Tim Tszyu Confirmed to Challenge for the IBF Super Welterweight Title on October 19

It has now been confirmed that Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) will return to action and challenge for the IBF super welterweight title against Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) on October 19 in the main event of a PBC on Prime card at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida. A purse bid was scheduled for September 5, but no Limit Boxing (Tszyu) and Main Events (Murtazaliev) have notified the IBF that they have now struck a deal for October 19.

Tim Tszyu Next Fight vs. Bakhram Murtazaliev Confirmed

Tim Tszyu Making Return

Tszyu was in talks to face Erikson Lubin in an IBF title eliminator before Lubin had to withdraw due to a hand injury. This has ultimately worked out well for the Australian as Murtazaliev’s mandatory period is beginning and Tszyu is the top available IBF contender, enabling him to receive this full title shot.

The Australian fighter was defeated in his last bout, in a bloody split decision loss to Sebastian Fundora, where he lost his WBO title and the chance to claim the vacant WBC strap. He had been due to return on the Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov undercard against Vergil Ortiz Jr. but had to withdraw due to the horrendous cut he received in the loss to Fundora.

Who is Bakhram Murtazaliev?

The Russian-born Murtazaliev, now fighting out of Oxnard California is undefeated and won the vacant IBF strap with an eleventh-round knockout of Jack Culcay in Germany. Culcay-Murtazaliev occurred due to Jermell Charlo vacating his belt. The Russian fighter has power in both hands and throws everything with intent and this fight with Tszyu promises plenty of fireworks.

Dan Rafael via his Fight Freaks Unite Substack confirmed from sources that Turki Alalshikh had hoped Tszyu would leave the Murtazaliev fight and agree to fight Crawford in February. The Australian fighter preferred to stay active, which led to Alalshikh speaking to Fight Hub TV and saying: “I will not work with Tim Tszyu. Let him do his way. He doesn’t understand.”