd at the Caribe Royale booed the decision, and Tapia’s post-fight interview, with Rose confirming a rematch will take place as soon as possible.
“We’re talking at the moment about a rematch straight away – both camps are talking,” he said. “We’re looking at Australia.”
Rose – who promotes both fighters – admitted he felt Saavedra should have been awarded the decision.
“I thought Saavedra won,” he said. “I thought the extra knockdown allowed him to win.
“At the end of the fight, I thought Saavedra won.
“But I can’t take away the performance of both fighters. A draw probably reflects both their efforts, but if I was leaning a certain way, the extra knockdown would help.”
The scorecards for #TapiaSaavedrapic.twitter.com/hpY9PW2bef
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) October 20, 2024
11:50am AEDT: Tapia escapes with controversial draw
A bloodied and battered Mateo Tapia has fought to a controversial draw with Endry Saavedra in a 10-round contender for fight of the year.
The Northern Beaches brawler picked himself up off the canvas three times – including twice in the third round – and even dropped Saavedra in the fifth, before recording a split draw with scores of 94-92, 93-93 and 93-93.
The crowd booed as a gallant Tapia was interviewed in the ring afterwards.
“I feel it could have gone either way,” he said. “I’m not a bullshit artist. I feel like I snuck a few rounds in there.”
A gutted Saavedra said he thought he won.
“I don’t understand what happened,” Saavedra said. “I don’t understand how I could take him down three times and not get the win.
“I’m disappointed, I’ve been away from my family for three months and for it to be taken away from me is really sad.”
Even No Limit boss Matt Rose felt Mateo Tapia lost.
“Saavedra should’ve won,” he told this masthead. “But, it was a great, great fight and both fighters put it all on the line.
“Look, let’s do it again. We have to run it back - we’ll do it in Australia.”
After landing a few big shots early on, Tapia was floored in the third after a furious flurry from the Venezuelan.
He bravely fought on, but hit the deck a second time moments later as Saavedra looked for the finish.
Tapia ended the round with a bad cut under his right eye, and Saavedra looked moments away from ending it in the fourth and early on in the fifth.
The turning point came at Tapia’s lowest point.
Seemingly out on his feet in the fifth, Tapia landed a brilliant one-two combo, his powerful right hand sending Saavedra to the floor.
Tapia had Saavedra hurt again in the sixth as the middleweight showdown turned into one of the best bouts of the year.
An accidental head clash saw Saavedra to reel away in pain in the eighth, but the one-time sparring partner of Canelo Alvarez picked up the pace.
Tapia’s counter right hand remained his best weapon, but he was knocked down again in the ninth round after a brutal body attack.
Needing a knockout to win, Tapia threw everything – but mainly vicious counter-rights – at Saavedra in the 10th and final round.
And he nearly pulled off the greatest comeback in Aussie boxing, but just couldn’t strike the killer blow.
Tapia had a terrible build-up, after being forced to flee his home in St Petersburg when Hurricane Milton hit Florida 10 days ago.
Just three weeks before the fight, he was forced to distance himself from a sponsor who was caught up in an alleged high-level cocaine bust in Sydney.
11:30am AEDT: Tapia drops Saavedra
Tapia has dropped Saavedra with a massive right hand in the fifth!
Just moments earlier, Tapia looked out of his feet as the Venezuelan looked to finish it.
A perfect one-two landed flush on Saavedra’s chin, dropping him with just seconds left in the round.
11:20am AEDT: Tapia in trouble
Mateo Tapia is in serious trouble.
He was dropped twice in the third round of his middleweight showdown against Aussie giant killer Endry Saavedra.
Tapia hit the deck after a flurry of shots to the head with a minute left in the third.
He regained his feet and fought on, but crumpled to the canvas once more as Saavedra sensed the finish.
Saavedra has already beaten an another Aussie, Issac Hardman, in March.
11:05am AEDT: Mateo Tapia v Endry Saavedra underway
This card is officially underway.
11am AEDT: Kostya’s words of advice for Tim
Invited to join son Tim for his ring walkout, boxing great Kostya Tszyu has advised the returning star to use his head against Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Asked what his advice to Tim had been through the week on Main Event’s broadcast, Kostya said: “Use brains. It’s very important to be aggressive but under control.
”I will enjoy myself. I’ve already prepared a few things. I’m going to watch the fight like a judge. Scoring and trying to be very neutral to see if Tim is losing the fight, or losing the round.
“It’s probably going to be close the first few rounds, but it’s all going to depend on how smart Tim’s going to be.”
“He can be hittable,” Kostya said of Murtazaliev. “Something I like.”
9am AEDT: Kostya walk out confirmed
After weeks of speculation and rumour, Kostya Tszyu will officially walk to the ring with Tim Tszyu here in Orlando.
This masthead can confirm the Thunder from Down Under will be in his son’s entourage when makes his ringwalk at around 12:30pm AEDT.
As recently as two days ago, Team Tszyu was adamant Kostya would have a front-row seat, but wouldn’t take any further part in fight night.
It’s the first fight of Tim’s that Kostya has attended since his debut back in 2016. He was “a pain in the ass” that night, says Tim, who didn’t want his old man to attend any of his fights until he could seat him in a corporate suite “high up and away from the ring.”
Now more mature and confident, Tim isn’t as worried about his dad causing a scene.
