Notebook: Tszyu relishes title shot vs. Murtazaliev after bloody loss
Notebook: Tszyu relishes title shot vs. Murtazaliev after bloody loss
IBF orders Beterbiev mandatory defense but could give exception for Bivol rematch; 'Rayo' Valenzuela shakes up team; Liam Williams retires; Miller-Chisora in works; Quick hits; Show and tell
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For most of the first two rounds Tim Tszyu dominated Sebastian Fundora. Tszyu had broken Fundora’s nose in the first round and it seemed to be only a matter of time until he would stop him to retain the WBO junior middleweight title and also claim the vacant WBC belt.
And then suddenly things changed. Late in the second round, Tszyu caught an errant elbow from Fundora on top of his head and suffered a severe gash.
The blood poured down Tszyu’s face and body for the remainder of the fight in as ghastly a scene seen in the ring. His corner was not inclined to stop it, Tszyu had no intention of quitting and the referee and doctor allowed the fight to continue.
Tszyu, however, was very obviously compromised even more than Fundora, who was dealing with the nose injury, and lost a split decision and his title in an upset. That was on March 30 at The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where the fight headlined a pay-per-view card, the first event of the Premier Boxing Champions deal with Prime Video.
The laceration was so severe that it forced Tszyu to cancel an Aug. 3 fight with Vergil Ortiz for an interim title.
Now, with the cut fully healed, Tszyu is anxious to get back in the ring, which he will do when he challenges IBF 154-pound titlist Bakhram Murtazaliev in the main event of the “PBC Championship Boxing” tripleheader on Saturday (Prime Video, 8 p.m. ET) at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
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Tszyu has proclaimed his scalp is now “perfect” and he is as honored to kick off PBC’s first non-pay-per-view event since striking a deal with Prime Video in late 2023 as he was to headline the first PPV card of the agreement.
“It’s an honor for me to be able to be to be picked out of the big stable of fighters,” Tszyu told Fight Freaks Unite.
Tszyu, of course, hopes the fight with Murtazaliev, who will be making his first defense, will have a more satisfying ending for him that the one with Fundora.
Tszyu has not used the horrible cut as an excuse for losing to Fundora, but one look at his blood-soaked face and it was obvious it changed the fight. Asked months later if it had an impact, Tszyu admitted it did. How could it not?
“Looking back at it I think it did,” Tszyu said. “There were plenty of emotions, I guess, running through. Blindsided. You’re constantly thinking about the cut rather than thinking about the fight. The momentum shift. Yeah, I could say it played a part. Sometimes you have to adapt and be able to deal with what you've got.
“When it first happened I knew it wasn’t a normal cut, something that I’ve had before, what anyone has had before. This was something different because as soon as I put my head down, I remember the fountain of blood rushing and in my head I was like, ‘Nah, this isn’t right.’ You know, not this early, not this early. You know, maybe in the later rounds, but not now. But yeah, it affected me to a certain extent. It was annoying. I wouldn’t say it hurt, but it was just the amount of blood that was coming in. I couldn’t see. That blood is strong. It’s not like water. It stings and when it goes into your eyes it sort of stays there.
“There’s certain punches I can’t see that are hitting me and when you’re getting frustrated, you’re starting to swing more and you get caught with stupid shots. It was more about trying to adapt to the situation for me.”
He said he never thought about quitting.
“That wasn’t in my head,” Tszyu said. “The method of victory for me was to win convincingly and to win the right way.”
Then he thought he would face Ortiz but the cut was not fully healed and his doctor would not clear him.
“I was ready to go and then didn’t get the (all) clear and yeah, I was devastated,” Tszyu said.
The silver lining was that he was going to fight Ortiz for an interim belt on an undercard. Now he will headline and fight for a major title.
“Everything happens for a reason and I’m happy to be in this position right now to be fighting for the for the full IBF title on the first free Amazon (Prime Video) fight.”
Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs), 29, of Australia, the son of Hall of Fame former undisputed junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu, will do so against the relatively unknown Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs), a Russia native fighting out of Oxnard, California. After Jermell Charlo relinquished the belt rather than make a mandatory defense against Murtazaliev, he traveled to German and knocked out home country fighter Jack Culcay in the 11th round to win the vacant belt in April.
Tszyu and Murtazaliev have been aware of each for years. Even before he won the title, Murtazaliev expressed interest in fighting Tszyu. And when Tszyu made his American debut in a decision win over Terrell Gausha in March 2022 in a Showtime main event, Murtazaliev scored a first-round knockout win in a preliminary bout.
