Tim Tszyu knocked out by Bakhram Murtazaliev, video, highlights, next fight, full fight card results

Tim Tszyu’s boxing career is at a crossroads after the Australian suffered a stunning third-round TKO defeat to IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando on Sunday afternoon.

Tszyu was looking to bounce back from a split decision to Sebastian Fundora in March this year, but instead was subjected to a brutal reality check, with Murtazaliev dominating from the start.

Murtazaliev dropped Tszyu three times in the second round, with the Australian barely managing to ring the bell and then being examined by the doctor before being cleared to continue.

But it wasn’t long before Tszyu found himself on the canvas again and although the referee told him he would stop the fight after another knockdown, Tszyu’s corner didn’t let that happen.

BOXING: TSZYU V MURTAZALIEV | Tim Tszyu faces undefeated IBF super welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev | SUN, 20 OCT 10:30am AEDT | Order now with the main event on Kayo Sports >

Instead, they threw in the towel as Murtazaliev attacked Tszyu again, it becoming clear at that point that he had little hope of recovering and would only suffer more damage.

Afterwards, a tearful Tszyu led the media alongside promoter Matt Rose and manager Glen Jennings.

He carried an ice pack in his hand, and during the media melee, he was watched by his mother and Hall of Fame father, Kostya.

Asked to describe how he was feeling, Tszyu responded: “What the fuck happened?

“What was I hit with?

“I have to regroup and… I don’t know, man.

“Shit doesn’t go your way and you have to bounce back.

“I became positive after Fundora.

“But I need to find some answers after this.

“It didn’t go according to the script.

“I felt unbelievable.

“He got me.

“He was the best man of the night.

“We live and learn.”

MORE TSZYU VS MURTAZALIEV NEWS

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‘WHO IS YOUR FATHER NOW?’: Russian champion ‘warrior’ Tszyu’s wild troll after victory

Tszyu also had no answers about how the fight was so bad in the early rounds, twice responding to questions with “I don’t remember.”

Main Event commentator Ben Damon described the defeat as “unthinkable” and a “monstrous upset” for the Russian, who boasts a 23-0 record with 17 stoppage wins.

“It was destruction in Orlando,” Damon said.

“Tim Tszyu went down for a while and Bakhram Murtazaliev retained his world title in a one-sided defeat.”

In total, Murtazaliev landed 67 punches to Tszyu’s 37 and 50 power punches to Tszyu’s 25.

Tszyu was initially scheduled to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. in August, but was forced to pull out of the fight, instead later targeting a fight with Erickson Lubin, which was also canceled when the American suffered a hand injury.

Sunday’s fight against Murtazaliev was the biggest of Tszyu’s career and, for the first time since his professional debut, he had his father Kostya by his side.

The pair hugged on Sunday, with News Corp’s Peter Badel describing it as a “pretty emotional moment”, with Tim on the verge of tears.

At the start of the main card, the middleweight fight between Australian Cesar Mateo Tapia and Endry Saavedra ended in a majority draw after the pair completed 10 rounds.

In the co-main event, undefeated Cuban super welterweight Yoenis Tellez made a statement by defeating Johan Gonzalez to secure a seventh-round TKO victory in a boxing clinic.

FULL FIGHT CARD RESULTS

Main card

Bakhram Murtazaliev defeated. Tim Tszyu via TKO (IBF junior middleweight/super welterweight title)

Yoenis Tellez defeated. Johan Gonzalez via TKO (super welterweight)

Cesar Mateo Tapia x Endry Saavedra ends majority draw (middleweight)

Preliminary

Dainier Pero defeated. Willie Jake Jr by KO (heavyweight)

Justin Viloria defeated. Diuhl Olguin via technical knockout (super featherweight)

Ryan Lee Allen defeated. Carlos Jackson by TKO (super bantamweight)

Gary Antonio Russell defeated. Jaden Burnias by knockout (super bantamweight)

Daniel Blancas defeated. Marco Delgado by unanimous decision (58-55 x3)

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