Tim Tszyu’s promoter, George Rose, states that Tim’s fast purpose is to seize the IBF 154-lb title from Bakhram Murtazaliev earlier than shifting on to unification fights in opposition to the opposite champions.
IBF Title Bout Set for October seventeenth
Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) and Murtazaliev reportedly combat on October seventeenth. This might be Tszyu’s first combat since being dethroned of his WBO junior middleweight title by Sebastian Fundora on March thirtieth in Las Vegas.
Tim had been scheduled to combat Vergil Ortiz Jr. on August third on the undercard of Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles, however these plans had been canceled as a result of Tszyu’s lower nonetheless not being totally healed from his March thirtieth conflict in opposition to Fundora.
That was a missed alternative for Tszyu as a result of if he’d crushed Vergil Jr., he’d be capable of combat Crawford or problem Fundora in a rematch for his WBC and WBO 154-lb titles.
“We’re going to combat for an IBF world title,” mentioned Promoter George Rose. “Terence Crawford doesn’t personal that. That belongs to Bakhram Murtazaliev. We’ll be successful that world title. Then we’ve bought one other piece of bijou for Tim, and we’ll be taking a look at what the following alternatives are for him.
“[Alalshikh is] pushing Terence Crawford’s case. Terence is his Riyadh Season ambassador, and he needs what’s finest for Terence Crawford.”
It’s unclear if Rose feels that His Excellency Turki Alalshikh would steer Crawford away from Tszyu if he captures the IBF title. That’s the important thing to Tszyu getting a profitable combat in opposition to Crawford as a result of his worth has been tarnished as a result of his twelve-round break up choice defeat in opposition to Fundora.
Crawford: A Future Goal
Profitable the IBF title will assist Tszyu negotiate a future combat in opposition to Crawford if he can hold successful. It’s laborious to foretell the soon-to-be 37-year-old Crawford’s future as a result of he barely scraped by with a win over WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov in his debut at 154, and he might have misplaced that combat if the champ had let his fingers go extra.
Crawford’s energy didn’t carry up from 147 to 154, and he may have issues in future fights within the division, particularly if he sits out of the ring for a 12 months like he’s been doing, combating yearly since 2020.
“He’s a man we’d love to speak to sooner or later, however proper now, we’re targeted on Bakhram,” mentioned Rose about desirous to make a future combat between Crawford and Tszyu. “He’ll by no means be the king of the division if he doesn’t combat Tim Tszyu. Tim Tszyu is the king of the division.”
