Australian star Tim Tszyu suffered a brutal third-round stoppage defeat at the hands of IBF super welterweight king Bakhram Murtazaliev last Saturday.
The son of boxing legend Kostya Tszyu was looking to become a two-time world champion after losing his WBO strap to Sebastian Fundora in his previous outing.
But instead, the 29-year-old found himself on the receiving end of a torrid beatdown which saw him get floored four times in Orlando, Florida.
And yet, despite suffering two losses on the bounce, Tszyu has earned the respect of most boxing fans following his valiant display of courage and determination.
Timothy Bradley hails Tim Tszyu following his defeat to Bakhram Murtazaliev
With Murtazliev’s most notable victory coming against seasoned campaigner Jack Culcay prior to the contest, the unbeaten Russian, despite being the champion, entered his showdown with Tszyu as a considerable underdog.
And so, with the weight of expectation resting firmly upon his shoulders, Tszyu was undoubtedly eager to get back in the win column.
That said, several boxing aficionados have speculated that the turnaround, following his torrid bloodbath against Fundora, was far too hasty.
Hall of Famer Timothy Bradley, though, has suggested otherwise, hailing ‘The Soul Taker’s’ gallant performance.
“I tip my hat off to Tim Tszyu,” Bradley said on ProBox TV. “He’s the type of fighter that I love, and will always support.
“He came up short this time around [but] that doesn’t mean anything; that doesn’t mean he’s a bum; that doesn’t mean he took this fight too soon.
“He took this fight because he believed in himself, but his comeback fight is going to be even tougher now, because now he’s mentally messed up.”
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Tim Tszyu gives brutally honest assessment of his performance against Bakhram Murtazaliev
In his post-fight interview, Tszyu struggled to recollect the moments that transpired during his showdown with Murtazaliev.
Moreover, he was visibly frustrated by his performance in a fight that, for some, went on far too long.
As a result, there have been several calls for Tszyu to change his training team, with a view to see him tighten up his defense.
However, the former world champion has already confirmed that he will be sticking by his coaches, hoping to get back to winning ways before long.