Tim Tszyu promoter names likely location for Bakhram Murtazaliev fight, reacts to Turki Alalshikh comments

Tim Tszyu’s (24-1) team are expecting his IBF super welterweight title challenge to land in the US after the IBF ordered the Australian to face champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (22-0).

In a rollercoaster few weeks for Tszyu, his path back to a world championship is now clear after initially setting himself for a title eliminator on September 22, expected to be against American Erickson Lubin.

Following Lubin advising the IBF he wouldn’t be ready for that date , Tszyu’s team successfully petitioned the sanctioning body to have the 29-year-old recognised as mandatory challenger to Murtazaliev’s belt.

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Tszyu’s team have until September 5 to reach an agreement with the champion’s representatives or a purse bid will be ordered.

While he hopes to bring it to Australia, No Limit Boxing boss George Rose concedes Tszyu will likely have to fight overseas.

“All options are on the table,” Rose told Sporting News.

“Ideally for us, we love fighting in Australia, there’s nothing more exciting than a Tim Tszyu fight in Australia.

“It would be great if we could have that but I think the most likely outcome would be that it will end up in the USA.

“Murtazaliev is the champion and he holds the cards. I know that they were very interested in having it in the USA.

“That’s not something that we’re fussed about. We’ve had plenty of experience over there and it’s just part of the journey for Tim and the No Limit team.”

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Rose said his brother Matt was currently in America working on the fight and hoped to lock in a date and location shortly.

If Russia's Murtazaliev does get his way, it would be Tszyu’s second straight fight in the US after his split-decision defeat to Sebastian Fundora back in March which saw him lose his WBO world title at 154-pounds.

It’s been a busy year so far at super welterweight, with Fundora relieving Tszyu of the WBO and picking up the vacant WBC title in  the same fight.

Meanwhile, pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford made his divisional debut last weekend, scoring a tight unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov to collect the WBA strap - the fourth weight class in which he’s won a world title.

Crawford has been linked to a fight with Tszyu in the past but boxing’s newest powerbroker, Saudi’s Turki Alalshikh, released a statement this week which appeared to suggest the Australian may no longer be in his plans.

“Regarding Tim Tszyu, there’s something unclear with the communications from his team with our team, so I believe I will reconsider his situation,” Alalshikh wrote on social media.

Rose offered some context to those comments but denied the door was closed for them to work with Alalshikh in the future.

“He’s [Alalshikh] looking out for his guy. Terence Crawford is the Riyadh Season ambassador and he’s going to do everything in his power to make sure that Terence Crawford has the best opportunities lined up,” Rose said.

“We’ve been really focused on this pathway for Tim towards the IBF world title. Tim’s focus is on becoming a champion again and that’s what this is right now, he’s going to become the IBF world champion.

“When that happens, we’ll have a nice conversation again and see what lies around the corner for Terence Crawford and Tim Tszyu.

“While Tim would love to have that fight with Terence Crawford at some stage, he doesn’t like waiting in line, especially when there’s an opportunity there to win the IBF world title, he’s ready to win that and by the time Terence Crawford is ready to fight again, Tim Tszyu will be ready to go again as well.

“It’s not something that’s off the cards at all, it’s something that will come based on the results that Tim will get.”