Tim Tszyu vs Bakhram Murtazaliev Oct 19th on Amazon Prime

Junior middleweight Tim Tszyu is determined to clear any obstacles in his path to becoming a two-time world champion. His next challenge comes against Bakhram Murtazaliev, as Tszyu aims to claim the IBF 154-pound title.

After losing his WBO belt to Sebastian Fundora six months ago, Tszyu faces a new test in Russia’s Murtazaliev in a 12-round main event on PBC’s Prime Video card on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Tszyu, 29, is entering the fight with confidence, eager to make a statement against Murtazaliev. In his last outing, Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) suffered a deep cut from an incidental elbow by Fundora in the third round, which led to a narrow split-decision loss on March 30. The son of International Boxing Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu had been riding high off an outstanding 2023, during which he was crowned world champion at 154 pounds. That year saw Tszyu secure notable wins over former world champion Tony Harrison, Brian Mendoza, and former title challenger Carlos Ocampo.

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S. debut in March 2022, defeating U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha by unanimous decision. Now, on October 19, he faces the undefeated Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs), who is set for his first title defense.

Murtazaliev, now based in Oxnard, California, captured the IBF title in dramatic fashion, stopping Jack Culcay in the 11th round on Culcay’s home turf in Germany this past April. The 31-year-old Russian, a professional since 2014, made his U.S. debut in November 2016 with a knockout of the previously unbeaten Botirsher Obidov. Murtazaliev continued his rise with a standout 2019, capping it with a unanimous decision over Jorge Fortea that earned him the IBF mandatory contender spot. He added four more wins between September 2020 and December 2022 before securing the title with his victory over Culcay.