Tim Tszyu Talks Turki Alalshikh, Bakhram Murtazaliev & More

Tszyu is in this position to fight Murtazaliev because Erickson Lubin pulled out of the fight due to a hand injury. It’s the second time Lubin pulls out of a Tszyu fight, and he joins Jermell Charlo as a fighter who did make it to fight night with Tszyu for one reason or another. Tszyu seemed frustrated by it all but could only smile about it as it was something he had no control over. “I don’t blame them, actually (laughs). I don’t know man, obviously there’s some sort of excuse. I hope Bakhram [Murtazaliev] doesn’t start making stuff up. I have a bad feeling that he’s going to come in with an injury. It is what it is. I’m sort of used to it by now.”

As far as when the fight will take place, Tszyu didn’t have a date but gave his intentions on how many times he wants to step into the ring for the remainder of the year. “ASAP man. The sooner, the better [with regard to a fight date]. In all honesty, I still want to go back-to-back. So, if I can get in another two fights this year, then we are on the right track and a good start to [20] 25.”

Lastly, fans were salivating over the scheduled fight between Tszyu and Vergil Ortiz Jr. when it was originally announced. Tszyu was forced to pull out due to the scar on his head not properly healing, so Ortiz moved on to the fight with Serhii Bohachuk for the interim WBC junior middleweight title. So, is that a fight [Ortiz Jr.] that he is still interested in or would he want the winner of the heavily rumored Errol Spence Jr vs Sebastian Fundora? Tszyu told FightsATW, “Look, both fights are appetizing. Me and Vergil [Ortiz Jr.] would be one helluva cracking fight. At the same time, Errol Spence and Sebastian Fundora fight are right there as well. I’m open to both.”