This wasn’t a defeat, it was a disaster. Now Tim Tszyu only has one choice

Just seven months ago, Tim Tszyu’s handlers were deep in negotiations for a megafight against Terence Crawford, arguably the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

The payday possibilities were endless. If not Crawford, then Errol Spence Jnr. Or the elusive Jermell Charlo. Heck, maybe even the great Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Landing any of those names would be a licence to print money, as well as a chance to fulfil Tszyu’s ambition of overtaking the likes of Cameron Smith, Ben Simmons, Jordan Mailata and Oscar Piastri as Australia’s highest-paid athlete.

Yet after what transpired against Bakhram Murtazaliev at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, such thoughts are now preposterous.

This was not a defeat. This was an unmitigated disaster.

There were extenuating circumstances in Tszyu’s only other loss, to Sebastian Fundora. After dominating the first two rounds, “The Soul Taker” suffered a horrendous head cut that resulted in blood flowing into his eyes.

The champion lands another one right on the button.Credit: No Limit

However, there were no positives to take away from the knockout loss to Murtazaliev. Defending his IBF super-welterweight belt for the first time, claimed in a ponderous win against Jack Culcay after the observing Ramadan in the lead up, Murtazaliev produced one of the most lopsided championship beat-downs of them all.

On four separate occasions, Tszyu was floored, the damage predominantly coming from a vicious left hook after being softened up by a pinpoint jab.

While fellow Australian Mateo Tapia escaped with a majority draw after being knocked down three times by Venezuelan Endry Saavedra on the undercard, the judges couldn’t save Tszyu.

When his corner threw in the towel, just one minute and 55 seconds into round three, the career of the “Soul Taker” was at a crossroads.

I remember being ringside in Minneapolis when Tszyu walked into a series of right hands from Terrell Gaucha in the opening round, blows that could have effectively ended his career then and there.

Tim Tszyu was on the end of a boxing clinic.Credit: No Limit

On that occasion, Tszyu displayed the boxing IQ required to cover up and smother, giving him time to regroup and later dictate terms. Yet against Murtazaliev, he was perennially hittable, a stationary target to be pummelled by the taller Russian.

“The body language of Tim Tszyu was very arrogant,” said former world champion Shawn Porter in commentary.

It’s said that losing is bad for business, a line attributed to, among other people, powerful Roosters chairman Nick Politis. For Tszyu Inc, their stock price has plummeted.

Convincing punters to keep parting with $70, the going pay-per-view price, is going to be a tough sell.

So where to from here?

Tszyu has previously dismissed the prospect of ever fighting Michael Zerafa after the latter controversially pulled out of a scheduled bout in 2021. However, now that the big global star are no longer an option, Zerafa appears his best option.

Bakhram Murtazaliev was a class above Tim Tszyu.Credit: Tom Pombart/No Limit Boxing

“I’ve been saying this for years, Tim has a bad habit of overlooking his opponents,” Zerafa told this masthead after witnessing highlights of Tszyu’s loss to Murtazaliev.

“He goes on about Crawford and Charlo and Canelo and Spence, saying this is a hand-picked opponent and that he will smash him.

“Murtazahlev has just had his first title defence and has made a mockery of Tim.

“He’s sitting there saying he will knock out Crawford and Canelo. I don’t think he has any mirrors in his house. If he saw himself in the mirror, he would maybe wake up.

“He’s definitely not at that level. I’ve been saying it for years. I’ve said it a thousand times, but because of his last name and that winning streak, everyone is against me. All of a sudden my phone hasn’t stopped and I’ve become the A-side.

“I believe there is unfinished business for me. He’s human, you take away that last name and you just have an average guy standing in front of you.”

While Tszyu is a headline machine, fellow Australian Jai Opetaia has been knocking out the best cruiserweights in the world in relative anonymity. Just a week ago, he retained his IBF championship belt against Britain’s Jack Massey after producing a similar clinic to the one that Murtazaliev put on against Tszyu.

Opetaia enjoys none of the sponsorship or acclaim given to Tszyu, despite achieving so much in the sport. Yet local punters will pay more attention to a likely Tszyu-Zerafa showdown, the best match-up either can hope for after being humbled in world title bouts.

“It’s sad to see what he’s just gone through,” said Zerafa, who was also touted as a potential opponent for Tszyu’s brother, Nikita. “I’m a fighter as well and it’s a shit feeling. My heart goes out to him from that aspect, but in terms of career-wise and as a fighter, let’s get it on.”

Hopefully, that will be a less lopsided affair than the one that just transpired.

It’s a line that has been attributed to, among other people, Nick Politis, the poweful Sydney Roosters chairman.

And this result is a disaster for Tszyu Inc.

