Former welterweight champion Keith Thurman will commentate Bakhram Murtazaliev’s fight against PBC’s Tim Tszyu on Prime Video Team this Saturday, October 19 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. Thurman says he wants to see how well former WBO junior middleweight champion Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) takes right hands from IBF 154-lb champion Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) in this fight because he’s a big puncher. .
(Credit: Joseph Correa/Premier Boxing Champions)
Tszyu may be vulnerable to Murtazaliev’s power after losing to Sebastian Fundora earlier this year on March 30. While Tszyu lasted the full 12 rounds and was not seriously hurt by Fundora, he still took the 6’6″ shot and had a lot of blood in the end.
Murtazaliev’s power may be too much for Tszyu in this fight if he can jump him, and silence him with a flurry of shots like he did in his victories over Jack Culcay and Ahmad Cheikho. For Tszyu, it would be a huge obstacle to his career if Murtazaliev takes him out.
“In all the years of fighting, all the obstacles, the injuries, all the time, all the obstacles, this year was the most challenging year,” Keith Thurman wrote to Fighthype.
“Fortunately, I have always been a man of faith. Not only do I believe in myself, but I believe in the world’s highest power, Keith Thurman, who has an opportunity right now in the world of boxing; as I come back, I have the opportunity to have one of the best comeback stories of this generation.”
If Thurman wants to come back, he can always team up with someone like Israel Madrimov, Vegil Ortiz Jr., or Serhii Bohachuk to show fans that he’s serious. Those guys would feast on Thurman, and when he beat them, the fans would celebrate.
“We have heard good stories coming back all these years. Movies have been made about it,” said Thurman. “Sometimes life feels like a dream, and when I look back on this year, it’s been an amazing dream. It’s like, ‘How did this happen? How did that happen?’
“I’m here. I’m healthy, and I’m holding myself strong. I still love the fight game, and I’m looking forward to the opening at the beginning of next year. I believe that in early January or late December, hopefully, we can open negotiations to see what happens. I still love the Tszyu fight.”
Thurman has been out of the ring for three years since his last fight against Mario Barrios, whom he defeated by a 12-round unanimous decision on February 5, 2022. Prior to that fight, Thurman had been inactive for two and a half years. It seems clear that Thurman does not enjoy training or fighting. It would be better if he announced that he is retiring, and then teases immediately because the fans are tired of it.
“I already know that if Tszyu becomes champion again, he will be looking at unification fights. He may want a rematch with Fundora. There is [Jermell] Charlo out there has never fought, but obviously, he has to get past this tough Russian [Murtazaliev] people who say Charlo avoided it,” said Thurman.
It’s too early to say who Tszyu will fight next, because for all we know he could be looking to revive his career after Saturday night if he is knocked out by Murtazaliev. Rather than Tszyu fighting Fundora or Charlo, he will be facing a second-tier fighter, trying to regain his confidence and work on the mistakes Murtazaliev exposed.
“They saw as many people as 154. So, we’ll see if he really was someone to avoid or if it takes someone willing to sign a contract, like Tim Tszyu, to prove that the Russian might be a champion, but he’s not as scary as everyone else. he played with him.
“So, I think things are very exciting at 154, and it will be fun to get back into that mix. We wanted to do it this year, but it looks like we’ll have to do it early next year.
“I’m still going to work commenting on the war. I look forward to it. We got Prime Video which is not PPV. It will be great for all those Prime members to experience this world-class boxing in a comfortable environment,” said Thurman.
Being a professional commentator suits Thurman better than talking about fights but never actually doing them. As long as Thurman can stay on topic during the broadcast and not come out of left field, talking about things unrelated to the fight he’s commenting on, he might do a good job.
“There are many people who have been fans of boxing for a long time. “We’ve had a lot of changes recently with everything that’s happened with Showtime and HBO,” said Thurman. “I’ve been telling a lot of fight fans that boxing is new. Boxing is different.
“Keep waiting for it to change, but hopefully all the different networks, all the different streaming sites can get it together and find something fun for you guys. I believe that’s what they’re trying to do with this card here, with three exciting fights on the card.”
“They like this fight because they like the style that their opponent brings because they won’t have to find this guy,” Thurman said of Tszyu and Murtazaliev. “They believe that their competitors are not bringing anything special. Therefore, both are sure to win, which is what you want. We know that will not happen. One will win.”
Murtazalev vs. Tszyu is a battle between two punchouts, both of whom have scoring potential up front. Neither guy has a reverse gear, and it will be interesting to see which one of them will back down when the going gets tough. Tszyu said that he will do more boxing in this fight, but we will see if he actually does it.
“Is it Tszyu? Is it Bakhram? I don’t know much about Bakhram. I’ve seen very little film of him, but I’m looking forward to it. I want to see what kind of statement he wants to make tomorrow.
“Based on the limited experience and slow start that Tszyu has, but how he’s getting it back in the later rounds, I wonder if the new champion [Murtazaliev] it will not wither.
“When you start to fade and lean on the ropes, it makes the fight easier for Tszyu. So, I believe that situation and never put yourself in that bad situation where you can’t move your feet and do what you need to do. That will be the key to victory,” said Thurman.
Murtazaliev is not the type of fighter who leans on the ropes in his fights. He is a well trained Russian fighter who usually keeps the action in the center of the ring. His style is similar to Artur Beterbiev, but he throws more uppercuts closer than him. Murtazaliev attacks his opponents like Beterbiev and follows them, not allowing them to escape.
“Russian [Murtazaliev] you have a strong right hand, and you are looking to make a statement. He said he’s not looking for a deadline to put him down, but he will come if it happens. I like to see if that overhand right will rock Tszyu. We know you are difficult. We just see him fighting a bloody battle with Fundora,” said Thurman.
If Murtazaliev’s chin can withstand the big blows Tszyu will throw at him early in the tournament, he has a good chance of defeating him on Saturday night. Tszyu looked good in the first four rounds against Fundora last March, but fell behind and was beaten in the last eight rounds.
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