Tszyu remembers seeing him during fight week and thinking they may square off eventually.
“I remember seeing him that week and seeing how tall he was (for a junior middleweight at 6-foot). He’s a skinny guy. I don’t know how he made the weight. He’s quite a big boy.
“I remember us sort of seeing each other and we sort of gave each other the nod knowing we’re going to get it on one day. None of this friendly talk and giving each other hugs. Just a nod, see you in the ring sometime in the future.”
That sometime is now.
“This is not just an ordinary fight, this is a vengeance fight. This is my comeback,” Tszyu said. “I believe that I am the man at 154-pounds. I just need the time to prove it. I’m taking these guys out one by one. I want all the monsters; they don’t frighten me.
“The bogeyman is back. I never left. I went to hell and back in my last fight, but now it’s my vengeance. That’s the statement I’m making.”
There are also two 10-rounders on the tripleheader:
Junior middleweight prospect Yoenis Tellez (8-0, 6 KOs), 24, a Cuban defector fighting out of Stafford, Texas, where he trains with Ronnie Shields, will fight at the Caribe Royale for the third fight in a row when he meets Johan Gonzalez (35-3, 34 KOs), 33, of Venezuela, in the co-feature.
Middleweight Cesar Mateo Tapia (17-0, 10 KOs), 26, a Mexico native fighting out of Australia, will fight Endry Saavedra (16-1, 10 KOs), 33, a Venezuela native fighting out of Mexico, in the opener.
IBF orders Beterbiev mandatory
The IBF issued letters on Thursday ordering two mandatory title defenses, most notably for undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev to next face Michael Eifert.
Canada’s Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs), of course, unified the four 175-pound titles to become undisputed champion last Saturday via majority decision over Russia’s Dmitry Bivol (23-1, 12 KOs) in their long-awaited showdown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Because so many viewed the result as controversial, with many believing Bivol was the rightful winner, there likely will be an immediate rematch. The promoters are open to it, Bivol wants it, Beterbiev said he would happily accept it if that is what Turki Alalshikh, who oversees the Riyadh Season events and its giant budget, wants, and Alalshikh said it is indeed what he wants.
Bivol’s attorney this week sent a letter to the presidents of all four sanctioning bodies asking them to order an immediate rematch as well.
It is possible that Beterbiev could ignore the IBF mandatory order and either vacate or be stripped of that title belt, which often happens when it comes to unified fights involving IBF titles. However, in ordering Beterbiev-Eifert, the IBF told Fight Freaks Unite, “Please note that Beterbiev is able to request an exception, which would be considered by the IBF Board of Directors.”
So, there seems as though there is a good chance that if Beterbiev requests an exception that it would be approved, which would keep the IBF title involved in a rematch.
Eifert (13-1, 5 KOs), 26, a little known fighter from Germany, became the IBF mandatory challenger with an upset decision over former champion Jean Pascal in Pascal’s hometown of Laval, Canada, in March, and then won a stay-busy fight in August.
The IBF also ordered Jai Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs), 29, an Australian southpaw, who is also the lineal champion, to face mandatory challenger Huseiyn Cinkara (22-0, 18 KOs), of Germany, who has no notable wins on his record.
Opetaia, who has had three fights in a row in Riyadh, including a sixth-round knockout of Jack Massey on the Beterbiev-Bivol undercard, may wind up having an Australian homecoming fight for the mandatory defense. He has had four fights in a row away from Australia. The last time he boxed there was in July 2022, when he outslugged Mairis Briedis to win the title in their first fight.
Valenzuela, Benavidez split
WBA junior welterweight titlist Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela announced via social media on Wednesday that he has fully parted ways with Jose Benavidez Sr., who had been his manager and trainer.
“Hey everyone, hope you’re all doing good. Just want to clear up some things I’ve been hearing lately about my next fight,” Valenzuela wrote. “But I’m no longer in a managing or training relationship with José Benavidez Sr. or his team. It’s time to move forward. Stay tuned for the announcement of my next fight — it’s coming soon!”
Valenzuela (14-2, 9 KOs), 25, a Mexican southpaw fighting out of Renton, Washington, had already replaced Benavidez as his trainer with Robert Garcia, who trained him for his split decision win over Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz to win the 140-pound title on Aug. 17 in Los Angeles on the Terence Crawford-Israil Madrimov co-feature.
But this week Valenzuela also said he was no longer being managed by Benavidez, who also trains and manages his sons, WBC interim light heavyweight titlist David Benavidez and junior middleweight Jose Jr.
