The Rise of Bakhram Murtazaliev: From Underdog to Champion
There’s something special about a fighter who embraces a me-against-the-world mindset. And now, as the new IBF junior middleweight titleholder, Bakhram Murtazaliev is here to tell his story.
For four long years, Murtazaliev endured the frustration of being a No. 1 contender without receiving a title shot. As a Muslim, he was also denied the respect of honoring the principles of Ramadan while preparing for his long-awaited title bout.
But that wasn’t the end of his struggles. In the days leading up to his fight against Germany’s own Jack Culcay, Murtazaliev was sequestered in a second-rate lodge and made to feel like an unwanted guest.
Despite all of this, Murtazaliev’s patience and hard work paid off in the end.
Trained in Oxnard, California, but hailing from Russia, Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) dominated Culcay with a punishing 11th-round barrage, forcing a TKO stoppage and becoming a world champion in a suddenly vibrant 154-pound division. This division not only counts Sebastian Fundora and Ismail Madrimov as fellow belt holders, but also includes a compelling herd of contenders such as Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr., Danny Garcia, and Tim Tszyu.
Within minutes of Murtazaliev’s victory, his promoter Kathy Duva was already being contacted by another powerful promoter. Talk about a switch of fate.
Just hours before, Murtazaliev’s fight was virtually impossible to watch in the U.S., with only highlights streaming on social media. But now, he is poised to take his pick of the contender litter.
“An absolutely amazing fight,” Duva told Kosport Magazine minutes after Murtazaliev’s uplifting win. “I’ve been doing this for 45 years and I’ve never cried in a fight. This is the first time. I was literally emotionally soaked when it happened.”
The Struggle and Triumph of Bakhram Murtazaliev
Why was Duva so emotional? Because Murtazaliev had waited so long and worked so hard to get to this moment. And he’s not just a talented fighter, but also a genuinely nice guy.
But his journey to the top was not an easy one. In Germany, Murtazaliev was given second billing on the fight poster and was made to weigh in first and walk into the ring first – a clear sign of disrespect. This was all because he was the top-ranked contender for a belt vacated by former undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo, who avoided fighting his IBF mandatory in favor of taking on more well-known opponents like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Murtazaliev’s title shot came via a purse bid won by German-based AGON Sports, who ignored his observance of Ramadan and scheduled the fight during that period.
“Every way you could think to disrespect someone, they did,” Duva said. “And he didn’t flinch.”
Despite all of this, Murtazaliev remained disciplined and focused. As a devout Muslim, he trained through Ramadan by flipping his days and nights, sleeping all day and training at night. And when he arrived in Germany, he was given a “crappy little hotel in the middle of nowhere.” But this turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it allowed him to stay focused and continue working towards his goal.
And when the fight ended, Murtazaliev bowed in prayer, staying in that position for a long time. This was a powerful moment for everyone involved, as they were all overcome with emotion.
But Murtazaliev’s journey is far from over. With the likes of Crawford, Spence, and Garcia now throwing their hats in the ring at 154 pounds, he has a wealth of exciting opportunities ahead of him.
“He waited such a long time. Charlo didn’t want to fight him,” Duva said. “But now, every opponent he can possibly face is a big-money fight. That’s just wonderful. We’ll get to work on it Monday, but whatever’s going to happen will be really cool.”
As Duva embraced Murtazaliev in the ring and told him, “You’re a beast,” it was clear that this was a special moment for both of them. And as she explained, “To do this during Ramadan, the level of his sacrifices are amazing.”
