In a surprising turn of events, Tim Tszyu’s momentum came to a halt following a loss to Russian contender Bakhram Murtazaliev, with former world champion Sergio Mora criticizing the outcome as the result of “bad matchmaking.” The defeat has raised questions about Tszyu’s career trajectory and whether his team miscalculated the challenge posed by the dangerous Murtazaliev.

Tszyu, who had been building significant hype in the super welterweight division, was expected to use the bout as a stepping stone toward a potential championship opportunity. However, Murtazaliev proved to be more than a stepping stone—delivering a dominant performance that left Tszyu outmatched and unable to recover.

Sergio Mora, now a boxing analyst, didn’t mince words in his post-fight commentary. “This wasn’t a loss because of Tim’s ability—it was bad matchmaking,” Mora stated. “You can’t put a fighter with Tszyu’s style up against a well-rounded, dangerous opponent like Murtazaliev without a proper game plan.”

Mora suggested that Tszyu’s handlers may have underestimated the Russian’s strength and skill, viewing the fight as an easy win on the road to a title shot. Instead, Murtazaliev seized the opportunity, leaving Tszyu’s camp to reconsider their future plans.

Fans and boxing analysts have voiced mixed reactions to Mora’s comments, with some agreeing that the fight was a risk Tszyu wasn’t ready for, while others argue that every great fighter must overcome tough challenges to grow. Despite the setback, Tszyu has vowed to learn from the experience and come back stronger.

The loss may have derailed Tszyu’s immediate plans, but with the super welterweight division still wide open, the young fighter has time to regroup. Moving forward, Tszyu’s team will need to carefully strategize his next move to keep his championship aspirations alive.