Bakhram Murtazaliev shows he is world class, stopping Tim Tszyu three times to retain the IBF junior middleweight title.

Bakhram Murtazaliev wanted the boxing world to find out who he was. They did it. The 31-year-old IBF junior middleweight champion was making his first defense and in his mind was being overlooked.

29-year-old Tim Tszyu was supposed to be the A-side.

Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 knockouts) changed that. He dropped Tszyu four times, before Tszyu’s corner smartly threw in the towel and ended the fight at 1:55 of the third Saturday night on PBC on Prime Video at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.

“We just worked on these combinations all the time and when the fight came, it was automatic.” said Murtazaliev. “We worked for 10 weeks on those fists that hurt him. We are creating opportunities and we believe that we can win this battle.

“When I shot the first big shot, I knew how difficult it was. Tszyu is a real hero and I hope one day we can work together happily and help each other to grow.”

Tszyu started well. He landed midway through the first round, which got Murtazaliev’s attention. He nailed Murtazaliev with a left hook to the body, as the fighters clashed heads.

In the first minute of the second, Murtazaliev landed a right, and Tszyu tried to counter. But at 2:20, Murtazaliev planted Tszyu with a left hook that dropped the Australian and put him in serious trouble. Tszyu’s courage brought him back to his unsteady legs.

At 1:24 of the second, Murtazaliev dropped Tszyu for the second time with another left hook. Tszyu was just hanging around, circling the ring as Murtazaliev singled him out. As the final seconds ticked away in the second, Murtazaliev dropped Tszyu for the third time.

Tszyu returned to his corner outside on his feet.

He was in such bad shape that the sideline doctor was called to check on Tszyu before the third.

Murtazaliev finished the job. He blew out Tszyu in the third. With 1:24 left in the round, Murtazaliev landed another left hook that sent Tszyu down for the fourth time. Tszyu never stopped coming forward—and paid a terrible price.

Murtazaliev kept putting pressure on Tszyu, when finally, Tszyu’s corner wisely threw in the towel for the finish at 1:55 of the third round.

“Every time I enter the ring I leave everything there,” said Tszyu. “Things didn’t go well and the better man won tonight. There are no excuses. After the first shot, things started to go wrong. That’s part of boxing, you get hit and the reaction is slow. Bakhram is a 154-year-old man. “