Sergio Mora believes that IBF Junior Master Master Bakhram Muratazaliev will continue to be avoided by the top A-side fighters of 154 despite his impressive 3rd round knockout victory last October against former WBO champion Tim Tszyu.
Mora is right. That cow victory for Bakhram (23-0, 17 kos) will work against him getting any of the A-list fighters to agree to meet him because he is too dangerous and none of them have shown a lot of courage since they came to the top.
Turki factor
Unless Turki al-Sheikh is interested in Murtazaliev, which he has finished with Terence Crawford, he will continue to be avoided until he is shot or beaten by one of the challengers. Crawford was never popular and avoided the plague for the first 16 years. Although he caught the world’s titles in four departments, the masters he beat were not popular.
Murtazaliev needs Turki to help him get fighters like Sebastian Fundora, Vergil Ortiz Jr and Jaron Ennis to fight him. Crawford will not fight for him, he chooses to return to 154 for the same reasons the others will not. Bakhram is too dangerous, especially for older warriors.
“I don’t care that he knocked out and knocked Tim Tszyu up. I don’t care that he’s a dangerous fighter. He is one of these forgetful names, Bakhram Murtazaliev. He wants to be avoided by the big names, ”Segio Mora told Chris Mannix YouTube channel, talking about IBF 154-LB master Murtazaliev, which would probably be avoided by the best fighters on junior middleweight.
“He has a belt,” Mannix said of Murtazaliev.
“You don’t want to fight a guy like that, with a name like the one and with such style,” Mora said.
“With a title,” said Mannix about Bakhram, who had a title. “
The belt is worth
Belts don’t matter in this era with boxing. What is more important is social media popularity and the ability to connect with fans in interviews on YouTube. Bakhram’s IBF belt might as well be a decorative guest because it doesn’t help him entice popular warriors to meet him. He needs Turki.
“It comes in second place. It actually comes the third, ”Mora said. “No one wants to fight for that guy. So Duva will have a hard time promoting him and making him popular. Yes, they can pay out because of this belt, but it will not be against a name. “
With Bakhram’s power and knockout ability, he would be much more popular if his matches were shown on Dazn four or five times a year, but that doesn’t happen. He can become popular but he will have to be busy and have a promoter that can get matches for him
“Go down to the rankings of 154 lbs and think of the matches you could do against guys who would gladly come in the ring with him,” Mora said. “A Serhii Bohachuk would come in the ring with him. Vergil Ortiz if he won [against Israil Madrimov] would come in the ring with him. Boots Ennis would come in the ring with him. “
“No,” Mora said of her belief that Ennis would not fight Bakhram.
“Charles Conwell would come in the ring with him,” Mannix said.
“The A-sides will not fight for him,” Mora said. “The B-sides will fight him. They have no other choice. “
Last updated on 02/05/2025