TIM Tszyu’s return to the ring has been confirmed as he gets another shot at a world title. Since being left out of Turki Alalshikh’s plans in Saudi Arabia, fans have been wondering where Tim will land next. Headlining a PBC show on October 19 in Florida, Tszyu will take on IBF super welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Tszyu was originally scheduled to return on August 3 in a mouthwatering clash with Vergil Ortiz Jr. However, the fight was postponed when it became clear that the horrific injury Tszyu suffered in his loss to Sebastian Fundora had not fully healed. Ortiz went on to demolish Serhii Bohachuk on August 10, and now Tim, 24-1 (17 KOs), has a second date and a new opponent to consider.
Streamed via Prime Video, the event will not be a pay-per-view. Promoter Tom Brown has accurately described the Australian as one of the sport’s most fan-friendly fighters. ‘The Soul Taker’ is also keen to challenge anyone.
As for IBF champion Murtazaliev, he is making his first defense of the title he won by defeating Jack Culcay in April. Undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo dropped the IBF belt. Murtazaliev traveled to Brandenburg to defeat Culcay in 11 rounds.
Now based in California, Murtazaliev, 22-0 (16 KOs), from Grozny, Russia, has fought almost exclusively in the United States since 2016. After pausing to wait for an opportunity to beat the elusive Charlo, this is the first tough challenge of the 31-year-old’s career.
