Former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman will likely be commentating for the Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Tim Tszyu battle for PBC on Prime Video Workforce this Saturday, October nineteenth on the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Thurman says he desires to see how effectively former WBO junior middleweight champion Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) takes the highly effective proper palms from IBF 154-lb champion Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KO) on this battle as a result of he’s a giant puncher.
(Credit score: Joseph Correa/Premier Boxing Champions)
Tszyu may be weak to Murtazaliev’s energy after his loss to Sebastian Fundora earlier this yr on March thirtieth. Whereas Tszyu stayed on his ft the complete 12 rounds and was by no means severely damage by Fundora, he nonetheless took many photographs from the 6’6″ fighter and was a bloody mess on the finish.
Murtazaliev’s energy would possibly show to be an excessive amount of for Tszyu on this battle if he can bounce him, and unload with a storm of photographs like he did in his victories over Jack Culcay and Ahmad Cheikho. For Tszyu, it could be an enormous setback for his profession if Murtazaliev knocks him out.
“Out of all of the years preventing, all of the obstacles, all of the accidents, on a regular basis off, all of the setbacks, this yr was a really difficult yr,” mentioned Keith Thurman to Fighthype.
“Fortunately for me, I’ve all the time been a person of religion. Not solely do I imagine in myself, however I imagine within the common larger energy that optimistically, Keith Thurman, has a possibility proper now on the planet of boxing; as I come again, I’ve the chance to have one of many best comeback tales of this era.”
If Thurman desires to come back again, he can all the time group up with somebody like Israil Madrimov, Vegil Ortiz Jr., or Serhii Bohachuk to point out followers that he’s critical. These guys would indulge Thurman, and if he beats them, followers would have a good time him.
“We’ve heard large comeback tales all through the years. Films have been made up on it,” mentioned Thurman. “Typically life seems like a dream, and looking out again at it this yr, it’s fairly dreamy. It’s like, ‘How did this occur? How did that occur?’
“I’m right here. I’m wholesome, and I’m holding robust. I nonetheless love the battle sport, and I’m trying ahead to what opens up at first of subsequent yr. I imagine that in early January or late December, hopefully, we are able to open up negotiations to see what manifests. I’d nonetheless love the Tszyu battle.”
Thurman has been out of the ring for 3 years since his final battle in opposition to Mario Barrios, whom he beat by a 12-round unanimous choice on February 5, 2022. Earlier than that battle, Thurman had been inactive for 2 and a half years. It appears apparent that Thurman doesn’t take pleasure in coaching or preventing. He’d be higher off saying his retirement, and fast teasing comebacks as a result of followers are bored with it.
“I already know that if Tszyu turns into champion once more, he’ll be trying towards unification bouts. He would possibly need a rematch with Fundora. There’s [Jermell] Charlo on the market that he by no means acquired to battle, however clearly, he’s acquired to get previous this powerful Russian [Murtazaliev] that folks say Charlo prevented,” mentioned Thurman.
It’s nonetheless early to speak about who Tszyu will likely be preventing subsequent, as a result of for all we all know, he may very well be trying to rebuild his profession after Saturday evening if he will get knocked out by Murtazaliev. Moderately than Tszyu preventing Fundora or Charlo, he’d be dealing with a second-tier fighter, making an attempt to regain his confidence and work on the issues that Murtazaliev has uncovered.
“They noticed lots of people at 154 prevented. So, we’re going to see if he was somebody actually to keep away from or if it simply takes somebody who’s keen to signal the contract, like Tim Tszyu, to show that the Russian may be a champion, however he’s not as scary as everybody performed him out to be.
“So, I feel issues are fairly fascinating at 154, and it’ll be enjoyable to get again in that blend. We needed to do it this yr, nevertheless it seems like we’re going to should do it at first of subsequent yr.
“I’ll be working ringside commentating for the battle. I’m trying ahead to it. We acquired Prime Video non-PPV. It’s going to be nice for all these Prime members to get this world-class boxing within the consolation of their properties,” mentioned Thurman.
Being knowledgeable commentator fits Thurman greater than speaking about preventing however then by no means doing it. So long as Thurman may keep on matter throughout broadcasts and never go off into left area, speaking about stuff that has nothing to do with the battle he’s commentating, he would possibly do job.
“Lots of people which have been boxing followers for a very long time. We’ve been by means of a giant shift lately with every part that’s occurred with Showtime and HBO,” mentioned Thurman. “I’ve been telling quite a lot of battle followers that boxing is new. Boxing is totally different.
“Maintain anticipating it to alter, however hopefully all of the totally different networks, all of the totally different stream websites that they’ll put it collectively and get one thing actually thrilling for you guys. I imagine that’s what they’re making an attempt to do with this card right here, with three terrific fights on the cardboard.”
“They simply love this battle as a result of they just like the type that their opponent is bringing to the desk as a result of they’re not going to have to search out this man,” mentioned Thurman about Tszyu and Murtazaliev. “They imagine their opponent doesn’t convey something particular. So, they’re each assured that they’re going to beat, which is what you need. We all know that’s not going to occur. One will prevail.”
Murtazalev vs. Tszyu is a battle between two knockout punchers, each of whom possess the facility to attain stoppages earlier. Neither man has a reverse gear, and it’s going to be fascinating to see which ones will retreat when the going will get powerful. Tszyu mentioned he was going to do extra boxing on this battle, however we’ll see if he truly does.
“Is it Tszyu? Is it Bakhram? I don’t know an excessive amount of about Bakhram. I’ve seen little or no movie on him, however I’m trying ahead to it. I need to see what sort of assertion he desires to make tomorrow.
“Based mostly on the little little bit of the expertise and the gradual beginning that Tszyu has, however how he actually turns it up within the later rounds, I query if the brand new champion [Murtazaliev] won’t fade.
“When you begin to fade and lean up in opposition to the ropes, it makes the battle simpler for Tszyu. So, I imagine that conditioning and by no means placing your self in that unhealthy place the place you’ll be able to’t transfer your ft and do what you have to do. That’s going to be a key to victory,” mentioned Thurman.
Murtazaliev isn’t the kind of fighter who leans in opposition to the ropes in his fights. He’s a well-schooled Russian fighter who tends to maintain the motion within the middle of the ring. His type is much like Artur Beterbiev, however he throws much more uppercuts in shut than he does. Murtazaliev assaults his opponents like Beterbiev and goes after them, not letting them escape.
“The Russian [Murtazaliev] has a robust proper hand, and he’s trying to make a press release. He mentioned he’s not on the lookout for a knockout, but when it comes, it comes. I’m concerned about seeing if that overhand proper goes to rock Tszyu. We all know he’s powerful. We simply noticed him battle a bloody conflict in opposition to Fundora,” mentioned Thurman.
If Murtazaliev’s chin can face up to the large photographs that Tszyu goes to be hitting him with early on within the contest, he’s acquired probability of defeating him on Saturday evening. Tszyu regarded good within the first 4 rounds in opposition to Fundora final March, however he trailed off and was overwhelmed up within the final eight rounds.
