Should be a bit of fun assuming it goes ahead. Murtazaliev is pretty basic but tough big guy so will be interesting.
Reading between the lines, it sounds like Turki had something lined up for Tszyu, but Tszyu's team wanted this IBF belt shot instead to get more leverage. His Excellency is not amused.
Should be a fun fight, this Murtazaliev fella is another Chechen warrior who won't take a backwards step. Tszyu is confident as always. Murtazaliev is +400 which let's face it is a decent bet considering Tszyu is coming off a loss and fighting the undefeated champion. Might put a few bucks there for fun.
Damn that was a wipeout. Tszyu showed literally zero defense and ring IQ. Murtazaliev impressed though. Would like to see him against Vergil Ortiz or Madrimov/Bohachuk winner.
Tszyu fought like an idiot, but was definitely exposed with leaky defense, overrated power and arrogance to think he could bang it out from the first bell. Murtazaliev had a great pull counter right hand and lively left hook counters, Zoo never saw them.
I was out all day so I missed the fight live, but I just watched the replay. I like Tim, so it doesn't bring me pleasure to say it, but I think he's now finished at top level. Should he choose to continue his career, he'll become a stepping stone level guy.
I'll eat crow, I thought Tim could beat Ortiz. I was wrong. Ortiz would have stopped him had that fight happened.
I wonder how Tszyu vs Thurman would have looked, had Keith not gotten injured. I'm fairly confident Tim would have won by stoppage; Keith is finished. But the Thurman of 10 years ago would have beaten the fuck outta Tim.
I was very bearish regarding Tzyu initially and saw him more as a fraud who's main attribute was his fathers name than anything else. I found him very limited and basic, straightforward with no defense and little skills, and that he was matched favorably against names who's best days were over. However, he was in the process of converting me with his recent performances (yes even on his loss to Fundora) yet it seems my initial impression was the right one after all
That cut essentially ruined his career. He was on his way to beating Fundora if not for cut, and if he beats Fundora, he lines up a big payday with Spence. Now it's over. No Spence payday. No Crawford payday. No Ortiz payday.
Not gonna trash Tim too much though. He could easily have gone the Eubank, Benn Jr route and fight stiffs over stiffs while drawing huge crowds in Australia. He definitely deserves credit for trying to establish himself as a serious fighter.