- Tim Tszyu was stunned by Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev’s powerful blow
- The Australian reached out to check his forehead during the first round of the fight.
- Fight fans suggest Tszyu had ‘PTSD’ due to his last fight in America
Tim Tszyu’s crushing defeat to Bakhram Murtazaliev has surprised many experts in the boxing world, but some boxing fans believe they have found the moment that heralded his downfall.
The Australian’s career is in tatters after the savage world title loss to the Russian, in which he was thrown four times before his corner threw in the towel twice to stop the fight.
‘What the fuck happened? ‘What did they hit me with?’ a devastated Tszyu said at a post-fight news conference at the Caribe Royale resort in Orlando.
Boxing fans and experts have asked the same question, and some think a moment early in the fight foreshadowed the brutal beating.
Tszyu, whose last fight against Sebastian Fundora was derailed by a huge cut to his forehead, reached the same spot early in the fight to check if he was bleeding after what appeared to be a minor accidental collision to the head against Murtazaliev.
While no cut was found, boxing reporter Dan Canobbio suggested it showed Tszyu had not yet mentally recovered from his last fight.
‘This was the beginning of the end for Tszyu: getting to the scar from the fight with Fundora when there was no cut. Post-traumatic stress disorder is real,” he posted on social media along with a clip of the moment.
Another boxing fan posted on
Tim Tszyu (left) was defeated by Bakhram Murtazaliev (right) on Sunday in Florida.
Murtazaliev dominated the Australian throughout the fight, knocking his opponent down three times in the second round.
Australian boxing journalist Peter Badel also insisted the strange moment should “ring alarm bells”.
“It was almost like muscle memory… which to me suggests that there is a psychological scar from Fundora,” Badel said after the fight.
‘I’m surprised how Tim fought that fight. He’s usually a great executioner and is very disciplined with his boxing IQ, but I thought his brain went out the window for Braun and he doesn’t shoot fire with Murtazaliev.
Tszyu’s brother Nikita was the first to throw in the towel, before his coach, Uncle Igor, threw in the second.
Fans have suggested that Tszyu still hasn’t recovered from his bloody loss to Sebastian Fundora.
Tszyu was completely outclassed by big hitter Murtazaliev on Sunday afternoon.
‘Things didn’t go as planned. The best man won tonight, there are no excuses,” Tszyu said.
‘Yes, there are no excuses. I did my best and these things happen.
‘Boxing is not meant to be perfect. So you live and learn, right?
Tszyu had been trying to join his Hall of Fame father, Kostya, as the second father and son to win at least two world titles each.
Instead, the 29-year-old will return to Australia with his future uncertain after suffering a second straight defeat, having opened his career with 23 wins.
Kostya had joined his son in Florida and entered the ring with him after previously being banned from attending Tim’s fights because he became too volatile during the matches.
Tszyu had dreamed of fighting big names like Terence Crawford and Saul Alvarez, but now he will have to regain his status as a title contender.
He may have to start by fighting fellow Australian Michael Zerafa, who criticized Tszyu after the loss, and the two have shared a grudge since Zerafa pulled out of a fight in 2021.
