Tim Tszyu’s ring return won’t be the homecoming he expected but will have some hardware at stake, as World Boxing News’ Alan Dawson reports that Tszyu is set to challenge IBF super welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev on October 19th in Florida.
Per WBN, the bout could kick off a “tentative” three-fight plan that would see Tszyu (24-1, 17 KO) fight Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KO) in October, Erickson Lubin “as soon as December,” and recent conqueror Sebastian Fundora in “Q1 2025.” Lubin, originally slated to face Tszyu on September 22nd, previously claimed that the pair had agreed to meet in December to give Lubin’s hand a chance to heal.
Though not seen as on the level of Crawford, Fundora, or Madrimov, Murtazaliev isn’t an easy out for anyone. He proved he could dig deep in last April’s finish of Jack Culcay, a fight for which Murtazaliev prepared while observing Ramadan. Tszyu should win if he’s back in form, but he’ll absolutely have to work for it.