“I used to think it was about controlling my dad, but at the end of the day it’s about how I deal with everything,” Tszyu told this masthead. “It’s just about how I control it.”
"He's one fight away from being locked in with those guys."
— CODE Combat (@codecombatau) October 19, 2024
Boxing great Antonio Tarver is hyped about Tim Tszyu.
All the build up to today's world championship blockbuster âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/7rjeEy7qak
🎥 @1bbradfopic.twitter.com/sYW2DMkk0J
7am AEDT: Tszyu fires five-word warning after avoiding comeback disaster
— Peter Badel
“Now let’s kick some ass.”
With those words, Tim Tszyu is ready to rumble after Australian boxing’s golden boy got the green light from IBF authorities for Sunday’s world-title blockbuster against Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando.
Under IBF rules, both fighters were required to undergo a second weigh-in on the morning of the fight and must not put on more than 11 pounds to meet the 165-pound maximum weight for the bout to proceed.
At the first weigh-in 24 hours earlier, Tszyu (24-1, 17KO) recorded 153.4 pounds, while Murtazaliev (22-0, 16KO) tipped the scales at 152.8lb for the super welterweight IBF world-title showdown.
Had Tszyu put on more than 11 pounds, he would have been banned from challenging for the IBF world title in what would have been a disastrous scenario after his loss to Sebastian Fundora in March.
But ever the professional, Tszyu and his rival Murtazaliev both weighed in at 165 pounds _ ensuring the bout will officially proceed as the Australian looks to become a two-time world champion.
After the IBF official called correct weight, Tszyu stepped off the scales, put his shirt back on, and confidently declared: “Now let’s kick some ass”.
That won’t be an easy assignment, with tough-as-nails Chechen Murtazaliev looking cold, calm and calculating as he followed Tszyu into the gym five minutes later before also recording an even 165 pounds.
“Unbelievable. On the dot,” said Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings.
6AM: Tszyu v Murtazaliev: Where the fight will be won
Bakhram Murtazaliev wore a smug grin as he stepped on the scales at 152.8 pounds – well below the 154 pound limit.
It could be his undoing.
The IBF world champion is nine centimetres taller than Tim Tszyu, has a long, very hittable body and limited footwork.
Tszyu on the other hand is built like a tank, is thick through the trunk and loves going to the body.
That’s why they call him the Soul Taker.
He breaks opponents with relentless body attacks, wearing them down and eliminating their will to fight on. Just ask Jeff Horn, Dennis Hogan or Stevie Spark.
And with Murtazaliev coming in so far under the weight, Tszyu will be licking his lips at the thought of targeting his skinny body.
MENTAL SCARS
Tszyu has called this the start of his revenge tour after suffering a bloody loss to Sebastian Fundora in March.
The physical scar from Fundora’s elbow is clearly visible on his head, but have the mental scars healed completely?
Tszyu has spoken about his mental skills coach, Andrew May, and says the cut won’t be an issue.
But you never know how a fighter will react to their first loss until they’re in the ring.
COUNTER PUNCH
Murtazaliev has a nice right hand. His best weapon is a well-timed counter right, which he used to good effect in his world title win over Jack Culcay earlier in the year.
After the opening few rounds, Tszyu will have tested Murtazaliev’s jab and assessed its strength and speed.
If – like he did against Brian Mendoza and Tony Harrison – he can handle taking a few jabs, Murtazaliev must throw the right hand to keep the Aussie off him.
GRIT
Ask those who have seen Murtazaliev fight and spar, and they’ll tell you one thing about him: He’s tough.
He looks tough. He walks like a tough guy. He’s from a tough part of the world.
It’s what saw him finally stop Culcay in the 11th round, when the German just ran out of steam.
It could be enough to withstand Tszyu’s body assault.
CORNER CHAOS AND KOSTYA
It’s been years since Tszyu had a straight forward fight build-up. From hurricanes, emergency appendectomies, dog bites and late-notice opponent changes, something always disrupts his preparation.
This fight is no different.
Will the chaos around his corner – which only features one person who was there for his last fight – destabilise him?
And what about Kostya? Tim has been stoked to have his dad here this week, but what if he loses control once the fight starts?
That’s what happened during Tim’s debut, and is why Kostya hasn’t been ringside for any fights since.
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Antonio Tarver – Tim Tszyu!
Shawn Porter – Tszyu by decision
Keith Thurman – Somebody’s gonna get hurt
Ben Damon – Tszyu by 9th round KO
Brendan Bradford – Tszyu by 6th round KO
Peter Badel – Tszyu by 8th round stoppage
Jamie Pandaram – Tszyu by 8th round KO
Cody Kaye – Tszyu by 6th round KO, TKO or corner stoppage
Nick Walshaw – Tszyu by decision
More Coverage
Originally published as Tim Tszyu goes down four times in three rounds in comeback disaster against Bakhram Murtazaliev
Brock shock: Zerafa on standby for Thurman blockbuster
Aussie rising star Brock Jarvis is set for the biggest fight of his life against Keith Thurman on March 12. But after his shock split with Jeff Fenech, promoters have a Plan B in place if Jarvis withdraws.
Olympic trans storm reignited by Trump-inspired legal fight
The two female boxers who secured controversial gold medal wins at the Paris Olympics are set to be embroiled in a fresh legal fight, following an executive order from US President Donald Trump.