The management change took Benavidez Sr. by surprise. He responded on social media, “I am just as confused as everyone else regarding Jose Valenzuela recent Instagram post of us not working together. I have not received any communication from Jose Valenzuela requesting to part ways. I have no problem with him going a different route or choosing different people to work with. I took Rayo in before he turned pro and treated him like a son. Me and my sons always looked out for him and wanted the best for him. We worked our asses off together as a team to get where he’s at today. Success didn’t happen overnight. I knew deep down inside he would become a world champion even before he turned pro.
“So many times it seemed as if a title shot wasn’t going to come but I never gave up on him and the belt speaks for itself. With all the sacrifices I had to do not only on his end, but mine too dealing with the behind the scenes bs, fighting for him to get the better fights, more money, bigger stages, etc. The list goes on. Jose Valenzuela could have at least been a man and talked to me first instead of sharing post on Instagram. I am disappointed with his level of professionalism and hope he can communicate professionally.”
Tim Tszyu interview
If you missed the recent podcast episode that includes my one-on-one interview with former WBO junior middleweight titlist Tim Tszyu ahead of Saturday’s challenge of IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev, we broke it out separately and you can listen to it here. Give it a listen, a review, and also subscribe to get an alert when the next episode is available. New shows every Thursday and Sunday night (and occasional special episodes like this one).
Liam Williams retires
Former middleweight title challenger Liam Williams announced his retirement at age 32, citing concerns over having suffered concussions and the possibility of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Williams (25-5-1, 20 KOs), of Wales, who turned pro in 2011, has not fought since undefeated middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz knocked him out in the first round in February.
“I know that boxing is brutal,” Williams told the BBC. “I came back to my dressing room (after the Sheeraz fight) feeling down and feeling bad for myself. I was devastated at how I had performed. I trust the people around me and, when they are telling you it’s over, you have to listen. It was very hard to hear.
“I’d had some problems with concussions. I had three or four in 18 months. I don’t want to box just for money and get a hit to the head you can never come back from. I’ve got a lovely family, a lovely partner. If I can’t enjoy my life with them because of damage to my brain, what would it be for?”
Williams has faced other top opponents besides Sheeraz, taking back-to-back losses to former junior middleweight titlist Liam Smith in 2017 and dropping consecutive decisions to Demetrius Andrade challenging for the WBO title in 2021 and Chris Eubank Jr. in 2022. Williams won his next two bouts before facing Sheeraz.
Williams said he suffered a concussion in sparring prior to the Eubank fight but went through with it anyway. He said he suffered another concussion on an errant elbow from Andrade.
Williams won the British and Commonwealth junior middleweight titles and the British middleweight title.
“Because of concussions I’ve had to retire,” Williams said. “It’s the right decision, but I did have a blip recently. I watched a fight, I can’t even remember which one, and I immediately messaged my manager and said, ‘Get me a fight.’ Then I rang him back the next day and told him to forget I’d said anything.”
BetUS Boxing Show
If you missed the BetUS Boxing Show live at 1 p.m. ET on Friday on YouTube, please check out the replay (and also subscribe to the YouTube channel). We previewed and picked three fights on Saturday: Bakhram Murtazaliev’s IBF junior middleweight title defense against Tim Tszyu in Orlando, Florida; junior welterweight up-and-comer Adam Azim against Ohara Davies in London; and William Scull and Vladimir Shishkin vying for the vacant IBF super middleweight title in Falkensee, Germany. We also took viewer questions and comments and discussed the latest boxing news! Please check out the show here:
Quick hits
Weights from Orlando, Florida, for the PBC card Saturday (Prime Video, 8 p.m. ET): Bakhram Murtazaliev 152.8 pounds, Tim Tszyu 153.4 (for Murtazaliev’s IBF junior middleweight title); Yoenis Tellez 153.8, Johan Gonzalez 153; Cesar Mateo Tapia 160, Endry Saavedra 159.8; Jocksan Blanco 153.8, Angel Ilarraza 154; Roberto Rivera Gomez 129.8, Jenn Gonzalez127.2; Dainier Pero 235, Willie Jake Jr. 264.8; Justin Viloria 130, Diuhl Olguin 129.8; Gary Antonio Russell 121.6, Jaden Burnias 122.6; Carlos Jackson 125.6, Ryan Lee Allen 124.4; Daniel Blancas 167.2, Marco Delgado 169.
