A cautious Tim Tszyu isn’t counting his chickens before they hatch when it comes to his potential IBF super welterweight world title bout with Bakhram Murtazaliev.
The Tszyu camp received a boost on Wednesday morning (AEST) when the IBF named the Sydneysider as the mandatory challenger to the Russian.
Their respective teams have been given until September 5 to come to an agreement before a purse bid is ordered.
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As someone who has been on the wrong end of a host of pullouts, cancellations and failed negotiations, Tszyu is hopeful this one can get made without a hitch.
“I hope Bakhram doesn’t start making stuff up as well. I’ve got a bad feeling that he’s going to come in with an injury warning as well,” Tszyu said.
“With my experience, what I’ve had to deal with, with pullouts, I’m just [expecting] the worst.
“It is what it is, I’m sort of used to it now.”
Should the teams come to an agreement, the bout will give the 29-year-old a chance to become a two-time world champion at the weight.
Tszyu suffered the first loss of his career and dropped his WBO title in his Las Vegas debut back in March when Sebastian Fundora defeated him by split decision.
Even that fight didn’t come together smoothly, with Fundora a late-notice replacement for the injured Keith Thurman.
Prior to his loss to Fundora, Tszyu’s name was in discussions to face Terence Crawford in the pound-for-pound star’s debut in the division after moving up upon unifying the four belts at welterweight
Crawford eventually fought and defeated Israil Madrimov in a close fight to collect the WBA strap at 154-pounds and become a four-division champion.
His next opponent remains unclear but a statement from boxing’s newest powerbroker and Crawford advocate, Saudi’s Turki Alalshikh, appeared to suggest talks between himself and Tszyu’s teams hadn’t gone well.
“Regarding Tim Tszyu, there’s something unclear with the communications from his team with our team, so I believe I will reconsider his situation,” Alalshikh wrote on social media.
Tszyu’s promoter, George Rose of No Limit Boxing, denied that door was closed and Tszyu himself has confirmed he’d like to work with Alalshikh in the future.
“Maybe there’s been some miscommunication from both sides but hopefully they can sit down and discuss what’s to plan in the future,” Tszyu said.
“I’d love to work with him because I like what he’s about, he’s all about making the big fights happen and I’m all for that, but I’ve got a team, I’ve got a professional team with me and everything is organised through them.”
In the meantime, Tszyu is hoping his team can come to an agreement with Murtazaliev on a date and location - America appears the most likely landing spot.
Having again found himself in the position of chasing the division’s beltholders, Tszyu is hoping this fight can propel him into a position where the big bouts aren’t so difficult to make.
“I just want to be the shot caller. I want to dictate and roll the dice the way I want to roll the dice,” Tszyu said.
“I just want to be a world champ, that’s what appeals to me.
“When you get the belt, you’re the shot caller and instead of chasing, people come running to you. That’s the position I want to be at.”