For Tim Tszyu, the lower he suffered earlier in 2024 is greater than a reminder of a loss — it’s a mark of unfinished enterprise.
After his defeat in April by Sebastian Fundora, a lower on his face required 15 stitches and saved Tszyu out for almost seven months.
The Australian, 29, is decided to show that the scar doesn’t outline him.
“You may see it is a little bit V – V for vengeance,” he mentioned.
The 29-year-old former junior-middleweight titleholder (24-1, 17 KOs) is about to problem the unbeaten IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) of Russia on October 19, from Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The struggle will mark the primary Premier Boxing Champions occasion to air on Amazon Prime with out a pay-per-view barrier – and due to this fact current Tszyu with a becoming stage for his comeback. Within the inaugural Amazon Prime-PBC collaboration, Tszyu suffered the lower he now calls “a little bit tattoo for the remainder of my life”. His struggle towards Murtazaliev, 31, represents step one in the direction of redemption after his loss to Fundora, who had been a late alternative for the inactive Keith Thurman.
“May have, would have, ought to have — it’s all previously,” Tszyu mentioned. “The most important lesson I discovered was simply specializing in the current.”
Tszyu’s highway again has been difficult. He was scheduled to struggle Vergil Ortiz in August on the undercard of Israil Madrimov-Terence Crawford, however the identical medical points prevented him doing so. More and more, he’s wanting to reclaim his place amongst boxing’s elite and goals to turn out to be a titleholder once more.
“I simply take pleasure in the entire struggle sport,” Tszyu mentioned. “I benefit from the thrill of it. I take pleasure in coaching camps. I take pleasure in development.”
Reflecting on his upcoming opponent, Tszyu recalled a short encounter with Murtazaliev. “I used to be on the identical card as Murtazaliev as soon as and I do bear in mind considering that he’s a tall man, however most of my opponents are taller than me,” he mentioned. “We gave one another a little bit eye-to-eye, like we knew we’d see one another down the highway.”
Their struggle is imminent, and Tszyu’s scar tells a narrative — one he hopes shouldn’t be a couple of fall from grace, however of a fighter rising once more. Murtazaliev-Tszyu may decide the following chapter in his journey.