Tim Tszyu was on the end of a boxing clinic.Credit: No Limit

Prior to this fight, Tszyu was talking about wanting to become the highest-paid Australian athlete, overtaking the likes of Cameron Smith, Ben Simmons, Jordan Mailata and Oscar Piastri.

That is now fantasy.

The bigger challenge will be convincing punters to part with $70 to watch his night fight, against whoever that may be, when he tries to come back from this beat-down.

Tim Tszyu was overmatched from the opening exchanges.Credit: No Limit

Tszyu was brave, managing to regain his feet after four knockdowns. No one can doubt his courage.

But on this performance, he is not in the same class as the top super-welterweights in his division.

Not even the presence of legendary father Kostya Tszyu could make a difference today.

I’ve been ringside for almost all of Tim Tszyu’s fights. I’ve never seen him so defenceless.

For all of Tszyu’s power and precision, he has always displayed a high boxing IQ, knowing when to cover up or smother on the few occasions he’s been in trouble.

The champion lands another one right on the button.Credit: No Limit

I remember being at Minneapolis when he walked into a series of right hands from Terrell Gaucha in the opening round, blows that could have effectively ended his career just as it appeared on the rise.

However, I was shocked at how often he got tagged by Bakhram Murtazaliev.

Full credit to the Russian, this was an absolute masterclass. The champion found his range early and was relentless with his combinations.

Tszyu tries to recover after another knockdown.Credit: No Limit

But these are worrying times for Tszyu and his team. Just before the opening bell, I aired my concerns about how fighters come back from a loss. We all know about the damage that cut did in the fight against Sebastian Fundora, but I reckong we’re seeing some psychological scars from that result as well.

In the lead up to Tim Tszyu’s fight against Sebastian Fundora, his management were deep in negotiations to line up a huge payday against superstars Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jnr.

Those plans spectacularly unravelled after that infamous head cut, which resulted in his first loss.

Many positives could be taken away from that performance, but not this one.

Bakhram Murtazaliev was too good.Credit: No Limit

This was one of the most brutal, lopsided beat-downs in boxing history.

Tszyu will slide down the world rankings after this loss and it will take at least two years, if he is able to turn things around, to get back into world title contention.

“The Soul Taker” has previously dismissed the prospect of every fighting Michael Zerafa, but his stocks have fallen so far that he probably has little choice but to line up against his fellow Australian.

It’s a long way back to the top for Tim TszyuCredit: No Limit

There was nothing in Bakhram Murtazaliev’s previous fight that suggested the devastating outcome of this one.

Murtazaliev was criticised for looking ponderous in his win against Jack Culcay, but this performance was from the very top shelf. The Russian set up the victory early with a measured jab and then a devastating left.

Tim Tszyu as he enters the ring.Credit: No Limit

Commentators suggested Tszyu relied too much on his power, standing in front of his opponent when he should have used his evasive skills.

“The body language of Tim Tszyu was very arrogant,” said former world champion Shawn Porter in commentary.

This a devastating result for Tim Tszyu.Credit: No Limit

Tim Tszyu has paid tribute to his opponent after being totally outclassed.

“Every time I step into the ring, I’m willing to die here.

Tim Tszyu is still coming to terms with the result.Credit: Tom Pombart / No Limit Boxing

“Thing didn’t go to plan, the better man won. Congratulations to Bakhram, he was that bit better.

“No excuses, I tried my best. These things happen, it’s not meant to be perfect, you live and you learn.

“Things didn’t go according to plan, you get hit and your reactions are a bit slower. Victory belongs to Bakhram, he is the man at 154 [pounds] and the IBF champion.”

Bakhram Murtazaliev dominated from the outset.Credit: Tom Pombart / No Limit Boxing

Tim Tszyu suffers a shock loss.Credit: Tom Pombart / No Limit Boxing

Murtazaliev has been very gracious in victory.

“When I landed that first shot, I felt how hard it was,” he said.

“I wish him all the best, I’d be happy to work with him. I’d welcome him to our gym so we can train and continue to grow.”

This has been a monumental upset.

Just 1 minute and 55 seconds into round three, the fight was called off.

Murtazaliev could not have been more impressive. He found his range early with the jab and then the left hook did the heavy damage.

Tszyu seemingly just couldn’t get out of the way as the flurries kept coming at him. Murtazaliev landed with 48 per cent of his power punches.

This is an unmitigated disaster for Tszyu, whose career is at the crossroads.

“I didn’t think I would stop him that fast,” Murtazaliev said.

“I just created some opportunities in my training camp. It was up to God who will decide this fight.”

Tim Tszyu was knocked down a FOURTH time in one of the most one-sided world title fights you will every see.

Murtazaliev was totally dominant, again doing the damage with the lethal left hand.

Tszyu somehow managed to get back up, but when the barrage continued, his corner did the right thing and threw in the towel.

What an unbelievable result!