Tim Tszyu vs Bakhram Murtazaliev, IBF super welterweight world title: When is the fight? How to watch
By Simon Smale
Topic:Boxing
Tim Tszyu is aiming to become a two-time world champion.
In short:
Tim Tszyu takes on IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando on Sunday morning AEDT.
Tszyu is aiming to become a two-time world champion.
Former undisputed light-welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu will be ringside for his son's fight.
From the moment the blood first started to obscure Tim Tszyu's vision in the middle of that Las Vegas ring last March, the writing was on the wall.
An accidental clash from the elbow of Sebastian Fundora. The resulting outpouring of blood. The missed chance to become unified WBO and WBC champion.
Tszyu saw one dream dashed — or at the very least, delayed — amidst the bright lights of the Vegas glitter strip.
The dream of being able to add himself and Kostya to the very, very short list of father-son pairings to be crowned unified champion — the only other duo on that list is Leon and Corey Spinks.
Tim Tszyu fought on despite a horrendous head wound, troubling Sebastian Fundora throughout their unification bout.
The dream of US mega fights against the biggest names in the sport, and the associated riches that accompanies those opportunities.
Now, another dream presents itself in storm-ravaged Orlando, at the Caribe Royale Resort — the chance to become a two-time world champion, with the IBF title on the line.
Tszyu has always described himself as a throwback — a fighter willing to take risks.
Fighters take risks every time they step onto the canvas.
But following Tszyu's first pro career defeat, no matter how unfortunate it was, a second in a row could be catastrophic.
And defeat is very much a possibility against unbeaten Russian, Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Who is Bakhram Murtazaliev?
Bakhram Murtazaliev won the IBF junior middleweight title in April.
The 31-year-old from Grozny, in Russia's Chechnya region, holds an unbeaten 22-0 professional record that stretches over a decade.
He was the mandatory challenger for the IBF title for four years, taking step-aside money to remain a challenger in waiting as he bided his time.
After serial fight dodger Jermell Charlo was eventually stripped of the IBF title, Murtazaliev won the vacant strap in April, handing German fighter Jack Culcay his fifth career defeat with an 11th round stoppage in Falkensee, Germany.
That fight was Mirtazaliev's first in almost 16 months and one he successfully competed in despite having to train for it throughout Ramadan.
Murtazaliev, standing at 183cm with a 183cm reach, is a big, strong fighter and will have a sizeable physical advantage over the 174cm-tall Tszyu.
Although not always a clean puncher, Murtazaliev is far from just a brawler, carrying tremendous power in his hands and a solid chin.
The defending champion has made some pretty bold claims about how he's going to go about beating Tszyu, claiming he will be looking for a knockout.
"If I connect, 100 per cent [I will knock Tszyu out]," he told US media.
"It's going to be a smart war."
Styles make fights
Bakhram Murtazaliev has 16 wins by knockout.
With Murtazaliev's front-foot, relentlessly aggressive style, coupled with his physical advantages, Tszyu will have his work cut out to hold the Russian back.
Of course, Tszyu is a proactive fighter too, working his jab and heavy hands to wear opponents down, even those with the sort of staying power that Murtazaliev possesses.
Whether he can get to the big Russian effectively enough, or if that style of fighting will play into Murtazaliev's hands, remains to be seen, especially with the vulnerabilities that Tszyu has shown at times during his last three fights.
Since stepping up to world level, Tszyu is getting caught with shots more regularly than he can afford against power punchers — and it's not gone unnoticed.
"What I like about [Tszyu] is I don't need to chase him," Murtazaliev said, ominously.
Tszyu and Murtazaliev have been jawing at each other all week in the lead up to this fight, getting under each other's skin as they undergo that necessary boxing transition from athletes to warriors.
"At this level, you have to take everyone out," Tszyu told media last week.
"Bakhram is the next guy standing in my way … [he] has what I want and I plan on taking it from him in spectacular fashion.
"It's time to become a two-time world champion."
Is Kostya Tszyu going to be ringside?
Kostya Tszyu has not seen Tim fight live in years.
He is. For the first time since Tszyu's debut in the professional ranks, former undisputed light-welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu will be ringside for his son's fight.
It will be the first time he reunites with both his sons — Tim's younger brother Nikita is also going to be ringside — in 11 years.
Kostya did meet up with Tim during a training camp in Thailand earlier this year.
Nikita, who has recently had surgery on his hand, will work in his older brother's corner after longtime cut man Mark Gambin needed an emergency appendectomy in Sydney and was unable to travel.
Earlier in the week, Tszyu admitted that he wished he could have called upon Kostya's advice during his defeat against Fundora.
"And you know what? I regret that I didn't have him there," Tszyu told Fox Sports.
"It would've been great to have him there when I needed him."
How do I watch the Tszyu fight?
Will Tim Tszyu be celebrating with another boxing belt?
The fight is available on Fox Sports and Kayo via Main Event pay per view, and it will cost you $69.95.
Alternatively, follow all the action in the ABC Sport live blog.
What time does the Tszyu fight start?
The fight card is set to get underway at 10:30am in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT.
That's 10:00am in South Australia, 9:30am Queensland, 10:30am in the Northern Territory and 7:30am in Western Australia.
As to when Tszyu and Murtazakiev are set to fight, that will depend entirely on how long the undercard takes, but allow for about two hours.
Who is on the undercard?
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Tim Tszyu (IBF junior middleweight/super welterweight title)
Cesar Mateo Tapia vs Endry Saavedra (middleweight)
Yoenis Tellez vs Johan Gonzalez (super welterweight)
Dainier Pero vs Willie Jake Jr (heavyweight)
Justin Viloria vs Diuhl Olguin (super featherweight)
Carlos Jackson vs Ryan Lee Allen (super bantamweight)
Gary Antonio Russel vs Jaden Burnias (super bantamweight)
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