Two of the biggest names in boxing have ripped Tim Tszyu and his team after the Australian’s quest to regain his world title ended in an absolute hammering by Bakhram Murtazaliev in Florida on Sunday.
Tszyu’s international boxing career is in tatters after a tough world title loss to the Russian, which saw him shot to his feet 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 dropped Tszyu three times in the second round alone with some fierce punches, before the official doctor intervened just seconds into the third round to give the Australian a check after the referee refused to call the fight at the end of the second stop round.
The doctor allowed Tszyu to continue fighting until Team Tszyu sent the white towel into the ring when their attack came crashing down again after being flush with another left hook, then getting smashed with a combination along the ropes.
Within minutes of the loss, stunned Australian fight fans took to social media in shock, but a famous boxing promoter and one of the country’s top fighters chose to rip Tszyu and the team that helped him 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, has delivered a scathing spray at the decision makers who put Tszyu in the ring shortly after a controversial loss to Murtazaliev.
Tszyu had hoped to beat the Russian and restore order seven months after handing his WBO belt in a bloody, controversial split-decision loss to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas, when he fought on to the finish despite a shocking head injury from an accidental elbow.
Tim Tszyu (left) was thrown from pillar to post by Bakhram Murtazaliev (right) in their world title fight on Sunday, leaving his boxing career in tatters
Australian ex-world champion George Kambosos Jr accused Tszyu of being all hype when he kicked the 29-year-old while sitting on a social media post (pictured)
Like Tszyu, Kambosos (pictured) was a world champion before he was dethroned
“Possibly the worst decision making ever for a star-level kid,” DiBella wrote in a post on X.
“Horrible promoter/manager/corner judgment, both 1) in allowing Tim to continue in the Fundora fight, and 2) afterwards with a beast like this man, 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 stoppage – complimented Tszyu’s heart before claiming he was overrated.
‘This game ain’t easy, I hope Tim is physically okay, he’s always been a good kid, the mainstream media wake up, maybe learn your lessons and stop writing bulls**t every second of the day, blowing too much smoke, there is also other great fighters in the country, god bless everyone,” Kambosos wrote on X.
Tszyu was criticized by former world champion and commentator Shawn Porter for being overly aggressive and charging into Murtazaliev, who is known for his crushing power.
A head clash in the first round saw Tszyu check whether the collision had reopened the gruesome gash that had effectively ruined his chances against Fundora.
But worse was to follow in the second round.
First Murtazaliev dropped him with a devastating left hook, then left Tszyu struggling to regain his senses after a heavy combination to the jaw.
A straight attack put Tszyu on the canvas for the third time in the round and the fight seemed all but over – but the Australian found the heart to get up and keep 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 Aussie’s boxing career in tatters as he now has to battle his way to becoming a title contender again.
The shocking loss prompted famed boxing promoter Lou DiBella Jr to unleash the Aussie’s team in a social media post (pictured), criticizing them for putting him in the ring with Murtazaliev, who is famous for his incredible striking power.
But there was no turning back as the Chechen champion delivered another huge left hook one minute and 55 seconds into the third round.
Tszyu’s brother Nikita was the first to throw in the towel, before his trainer uncle Igor threw in a second.
‘It didn’t go according to plan. The better man won tonight, there are no excuses,” Tszyu said.
‘Yes, no excuses. I did my best and these things happen.
‘Boxing isn’t meant to be perfect. So you live and you learn, right?’
Tszyu had made a bid to join his Hall of Famer father Kostya as the second father-son to each win at least two world titles.
Instead, the 29-year-old will return to Australia with an uncertain future after a second straight defeat after opening his career with 23 wins.
Kostya had joined his son in Florida and walked into the ring with him after previously being banned from attending Tim’s fights because he became too volatile during the fights.
Tszyu had dreamed of fighting big names like Terence Crawford and Saul Alvarez, but will now have to find his way back to regain his status as a title contender.
Perhaps he should start by fighting compatriot Michael Zerafa, who Tszyu called out after the loss, with the pair sharing bad blood since Zerafa pulled out of a fight in 2021.