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Tim Tszyu is back in action this weekend. The colorful Aussie is challenging Bakhram Murtaza for his IBF super-welterweight title in Orlando. Tszyu is the betting favorite. But he comes into the fight off the back of a first-ever career defeat. We tell you if Tszyu is going to immediately bounce back with a win in our latest boxing betting picks.
- Who: Bakhram Murtaza vs. Tim Tszyu
- What: IBF super-welterweight title
- Where: Caribe Royale, Orlando, Florida
- When: Saturday, October 19th, 2024
- Main card: 8 pm ET
The undefeated Bakhram Murtaza is putting his IBF super-welterweight title on the line against Tim Tszyu on Saturday. Murtaza won the belt in April, defeating Jack Culcay for the vacant title in Germany with an 11th-round KO.
Tim Tszyu comes from a famous boxing family based in Australia. His father is former light-welterweight world champion Kostya Tszyu and his younger brother is Nikita Tszyu.
Tim Tszyu is also a former world champion. In his last outing, he lost the WBO light middleweight title to Sebastian Fundora by split decision.
The fight was controversial. Tszyu suffered an accidental head cut in just the 2nd Round. The cut affected how the Aussie fought and many will argue this had an impact on the overall result.
But Tim Tszyu is not one to sit around and brood. He wants to get back to fighting, and he has his eyes well and truly fixed on Murtaza’s world title.
Bakhram Murtaza vs. Tim Tszyu Betting Odds
The best boxing betting sites are most definitely siding with the challenger in this event.
To win the fight on the money line, Tim Tszyu is -650. To cause a shock and defend his IBF title, Bakhram Murtaza is +425.
In the total rounds betting, the fight to go over 10.5 rounds is -105. Under 10.5 rounds is favored at -125.
Elsewhere in the props market, Tszyu is -138 to win by KO, TKO, or DQ and +200 on points.
Murtaza is +1100 to win by KO, TKO, or DQ and +900 on the scorecards. A draw is +1800.
| Murtaza vs. Tszyu |  |  |  |
| Murtaza | +425 | +425 | +425 |
| Tszyu | -650 | -650 | -650 |
| Over 10.5 Rounds | -105 | -105 | -105 |
| Under 10.5 Rounds | -125 | -125 | -125 |
Bakhram Murtaza Career Breakdown
Bakhram Murtaza has a professional fight record of 22-0.
The undefeated 31-year-old Russian fighter has won 16 of his bouts by KO. Murtaza’s most recent victory was the win over Jack Culcay, the fight that saw Murtaza win his world crown.
The April 2024 win over Culcay was Mutaza’s first fight in 17 months. In his previous contest, Murtaza defeated Roberto Valenzuela Jr by unanimous decision in December 2022. The fight was an eight-round contest, highlighting how far away from the elite-level Murtaza is.
So far in his career, Murtaza has only fought 12 rounds once.
Tim Tszyu Career Breakdown
Tim Tszyu has a professional boxing record of 24-1. The 29-year-old Aussie has won 17 of his fights by KO, with seven going to the scorecards.
His sole defeat came in his last fight at the hands of Sebastian Fundora. As we’ve already referred to, this fight was heavily influenced by a nasty gash sustained by Tszyu in the second round of the scrap.
If, or more than likely when, the two men rematch, we fully expect Tszyu to win.
Tszyu fights out of an orthodox stance. The Aussie has explosive skills. He likes to dominate the center of the ring where he is happy to stand and trade.
A front-foot boxer, seven of Tszyu’s last ten wins have come by KO. The most recent was a 1st Round demolition of Carlos Ocampo in June 2023.
Tszyu followed that up with a unanimous decision win over Brian Mendoza. The defeat to Fundora was his most recent contest.
Bakhram Murtaza vs. Tim Tszyu betting picks
If we’re to get carried away with all the hype surrounding this fight, Tim Tszyu just has to turn up to win.
Once upon a time in Minnesota. @Tim_Tszyu on his first encounter with Bakhram Murtazaliev back in 2022, knowing they'd eventually meet. #ozboxing #boxing #MurtazalievTszyu pic.twitter.com/EpIlwa4Uu6
— Aus-Boxing.com (@ausboxing) October 15, 2024
Tszyu does all the taking. He is certainly the boxer selling the fight. But as Bakhram Murtaza says, he will do his talking in the ring.
That’s a fair point. But even the bookmakers aren’t giving the quiet Russian much of a chance against the loud Australian.
Their records may be similar when it comes to wins. But when it comes to the quality of opponents, Tszyu has a far more impressive resume. The Aussie has wins over the likes of Brian Mendoza and Takeshi Inoue, Murtaza can’t compare his fight record to that of Tszyu.
That said, Bakhram Murtaza has a decent KO record. He can’t be underestimated.
One thing that Tim Tszyu doesn’t lack is confidence. Could the Aussie take this fight lightly and come unstuck? It would appear to be a possibility if we take what we hear seriously.
One thing we know Tszyu will do is stand and trade. And Bakhram Murtaza has already stated that he intends to stand and fight with Tszyu in the middle of the ring.
So for our opening boxing pick, we are going for the fight to finish in under 10.5 rounds at -125.
For our fight-winner bet, we are going for the challenger. Tim Tszyu to win by KO/TKO/DQ at -138 is our betting pick.
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