Two of the biggest names in boxing have ripped the clothes off Tim Tszyu and his team after the Australian’s quest to regain his world title ended in an absolute beating at the hands of Bakhram Murtazaliev in Florida on Sunday.
Tszyu’s international boxing career is in tatters after his savage world title defeat to the Russian, in which he was thrown four times before his corner threw in the towel.
The end came almost two minutes into the third round when the undefeated Russian sent the Australian to the canvas for the fourth time.
Murtazaliev had knocked down Tszyu three times in the second round alone with some ferocious punches, before the official doctor intervened just seconds into the third round to give the Australian a check-up after the referee refused to stop the fight at the end. of the second.
The doctor allowed Tszyu to continue fighting until Team Tszyu sent the white towel into the ring as his charge collapsed again after being hit with another left hook, then crushed with a combination along the ropes.
Within minutes of the defeat, stunned Australian fight fans took to social media in shock, but a famous boxing promoter and one of the country’s best fighters preferred to rip Tszyu and the team that helped him to prepare for the fight.
Lou DiBella Jr, a top promoter and manager whose company has represented fighters such as world champions Sergio Martinez and Bernard Hopkins, fired a withering spray at the decision-makers who put Tszyu in the ring with Murtazaliev shortly after a controversial loss.
Tszyu was hoping to beat the Russian and restore order seven months after surrendering his WBO belt in a bloody and controversial split decision loss to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas, when he fought to the end despite suffering a shocking cut to the head. by an accidental elbow.
Tim Tszyu (left) was crushed from pillar to post by Bakhram Murtazaliev (right) in their world title fight on Sunday, leaving his boxing career in tatters.
Former Australian world champion George Kambosos Jr accused Tszyu of overreacting when he kicked the 29-year-old while he was on the ground with a social media post (pictured).
Like Tszyu, Kambosos (pictured) was a world champion before being dethroned.
“Maybe the worst decision a star-level kid has ever made,” DiBella wrote in a post on X.
“Horrible judgment by the promoter/manager/corner, both 1) in allowing Tim to continue in the Fundora fight, and 2) after that with a beast like this guy, who brought NO gate or name recognition to the fight” .
Australian fighter George Kambosos Jr, who held the unified lightweight world championship from 2021 to 2022 but lost his last fight by knockout, praised Tszyu’s heart before claiming he is overrated.
“This game is not easy, I hope Tim is physically fine, he has always been a good boy, the mainstream media wake up, maybe they will learn their lessons and stop writing nonsense every second of the day, blowing a lot of smoke, there are Others great fighters of the country too, God bless you all,’ wrote Kambosos in X.
Tszyu was criticized by former world champion turned commentator Shawn Porter for being too aggressive and attacking Murtazaliev, known for his crushing power.
A clash of heads in the first round left Tszyu checking whether the collision had reopened the gruesome gash that effectively stunted his chances against Fundora.
But the worst would come in the second round.
First, Murtazaliev floored him with a devastating left hook, then had Tszyu struggling to regain his senses after a hard combination to the jaw.
A full-blown attack had Tszyu on the canvas for the third time in the round and the fight seemed almost over; However, the Australian found the heart to get up and continue fighting.
Tszyu’s corner threw in the towel twice when he was leveled by a series of powerful punches in the third round (pictured).
The painful loss has left the 29-year-old Australian boxer’s career in tatters as he will now have to fight to become a title contender again.
The shocking defeat prompted famed boxing promoter Lou DiBella Jr to lash out at the Australian team in a social media post (pictured), criticizing them for putting him in the ring with Murtazaliev, who is famous for his incredible punching power.
But there was no turning back when the Chechen champion landed another huge left hook at one minute and 55 seconds of the third round.
Tszyu’s brother Nikita was the first to throw in the towel, before his coach, Uncle Igor, threw in the second.
‘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.