ORLANDO, FL. – September 3, 2024 – Australian superstar and former world champion Tim Tszyu will challenge unbeaten IBF Super Welterweight World Champion Bakhram Murtazaliev in the 12-round main event of PBC on Prime Video action Saturday, October 19 live from the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The event will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the action streaming exclusively on Prime Video for all Prime members in the United States and select countries. One of boxing’s most exciting rising stars, Tszyu will look to regain his status as world champion against the reigning unbeaten titleholder Murtazaliev in this high stakes main event. Additional undercard bouts available on Prime Video will be announced shortly.
Tickets for the live event go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, September 4 at 12 p.m. ET will be available through Ticketmaster.
The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. The main event is promoted in association with No Limit Boxing and Main Events.
“Tim Tszyu is one of the most fan-friendly fighters in the sport and he proved it again in his last outing by battling through a gruesome cut to give fans 12 rounds of action,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Most fighters would have bowed out, but Tszyu kept pushing forward and will bring that same mentality into this matchup against the reigning IBF 154-Pound World Champion Bakhram Murtazaliev. The super welterweight division is absolutely loaded with talent and the winner of this fight will be in excellent position to face the other big names at 154-pounds. It’s the perfect fight to headline action on Prime Video on Saturday, October 19 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando.”
“Even before his spectacular win against Jack Culcay to earn the IBF title in Germany, Bakhram made it clear that he wanted Tim Tszyu next,” said Kathy Duva, CEO of Main Events. “He also said he wanted the matchup to happen in the U.S. so that everyone could see him fight, so I’m really happy that this deal came together to take place in front of a wide audience on Prime Video. Both of these fighters tend to come forward and engage and I would not be surprised if this turns out to be the Fight of the Year.”
“There are very few fighters in the world that can endure what Tim went through in his last fight and come out bigger, better and stronger than before,” said George Rose, CEO of No Limit Boxing. “Tim Tszyu is that guy. He lives to fight and has a warrior spirit that is completely unbreakable. You won’t want to miss this. He is about to remind everyone why he is the best 154 pounder in the world on October 19.”
Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) lost his WBO 154-Pound World Title in his last outing, as he took an incidental elbow from Sebastian Fundora in round three that opened up one of the most grisly cuts in recent boxing memory, and which severely hampered Tszyu on his way to losing a narrow split-decision on March 30.
The 29-year-old son of International Boxing Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, he came into that fight off a red-hot 2023 campaign that saw him elevated to world champion at 154-pounds while defeating former world champion Tony Harrison, top contender Brian Mendoza and former title challenger Carlos Ocampo. A native of Sydney, Australia, Tszyu made his U.S debut against U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in March 2022, earning a unanimous decision. Tszyu grew up playing soccer, but soon gravitated toward boxing. The decision led to him following in the legendary footsteps of his father, Kostya, who was an undisputed 140-pound champion.
“At this level, you have to take everyone out and Bakhram is the next guy standing in my way,” said Tszyu. “The world knows me and they know what I’m about. I’m thankful to my team for putting me in this position to prove why I’m still the man at 154 pounds. Bakhram has what I want and I plan on taking it from him in spectacular fashion. It’s time to become a two-time world champion.”
Now residing in Oxnard, California, the Russian Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) joined the ranks of world champion in his last outing as he looks to make his first title defense on October 19. Murtazaliev defeated Jack Culcay on his home turf of Germany in April of this year to win the IBF title with a dramatic 11th-round stoppage.
The 31-year-old has fought professionally since 2014 and debuted stateside in November 2016 with a knockout over the previously unbeaten Botirsher Obidov. Murtazaliev continued his climb with an impressive three-win 2019 campaign that culminated in a unanimous decision over Jorge Fortea in November that earned him the mandatory slot with the IBF. He’d go on to add four more victories between September 2020 and December 2022 before stepping into the title showdown against Culcay.
“I’m extremely happy and excited to defend my world title on Prime Video against a strong opponent like Tim Tszyu,” said Murtazaliev. “I just want Tim to be in the best shape possible and not get any injuries so we can give this fight to the fans.”