Bakhram Murtazaliev Stops Tim ‘The Soul Taker’ Tszyu

IBF World Super Welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev defended for the first time, scoring four knockdowns, stopping former WBO World Super Welterweight champion ‘The Soul Taker’ Tim Tszyu in the third round in a scheduled 12-round fight on Saturday night at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) stopped former WBO World Junior middleweight champion Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs) at 1:55 of the third round after scoring four knockdowns of a scheduled 12 rounds.

In the first round, Murtazaliev controlled with his jab, with Tszyu suffering a small cut on the top of his head from a clash of heads. In the second round, Murtazaliev scored the first knockdown after a minute left on the chin for an 8-count from referee Christopher Young.

Halfway through the round, a right on the chin dropped him a second time for an 8-count. In the final minute, a right dropped Tszyu a third-time seconds before the end of the round for an 8-count.

In the third round, a left hook from Murtazaliev dropped Tszyu for a fourth time for an 8-count from referee Young. Seconds later, Murtazaliev had Tszyu out on his feet, landing a right to the head when the towel came in to stop the fight.

Super Welterweight Yoenis Tellez (9-0, 7 KOs) stopped Johan ‘The Chelo Manotas’ Gonzalez (35-4, 34 KOs) at 1:57 of the seventh round of a scheduled ten rounds.

In the first round, Gonzalez used an effective jab to outland Tellez. In the second round, Tellez turned from southpaw to orthodox, but it didn’t matter; Gonzalez took another round.

In the third round, Tellez switched back to southpaw as Gonzalez was scoring well in a close round. In the fourth round, Tellez finally started putting his punches together, outworking Gonzalez. In the fifth round, it was all Tellez until the final seconds, when Gonzalez came forward with too little, too late.

In the sixth rounds final seconds a right from Tellez on the chin dropped Gonzalez for an 8-count from Referee Camile Lomardi. In the seventh round, a left hook from Tellez on the chin dropped Gonzalez for an 8-count. Seconds later, a right dropped Gonzalez again, causing referee Lombardi to call a halt.

Cesar ‘El Tijuanero’ Mateo Tapia (17-0-1, 10 KOs) ended in a majority draw with Endry ‘El Chino’ Saavedra (16-1-1, 13 KOs) over ten rounds for the vacant IBF Int’l Middle Title.

In the second round, a clash of heads caused a cut under Tapia’s right eye. In the third round, Saavedra knocked Tapia down twice. In the fourth round, Tapia came back to hold his own until 30 seconds had passed. Saavedra landed a right on the chin, rocking Tapia.

In the fifth round, Saavedra’s body shots had Tapia holding on. With 10 seconds remaining, Tapia landed a pair of rights on the chin and down went Saavedra for an 8-count as the bell sounded. In the sixth round’s final minute, Tapia had Saavedra holding on to the bell, his right eye closing.

In the seventh round, Tapia came fighting back, with Saavedra holding throughout. In the eighth round, both had their moments for the first half of the round when Saavedra took over.

In the ninth rounds halfway point a combination from Saavedra drove Tapia into the ropes and down for an 8-count. Tapia’s right eye was closed. In the tenth and final round, Tapia had Saavedra rock several times with rights to the chin.

Scores 94-92 Tapia, 93-93 and 98-93.

Heavy Dainier Pero (9-0, 7 KOs) stopped southpaw Willie ‘Snake’ Jake, Jr. (11-5-2, 3 KOs) in the third round of a scheduled 8-round fight.

Super Feather Justin Viloria (7-0, 5 KOs) stopped Diuhl ‘Elegante’ Olguin (16-41-7, 10 KOs) in the seventh round of an 8.

Super Bantam southpaw Gary Antonio Russell (20-1, 13 KOs) knocked out Jaden ‘Oveja Negra’ Burnias (6-3-2, 4 KOs) in the fourth round of a six-round fight.