Weights from London for the Boxxer card on Saturday (Peacock in U.S., 2 p.m. ET; Sky Sports in U.K.): Adam Azim 140 pounds, Ohara Davies 139; Anthony Yarde 179, Ralfs Vilcans 177.3; Dan Azeez 174, Lewis Edmondson 174.3 (for vacant British and Commonwealth light heavyweight titles); Michael McKinson 146.3; Tulani Mbenge: 146.3; Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva 258, Franklin Ignatius 230.3; Francesca Hennessy 121.3; Ana Karla Vaz De Moraes: 120.3; Sam Hickey 161.3, John Henry Mosquera 162; Shannon Courtenay 128.3, Catherine Tacone Ramos 124.
Heavyweights Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller and Derek Chisora are nearing a deal to fight on a Queensberry/Goldstar Promotions card in late January or early February in Manchester, England, sources with knowledge of the discussions told Fight Freaks Unite. Miller (26-1-2, 22 KOs), 36, of Brooklyn, New York, is winless in his past two fights, both on Riyadh Season cards. He suffered his lone loss in a hard-fought 10th-round knockout to Daniel Dubois in December and fought to a spirited draw with former titleholder Andy Ruiz Jr. in August. Since then-heavyweight champion Tyson Fury knocked out his pal Chisora (35-13, 23 KOs), 40, in their third bout in December 2022, the British fan favorite has won two 10-round decisions in a row against Gerald Washington in August 2023 and Joe Joyce in a big upset in July.
DAZN announced that it has acquired United States and Latin American rights to the AGON Sports card headlined by the vacant IBF super middleweight title bout between William Scull and Vladimir Shishkin, who square off on Saturday at Stadthalle in the Berlin suburb of Falkensee, Germany. DAZN’s stream will begin at 3 p.m. ET and include four bouts. Germany-based Cuban Scull (22-0, 9 KOs), 32, and Shishkin (16-0, 10 KOs), 33, a Russia native fighting out of Detroit, will meet for the 168-pound belt stripped from then-undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez, who declined to fight Scull, the unknown mandatory challenger with a resume devoid of notable wins.
In an upset, Mexican lightweight Omar Salcido (20-1, 14 KOs), 24, stopped former WBA interim titlist Chris “Primetime” Colbert (17-3, 6 KOs), 28, of Brooklyn, New York, in the main event of the ProBox TV card in Plant City, Florida, on Wednesday night. Salcido, who won his second fight in a row, applied intense pressure that Colbert had few answers for. His corner threw in the towel at 1 minute, 2 seconds of the ninth round for his third loss in his past four fights. In his previous fight, Colbert was badly knocked out by Jose Valenzuela in the sixth round of their rematch in December.
The Japanese Boxing Commission issued a one-year suspension to three-division titlist John Riel Casimero (34-4-1, 23 KOs), 35, of the Philippines, for missing weight for his first-round knockout win over Saul Sanchez on Oct. 13 in Yokohama. The fight was contracted at the junior featherweight limit of 122 pounds, but Casimero was 1.25 pounds overweight. And although the bout went forward after the sides came to an agreement, the JBC, which takes weight issues extremely seriously, suspended Casimero, who cannot fight in Japan for at least one year.
Show and tell
Before Artur Beterbiev became the undisputed light heavyweight champion with his majority decision over Dmitry Bivol to claim his WBA belt last Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in their heavily anticipated fight, he collected the other three titles first. Beterbiev won the vacant IBF belt by 12th-round knockout of Enrico Koelling in Fresno, California, in November 2017 in a fight I was ringside for. In June 2022, I was ringside again as Beterbiev knocked out Joe Smith in the second round to take his WBO title in their three-belt unification fight in New York
In between, however, Beterbiev squared off with lineal and WBC champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk, who was, like Beterbiev, an undefeated Olympian, in a two-belt unification fight in Philadelphia. I was also ringside for that one and it was a grueling battle. Beterbiev, who was trailing on two scorecards in a close fight going into the 10th round, dropped Gvozdyk three times in the round for the knockout in a fight most viewed as a toss-up beforehand. The fight took place on Oct. 18, 2019 — five years ago on Friday. Here are both versions of the site poster in my collection, a heavy stock one that was for sale at the arena and a slightly smaller one printed on traditional poster paper that was used to advertise tickets. Both are quite rare.
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Photos: Murtazaliev-Tszyu: Joseph Correa/PBC; Beterbiev and Valenzuela: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing; Williams: Queensberry Promotions; Azim-Davies: Chris Dean/Boxxer
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