Murtazaliev KOs Tszyu to Keep IBF World Title

IBF super welterweight titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev wrecked Tim Tszyu’s championship dreams with a one-sided knockout win in his first title defense on Saturday.

Russia’s Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) wasted no time in proving Australia’s popular Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs) could not match his firepower at hurricane-ridden Orlando, Florida. They’re expecting another hurricane soon.

The Amazon Prime streamed event promoted by PBC and TGB Promotions was jammed with punishing fights. None excelled more than Murtazaliev’s destruction of Tszyu.

Both super welterweights came out smoking and both had predicted a firefight.

It was quickly evident that each packed power. The taller Murtazaliev erupted with punishing jabs and vicious rights while Tszyu pumped in rockets rights immediately in the first round.

A snapping left hook by the champion caught Tszyu while firing a right and down he went for the count. The Aussie immediately went to work to avenge the knockdown and once again ran into another left hook to the chin. Down Tszyu went for a second time. Once again he rose and once again he attempted to avenge the knockdowns and for a third time he was caught flush by Murtazaliev for a third knockdown.

After returning to his corner shakily after round two ended, little was expected. But the fight continued.

Tszyu was bent on winning a world title and was not about to shy away from the thunder.

The former world titlist Tszyu zeroed in on Murtazaliev and during an exchange was caught by a counter left hook. Once again that same punch delivered the Aussie to the ground for the count. Once again he got up. Murtazaliev moved in to end the show and delivered a three-punch combo that sparked the referee to move in and stop the fight.

Murtazaliev was deemed the winner by technical knockout at 1:55 of the third round and remains the IBF world titlist.

“We worked on these combinations for 10 weeks,” said Murtazaliev who trains in Oxnard, Calif.

Tszyu seemed stunned by the ending.

“Anytime I step in the ring I’m ready to die,” said Tszyu. “I did my best, the better man won.”

Murtazaliev is ready for the best.

Other bouts

Cuba’s Yoenis Tellez (9-0, 7 KOs) started slowly against knockout artist Johan Gonzalez (35-4, 34 KOs) but after the third round began to rain combinations on the Venezuelan fighter in their super welterweight fight.

It was clear Tellez realized that Gonzalez could not match his speed and unveiled a two punch combo that sent the hard-hitting Venezuelan to the mat. He beat the count at the end of the sixth round.

Early in the seventh round a counter left hook sent Gonzalez down for a second time. Though he beat the count Tellez did not allow him to breathe and unleashed a four-punch combination the forced the end of the fight at 1:57 of the round.

Tellez said he started slowly because Gonzalez is trained by master trainer Ismael Salas. But once he figured out the Venezuelan he slipped into another gear.

“I didn’t think it would be easy,” said Tellez.

A vicious battle of middleweights ended in a majority draw between Mexico’s Endry Saavedra (16-1-1) and Mexico’s Cesar Tapia (17-0-1) after 10 rounds.

Both fighters took turns knocking down each other with Saavedra scoring three knockdowns of Tapia who trains in Australia. Saavedra used body shots to drop Tapia whose right hand blasts kept him in the fight.

It was one of the better fights of the year that could have used two more rounds to decide the winner. Instead, due to only 10 rounds the fight ended in a majority draw.