A healthy Tim Tszyu aims to return to the top of the super welterweight division when he challenges Bakhram Murtazaliev for the IBF super welterweight title on October 19 in Orlando, Florida. The 12-round bout, plus undercard action, will air on Prime Video in the U.S.
Murtazaliev (22-0) took out Jack Culcay in April to win the IBF title, earning his 16th win via knockout. It was a long time coming for the Russian fighter after he’d failed to secure a fight against former champ Jermell Charlo. The 31-year-old Murtazaliev now seeks a career-best victory.
“I’m very confident I’m going to win this fight, but it’s all about destiny,” Murtazaliev told Jai McAllister via Boxing News 24. “He was a world champion and that puts him at a high level. There’s a lot of them. I’ll show you in the fight. After I finish with this fight, I hope for a unification.”
Tszyu (24-1) first held interim gold but became a dominant force while also waiting to fight Charlo. The Australian was eventually upgraded to full WBO champion and he holds wins over Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza. In his last outing, Tszyu lost the belt in a bloody war against Sebastian Fundora.
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Looking to hold gold again, Tszyu is ready to show a whole new side of himself.
“I think from the outside looking in, I don’t think people realize exactly what I bring. They just see one aggressive, walk-forward type, so it’s all about showing them,” Tszyu told Fight Hype via Bad Left Hook.
On the undercard, several prospects look to impress, while others look to prove they can become contenders.
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Tim Tszyu undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Murtazaliev vs. Tszyu card.
Yoenis Tellez vs. Johan Gonzalez
- Division/Weight: Super Welterweight
- Tellez record: 8-0
- Gonzalez record: 35-3
- Belts at stake: N/A
The co-main event will be Yoenis Tellez vs. Johan Gonzalez.
A multi-time National Youth Champion, Tellez (8-0) has six wins via knockout. A highlight for him was being the first fighter to stop Sergio Garcia. This will be his fifth fight at the Caribe Royale, and the 24-year-old Cuban will look to continue his rise.
Gonzalez (35-3) is 4-1 in his last five fights and 1-1 in 2024. The Venezuelan has won all but one fight via knockout.
Mateo Tapia vs. Endry Saavedra
- Division/Weight: Middleweight
- Tapia record: 17-0
- Saavedra record: 16-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Opening the main card will be Mateo Tapia vs. Endry Saavedra.
Tapia (17-0) has won local gold in Australia and has ten wins via knockout.
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Saavedra (16-1) is on a three-fight win streak and all those victories have come via knockout. “El Chino” has 13 wins via the power punch.
Carlos Jackson vs. Ryan Lee Allen
- Division/Weight: Super Bantamweight
- Jackson record: 20-1
- Allen record: 10-8-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Carlos Jackson faces Ryan Lee Allen.
Jackson (20-1) is on a four-fight win streak since 2021. The Georgia-born fighter has 13 wins via knockout.
Allen (10-8-1) is on a five-fight losing streak and is looking for his first win since 2019.
Cesar Mateo Tapia vs. Endry Saavedra
- Division/Weight: Middleweight
- Tapia record: 17-0
- Saavedra record: 16-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Cesar Mateo Tapia faces Endry Saavedra.
Recently signing a long-term deal with No Limit Promotions, Tapia (17-0) has mainly fought at super middleweight. The Aussie won local gold in 2019 and is looking to go 2-0 in 2024 after only competing five times since 2020.
Saavedra (16-1) is on a three-fight knockout streak. “El Chino” has won 13 fights via the power punch.
Daniel Blancas vs. Marcos Delgado
- Division/Weight: Super Middleweight
- Blancas record: 10-0
- Delgado record: 7-5-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card is Daniel Blancas vs. Marcos Delgado.
Blancas (10-0) is a multi-time USA Junior Olympic and Golden Gloves tournament winner. “Ice Man” has five wins via knockout and looks to go 3-0 in 2024.
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Delgado (7-5-1) is 0-4-1 in his last five fights and hasn’t won since 2020. This will be is his first fight in a year.
Roberto Raul Rivera Gomez vs. Martin Diaz
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Gomez record: 4-0
- Diaz record: 9-25-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Roberto Raul Rivera Gomez faces Martin Diaz.
A USA Junior and USA Boxing Elite tournament winner, Gomez (4-0) went 3-0 in 2023 and looks to go 2-0 in 2024.
Gonzalez (9-25-1) is on an 18-fight losing streak and is 0-2 in 2024, his last win being in 2020.
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Tim Tszyu tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, October 19
- Time: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT | 1 a.m. BST | 11 a.m. AEDT
- Main event start time (approx.): 10:30 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PT | 3:30 a.m. BST | 1:30 p.m. AEDT
- Location: Caribe Royale Orlando — Orlando, Florida
- Channel/live stream: Prime Video | Kayo
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