Tim Tszyu’s world title fight with Bakhram Murtazaliev in doubt as Hurricane Milton hits Orlando

Tim Tszyu’s team will hold urgent talks with American boxing authorities over his world title fight – which has been plunged into uncertainty over a ‘potentially catastrophic’ hurricane.

Tim Tszyu’s world-title blockbuster in America has been plunged into uncertainty by a “potentially catastrophic” hurricane that has smashed the US with winds exceeding 290km/h.

Tszyu’s promoters No Limit will hold urgent talks with American boxing authorities on Tuesday as Australia’s super welterweight star prepares for his IBF world-title bout with Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando on Sunday week (AEDT).

This masthead can reveal another Aussie due to fight on the Tszyu card – Sydney-born Mateo Tapia – was forced to evacuate Florida on Monday following advice from US officials.

Tapia has shifted his base to Miami, while Tszyu, currently in training camp in Las Vegas, is scheduled to arrive Orlando this Sunday, giving him a week to acclimatise before he fights Murtazaliev at Caribe Royale on October 20.

At this stage, there is no suggestion the marquee card will be cancelled.

Hurricane Milton has exploded in strength in recent days. Picture: AFP

But the Tszyu camp is monitoring the situation closely and hope Hurricane Milton – rated by American weather experts as the worst storm to lash the US in October in 58 years – will not torpedo the Soul Taker’s world-title comeback.

“We’re watching it with interest, it’s a category five catastrophic storm that goes over Tampa and Orlando,” Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings told this masthead.

“PBC will be looking at contingencies. We’re not making too much of a big of it with Tim, we’re letting him stay focused.

“It might get moved, they’ll wait and see what the extent of the damage is afterwards and have time to move it.”

Tszyu is scheduled to fly from Las Vegas to Orlando on Saturday.

“They’re talking 20 foot tidal surges, and saying they’ve never seen anything like this,” Jennings said.

“If you go on what they’re saying, will there be a venue standing? What happens to the airports?

“It’s a one in 50-year thing. It never goes on this particular path, and it’s going right over our venue.”

Tim Tszyu hasn’t yet arrived in Orlando. Picture: Getty

It’s the latest in a long line of “cursed” Tszyu fight build-ups, including dog bites and opponent injuries.

“I can’t recall any two week period before a Tim fight that hasn’t had a headline,” he said. “I called it cursed this morning.

“The list goes on and on. I’m going to the barber shop to get my hair dyed. It’s going grey.”

The monster storm has reached Category 5 and is surging towards Florida with American authorities saying Hurricane Milton had “explosively” intensified with a 150km/h increase in winds in the last 24 hours.

“Milton is a potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane,” said the US National Hurricane Centre in a statement on Tuesday.

“While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida.”

Florida has already been hit hard by the hurricane in recent days. Picture: Getty

According to Orlando Sentinel reports, evacuations on much of Florida’s west-coast barrier islands have already begun.

Tapia contacted No Limit bosses overnight to advise he was being evacuated, but would continue training in Miami as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.

The event shapes as equally critical for Tszyu, who is desperate to atone for the first loss of his career to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas in March, when he suffered a shocking head cut.

Tszyu (24-1) lost his WBO world-title, but the 29-year-old will reclaim world champion status if he beats Murtazaliev for the IBF strap.

His manager Glen Jennings arrived in America two days ago as Team Tszyu prepares to ramp up preparations by arriving in Orlando, which is 118km north of Florida.

Tim Tszyu is preparing to ramp up his preparations for the fight. Picture: Getty

American fight promoters would be shocked if the Hurricane forced a cancellation of the card but the Tszyu camp is preparing for every contingency as Florida management chiefs warned locals deaths could occur if they stayed home.

“We’re talking about storm surge values higher than the ceiling,” Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie told American media.

“Please ... if you’re in the Tampa Bay area, you need to evacuate.

“If they have called for your evacuation order, I beg you, I implore you, to evacuate.

“Drowning deaths due to storm surge are 100 per cent preventable if you leave.

“We had situations where people died of drowning in Hurricane Ian (in 2022).

“Had they just gone to the first available shelter that had capacity, they’d still be alive today.”

Local weather experts hope the Hurricane will ease if it reaches Orlando and Tszyu says he is primed to maul the unbeaten Murtazaliev (22-0) and return to Australia a two-time world champion.

“I’m bringing the heat,” he said.

“I’m feeling great and I’m all cleared from the cut in my last fight.

“I had to reset and put emotions aside when the cut happened. It is what it is, we had to move on.

“Now I’m fighting for the world title and I have no fear ... I’m ready to walk through the fire.

“The Aussie fans are the ones who put me into this position. When I go into the ring I feel like I have the whole country behind me. It means a lot to me.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu’s world title fight with Bakhram Murtazaliev in doubt as Hurricane Milton hits Orlando