‘He’s a dog’: American matchmaker’s shock Tim Tszyu call as ‘badass’ fight looms

Tim Tszyu has been branded a “tough motherf***er” by the team of his undefeated Russian rival, who have also praised the way Australia’s boxing poster boy fought on last start with a head gash you could ‘fit your thumb in’.

However, questions have also been asked about how that fight may have impacted ‘The Soul Taker’ as he now prepares to face IBF super welterweight king Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, October 20.

Seven months on from his shock world title loss against towering US southpaw Sebastian Fundora, Tszyu is now readying to hit back in the best possible fashion – by becoming a two-time world champion.

BOXING: TSZYU V MURTAZALIEV | Tim Tszyu faces off against undefeated IBF super welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev | SUN 20 OCT 10:30AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports >

Speaking with US media at an open workout this week, the Sydneysider promised to “bring the aggression” on Sunday week against a rival who has gone undefeated through 10 years and 22 fights.

Murtazaliev’s team, meanwhile, suggested their champion will be the “fresher” fighter for the US headliner, given his most recent outing was a title triumph against Germany’s Jack Culcay.

Speaking with Boxing Scene this week, respected US matchmaker Joe Rotonda – who works for Murtazaliev’s promoter Main Events – heaped praise on the upcoming Orlando blockbuster.

Rotonda also credited Tszyu’s grit following a March showdown against Fundora where he lost the fight, but certainly no fans, after throwing through 30 minutes with a severe head wound that was leaking blood.

However the matchmaker did question how Tszyu would bounce back from what was also the first loss of his professional career.

“Tszyu’s a tough motherf***er,” Rotonda started, pointing specifically to that Fundora loss where the fighter suffered a serious head cut at the end of the second round.

“There’s guys that would have folded.

“I could fit my thumb all the way in that cut.

“Tszyu’s tough.

“I don’t think people were giving him that credit [earlier in his career] just because he’s the son of a Hall of Fame fighter.

“And maybe the upbringing wasn’t as badass as a Bakhram? Or wasn’t as tough?

“Who knows?

“But when you left that fight, you knew Tszyu was real and he’s here to stay.

“He wants it just as bad as these other guys … he’s here to be world champion and he dug deep in that way.”

Rotonda described the headliner, which will be shown live on both Main Event and Kayo, as “a badass fight”.

However, the Main Events matchmaker also suggested Murtazaliev – who secured the IBF title by kayoing Culcay in April – was also the “fresher” of the two men.

“If you look at Tszyu’s last performance and Bakhram’s last performance — where he won the title — both these guys are willing to go to war,” he said.

“And they’re probably going to have to in this one.”

Soon after, he continued: “Bakhram’s confident, he has power.

“Bakhram’s kind of unorthodox in there, too, if you watch him.

“His movements almost leave you unbalanced.

“Tszyu’s a pretty underrated counterpuncher … (and) I think at some point, maybe after the first or second round, these guys start throwing it around in there and we have a little bit of a war.

“At that point, we’ll see who wants it more.

“The thing with Tszyu, too … is he ready for another war like he just had with Fundora?

“Maybe he is.

“I’m not saying he isn’t.

“You never know who bounces back from those and who doesn’t … (but) I’d like to think Bakhram’s the fresher of the two, just based off that.”

Tszyu, meanwhile, also praised his rival this week for being a “dog”, but stressed it still wouldn’t be enough to stop him becoming a two-time world champion on Sunday week.

“I bring the heat every time I get in the ring,” Tszyu said.

“I’m coming in with aggression and I’m leaving with that IBF belt.

“Murtazaliev is a dog … (and) that always presents a tremendous task.

“He’s strong and he’s got a competitive edge.

“I’m looking forward to fighting someone like that … I was on the same card as Murtazaliev once and I do remember thinking that he’s a tall guy, but most of my opponents are taller than me.

“We gave each other a little eye-to-eye, like we knew we’d see each other down the road.

“My last fight is all in the past.

“I just have to move on and look for answers another way. The biggest lesson I learned from the Fundora fight was to focus on the present.”