Former WBO super welterweight champion Tim Tszyu shocked the world last night at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Florida. However, this shock came from his devastating 3rd-round stoppage loss to the IBF super welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev. After sustaining a cut on his scalp in the opening round—his situation only worsened.

Murtazaliev followed that by scoring three knockdowns in the 2nd round, making the fight look as good as over. While Tszyu, ever the warrior, wanted to continue the fight, Murtazaliev dropped ‘The Soul Taker’ a fourth time in the third round. On the verge of a 5th knockdown, Tszyu’s corner threw in the towel. It was Tszyu’s second career defeat, having lost a close contest to Sebastian Fundora earlier this year. This has left many wondering, what can the Australian boxer do next. We have a few names maybe Tszyu can consider for his next bout.

Michael Zerafa

Tszyu and Michael Zerafa have had a longstanding rivalry, but their much-anticipated fight has yet to materialize. Over the years, the two have traded barbs both online and in interviews, often taking jabs at one another. Despite this, Tszyu has previously been reluctant to discuss the possibility of a matchup. 

After Tszyu’s first loss to Sebastian Fundora, Zerafa expressed interest in facing him, and history seems to be repeating itself now. While Tszyu may not have felt the urgency to fight Zerafa in the past, following two consecutive losses, his options are becoming limited—unless he wants to settle for less-than-ideal opponents. 

This potential clash promises to be significant, as both fighters hail from Australia and share a rich history of trash-talking. Plus, Zerafa is coming off a victory against Tommy Browne, having bounced back from a previous loss to Erislandy Lara. Though Zerafa has been at middleweight for a long time, the weight difference is something both can bridge easily. This sets the perfect stage for Tszyu to prove that he still has what it takes to compete at a high level.

Erickson Lubin

‘The Soul Taker’ also has the opportunity to face off against Erickson Lubin. The two were originally set to fight each other back in September of last year, but Lubin had to withdraw from the headlining bout in Australia due to an injury that left him unfit to compete. Not to mention, Lubin last appeared in the ring in September 2023, where he secured a victory over Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr., so a fight against Tszyu could benefit his big return as well. 

This matchup would carry even more significance, as Lubin suffered his second career defeat against Sebastian Fundora in early 2022, who, of course, defeated Tszyu as well. Currently ranked second by the WBA in the super welterweight division, the winner of this fight could potentially set up a rematch with Fundora—provided Fundora emerges victorious against Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford.

Brian Carlos Castano

With a limited lineup of opponents, Tim Tszyu could also consider a matchup against former WBO super welterweight champion Brian Carlos Castano. The Argentine boxer has not fought since his rematch loss to Jermell Charlo in 2022, making this potential bout beneficial for both fighters. Aside from that loss, Castano boasts a strong record, which could generate enough buzz to make the fight worth it for both boxers. 

This matchup could provide Tszyu with a relatively low-risk opportunity to make a comeback before facing tougher opponents in the future. However, a significant concern is Castano’s inactivity—it remains to be seen whether he would be willing to enter the ring after a prolonged hiatus. In 2022, they could have shared a card, but Castano had to withdraw from his rematch with Charlo due to an injury, delaying the fight until May.

Bakhram Murtazaliev

Tszyu could always vie for a rematch. As of the time of writing, it’s unclear whether there was a rematch clause in the contract between Tszyu and Murtazaliev. Regardless, it remains to be seen if the Russian will accept the challenge, especially after his dominant performance against Tszyu last night. The most likely scenario for a rematch would be if Murtazaliev is presented with a substantial financial incentive to take the fight.

That said, Tim Tszyu doesn’t seem to have a lot of opinions when it comes to the prospect of his future opponents. Until his team reveals what’s in the cards for the Australian, no one really knows what to expect from Tszyu. Regardless, who do you think Tszyu should fight next?