Tim Tszyu has been tasked to launch one other Premier Boxing Champions collection.
The Ring has discovered that Tszyu and IBF 154-pound titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev are on the right track to satisfy Oct. 19 in Orlando, Florida. Vital progress has been made for the reason that two had been ordered to enter talks earlier this month. A deal was not but reached, although two sources with data of the dialogue have acknowledged the tentative date and vacation spot.
World Boxing Information’ Alan Dawson was the primary to report the event.
Whereas there stays work to be accomplished, Murtazaliev-Tszyu would headline the primary PBC on Prime Video standalone occasion. The collection has been solely pay-per-view since its March 30 launch. Tszyu (24-1, 17 knockouts) headlined the inaugural occasion, albeit in a shedding effort. The second-generation boxer dropped a 12-round resolution to Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.
With the setback, Tszyu’s WBO title reign got here to an finish. The Ring’s No. 4-rated junior middleweight was ready to go the ultimate eliminator path to earn his subsequent title shot.
A Sept. 22 date was put aside in his native Australia, with the plan to headline a PBC on Prime Video present. Erickson Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs) was the unique selection in what would have been an IBF title eliminator. Lubin, No. 5 at 154, withdrew from the unannounced occasion resulting from an harm that wouldn’t heal in time to decide to the occasion.
There have been rumors that Jesus Ramos (21-1, 17 KOs), No. 7 at 154, would land the task versus Tszyu. No matter has taken place behind the scenes has not come fast sufficient for the IBF to stay idle.
In the meantime, Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) has the chance for a high-profile first title protection. He additionally finds himself again on the PBC circuit—this time with a televised viewers.
The unbeaten Russian received the belt on the highway and in spectacular trend. Murtazaliev knocked out Jack Culcay within the eleventh spherical of their April 6 vacant title struggle in Falkansee, Germany.
Validation got here from Murtazaliev’s ridiculously lengthy anticipate a title shot. He turned the necessary in Nov. 2019, then accepted a number of step apart gives which included 4 consecutive non-televised bouts. His group lastly stood tall final 12 months when the IBF ordered his title shot.
It resulted in then-Ring/undisputed champion Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) vacating his IBF belt. Charlo has since parted methods with all of his divisional {hardware}.
Tszyu beforehand held the WBO junior middleweight title. The second-generation boxer was upgraded to full from interim titlist final September, additionally a results of an awaited shot versus Charlo which by no means got here to go. He defended the belt in a twelve-round factors win versus Brian Mendoza final Oct. 15 in Broadbeach, Australia.
The reign resulted in a gory break up resolution defeat to Fundora, No. 3 at 154. Tszyu was resulting from face former welterweight titleholder Keith Thurman, who withdrew resulting from harm. Fundora was scheduled to seem on the undercard and agreed to fill the void atop the invoice.
Tszyu jumped out to a robust opening spherical however suffered a lower alongside the highest of his scalp when he collided with Fundora’s elbow. His face was a masks of blood during the struggle, which he got here up simply brief on two scorecards.
The wound was deep sufficient to the place he wasn’t medically cleared in time to honor an Aug. 3 showdown versus Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs). The bout would have landed on the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov undercard at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Slightly than a return residence, Tszyu will struggle for the second straight within the U.S., this time in his East Coast debut.
