Erickson Lubin says he wants to challenge IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev next. #3 ranked Lubin (28-2, 16 KOs) revealed that Tim Tszyu already has plans to fight him if he defeats Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) last Saturday night, but lost by third-round TKO, that fight it doesn’t happen anymore. Lubin says he will now move on to face Murtazaliev next.
Lubin Wants A Title Shot
Unless the IBF orders the fight, this will be a voluntary defense for Murtazaliev, who said last Saturday that he wants to fight in unification matches. If he can’t get any champion to fight him, he may be open to defending himself against Lubin.
Lubin has won his last two fights against Jesus Ramos and Luis Arias since stopping Sebastian Fundora in the ninth round two years ago, on April 9, 2022. Erickson’s 12-round unanimous decision victory over Ramos was a little upset, as there are many. people thought he would lose that battle. The scores were 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.
The 29-year-old Lubin has been out of action for 13 months since defeating Ramos on September 30 last year. He says he doesn’t like to sing. So, when Lubin faces Murtazaliev next, he will be taking a long layoff to face one of the most dangerous fighters in the 154-lb division.
“It was fun with the opening bell. Tim Tszyu was caught, he never recovered,” said Erickson Lubin speaking to Thaboxingvoice, talking about the fight between Tim Tszyu on Saturday night and the IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
“Nah, I had my money on Tim Tszyu,” Lubin said when asked if he expected that result. “He was already a champion. So if Tim had hit him, Tim and I, we had something planned. But now we have to go ahead and try to find this Russian dude [Murtazaliev].”
Tuning is not required
Lubin should be convinced he wants to take on Murtazaliev, but he may live to regret it. This is not Jesus Ramos or Luis Arias to face. In addition, Murtazaliev is a much bigger puncher than the 6’6″ Sebastian Fundora, who ended up taking a beating from Lubin, turning his face into a lion. His face didn’t look the same as it did at the beginning of the war.
“Nah, I don’t even like to sing. I’ll get in there with him,” said Lubin about whether he’s ready to challenge Murtazaliev for his IBF belt next.
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