Becoming a world champion is the peak of a fighter`s ambition, but for Bakhram Murtazaliev, his impressive ascent to IBF Super-Welterweight king has created an unexpected problem: finding opponents willing to step into the ring with him.
Murtazaliev, holding a record of 23 wins with 17 knockouts, captured the vacant IBF title in a tough battle against Jack Culcay. In April, he weathered a stern test, with his superior conditioning eventually breaking down Culcay in the eleventh round for a stoppage victory. While a championship win, some observers felt the fight was close, perhaps suggesting future vulnerabilities.
Any such perception was shattered in his very next outing. Murtazaliev faced the highly-regarded Tim Tszyu, who was widely considered a significant threat. Contrary to predictions, Murtazaliev delivered a performance that was both dominant and brutal, dropping Tszyu multiple times en route to a devastating third-round knockout. It was a statement victory that firmly established him as a formidable force at 154 pounds.
However, according to Murtazaliev, this display of power and skill has had a paradoxical effect. He notes that immediately after his hard-fought win over Culcay, potential challengers seemed eager, perhaps viewing him as a champion ripe for the taking. But following the decisive stoppage of Tszyu, that enthusiasm has vanished.
The champion expresses frustration, finding it difficult to secure his first title defense. He believes many potential opponents are now simply unwilling to take the risk of fighting him after witnessing his capabilities against a top contender like Tszyu. It appears his success has made him a `high-risk, low-reward` proposition for many in the division.
This challenge is exemplified by recent speculation linking Murtazaliev to a fight against Britain`s Josh Kelly. Reports suggested this could potentially land on a major undercard later this year. However, Murtazaliev has poured cold water on these rumors, describing Kelly and his team in unflattering terms, suggesting they initiated contact only to withdraw from negotiations once Murtazaliev agreed to the proposed terms.
Murtazaliev finds this behavior puzzling, stating that his team agreed to everything requested, yet communication ceased from Kelly`s side. He speculates that Kelly`s team might have simply been using his name to generate publicity without genuine intent to fight, perhaps hesitant to take a chance against the current champion. He points out that a fight between them is significant enough to take place in various locations globally, implying the lack of agreement isn`t due to logistical hurdles on his end.
For now, the undefeated champion remains ready, maintaining a level of preparation that allows him to enter a training camp on relatively short notice. While his immediate goal is to unify titles or engage in other significant matchups at super-welterweight, he acknowledges that if compelling opportunities fail to materialize, he is prepared to move up to the middleweight division (160 lbs) in pursuit of further championship glory. The waiting game, however, continues, as potential foes weigh the risk of facing a champion who has proven he can end fights in spectacular fashion.
