Bakhram Murtazaliev-Tim Tszyu Face Off October 19 in Orlando

Tim Tszyu has been tasked with presenting another series of Premier Boxing Champions.

The Ring has learned that Tszyu and IBF 154-pound-ranked Bakhram Murtazaliev are on track to meet on October 19 in Orlando, Florida. Much progress has been made since the two were ordered to enter into negotiations earlier this month. An agreement has yet to be reached, although two sources with knowledge of the talks have confirmed a set date and destination.

World Boxing News' Alan Dawson was the first to report the development.

Although there is still work to be done, Murtazaliev-Tszyu will talk about PBC's first independent event for Prime Video. The series has been on pay-per-view since launching on March 30. Tszyu (24-1, 17 knockouts) headlined the first event, albeit in a losing effort. The second-generation boxer dropped a 12-round decision to Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

With the comeback, Tszyu's WBO reign ended. Ring's No. The 4-rated junior middleweight was prepared to walk the finishing line to earn his next title.

The date of September 22 was set aside in his home country of Australia, with a program to be headlined by PBC on Prime Video. Erickson Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs) was the first pick in what would have been an IBF title shot. Lubin, ranked No. 5 at 154, withdrew from the event at an unannounced date due to an injury that was not healing early enough to commit to the event.

There were rumors that Jesus Ramos (21-1, 17 KOs), No. 7 at 154, you will get the assignment against Tszyu. What happened behind the scenes did not come quickly enough for the IBF to sit idly by.

Meanwhile, Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) has a chance to defend his first title at the top level. He finds himself back on the PBC circuit again—this time with a television audience.

The undefeated Russian won the belt on the road and in spectacular fashion. Murtazaliev knocked out Jack Culcay in the 11th round of their vacant title fight on April 6 in Falkansee, Germany.

Confirmation came from Murtazaliev's ridiculous wait for the title shot. He became responsible on Nov. 2019, he then accepted multiple side moves that were offered including four non-televised bouts in a row. His team finally stood up last year when the IBF ordered a shot at the title.

It resulted in then Ring champion/undisputed Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) vacating his IBF belt. Charlo has even parted with all of his hardware.

Tszyu previously held the WBO junior middleweight title. The second-generation boxer was promoted from the interim list in September last year, due to a pending shot against Charlo that did not materialize. He defended the belt by winning on points in twelve rounds against Brian Mendoza last October 15 in Broadbeach, Australia.

The reign ended up losing by decision to Fundora, who is number 3 at 154. Tszyu was supposed to face Keith Thurman, who held the welterweight title, who withdrew due to injury. Fundora was scheduled to appear on the undercard and agreed to fill the bill.

Tszyu jumped into the opening round powerfully but suffered a head injury when he collided with Fundira's elbow. His face was covered in blood during the battle, and he only scored two points.

The wound was deep enough that he wasn't cleaned out to be honored on August 3 against Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs). The fight would go down to the Terence Crawford-Israel Madrimov undercard at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Rather than returning home, Tszyu will fight for the second time in a row in the US, this time in his East Coast debut.

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