‘Told y’all’: Megastar, boxing world react as Tszyu accused of ‘arrogant’ tactics in boilover

Tim Tszyu tactics in going down to Bakhram Murtazaliev in “an obliteration in Orlando” have been questioned, with boxing superstar Terrence Crawford’s accusing the Australian of complacency in the shock loss.

Tszyu, who was the overwhelming favourite in this fight, was floored three times by his Russian opponent before his corner threw the towel in in the third round.

Veteran combat sports journalist Peter Badel, speaking on Main Event post-fight, felt Tszyu was “a little bit arrogant early”.

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 >

“I don’t think he earned the right in this fight to dominate. He just thought he could walk him down,” Badel said on the Main Event coverage.

“To me, when he fought Mendoza, he took his time with Mendoza. He was watchful early and then in the third or fourth round he started to apply the pressure.

“But in this fight he tried to almost bang early. This is a devastating loss for Tim Tszyu.”

Boxing legend Shawn Porter also added: “The body language of Tszyu was very arrogant.

“They should not have tried to fight fire with fire. I felt like moving and turning and using the jab would have been the right thing to do.”

Elsewhere, Crawford, who has held world championships across four weight classes and was a long-term target of Tszyu’s, predicted the Australian’s demise.

The Australian was hit with a left hook on multiple occasions, and Crawford wrote: “Tim better change up that game plan and start moving his head coming in” on X.

Then after the result was decided, he posted: “Told yall”.

Crawford also suggested Tszyu believed Murtazaliev to be an easy opponent, writing: “Tim thought he had an easy one. Took this dude lightly and was worried about other fighters.”

During the fight, commentator Ben Damon was also left stunned, saying “that first left hook was a monster, I don’t know how he got up” after Tszyu first hit the canvas.

From there, it only got uglier and Damon said the result was “unthinkable” after the bout came to an end.

“A monstrous upset for Murtazaliev,” Damon said.

“And the Russian sends Tim Tszyu to Veridian Oblivion. It has been an obliteration in Orlando.

“Tim Tszyu down for times, and Bakhram Murtazaliev retaining his world title in a one-sided beat down.”

The boxing world also took to Twitter, stunned with the result.