The stage was set at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, for an intense night of boxing headlined by the showdown between IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev and former WBO 154-lb champion Tim Tszyu. After losing his title to Sebastian Fundora last March, this was Tszyu's much-anticipated return to the ring, aiming to reclaim his status and prove that he still belongs among the sport's elite.
In the main event, Murtazaliev unleashed a relentless assault on Tszyu, ultimately stopping him in the third round. Murtazaliev dropped Tszyu four times in total - three times in the second round and once more in the third. With Tszyu on unsteady legs and absorbing heavy punishment, his corner threw in the towel at 1:55 of the third round, saving him from further damage.
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In the co-main event, undefeated junior middleweight contender Yoenis Tellez continued his ascent with a spectacular seventh-round knockout of Johan Gonzalez. Tellez floored Gonzalez three times during the bout, first with a right hand in the sixth round and twice more in the seventh with a left hook and a final right hand that forced the referee to halt the action at 1:57 of the round. n.
In an exciting middleweight contest, Mateo Tapia and Endry Saavedra fought to a thrilling 10-round majority draw. Both fighters traded knockdowns throughout the bout, with Saavedra dropping Tapia twice in the second round and once more in the ninth. Tapia, however, rallied back and dropped Saavedra in the fifth round with a massive right hand. The judges were split, with scores of 94-92 for Tapia and 93-93 twice, leaving Saavedra frustrated by the outcome. "I don’t understand how I could knock him down three times and not get the win," he said post-fight.
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In other action, Gary Antonio Russell stopped Jaden Burnias in the fourth round, showcasing his dominance in the super bantamweight division. Dainier Pero, a rising Cuban heavyweight prospect, knocked out Willie Jake, Jr. in the third round, continuing his unbeaten streak. Super featherweight Justin Viloria also maintained his perfect record with a seventh-round knockout of Diuhl Olguin.
Image Credit: PBC