Coach Stephen Edwards says Bakhram Murtazaliev is the “most harmful” fighter at 154 for Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis as a result of his potential to “counter-punch.” He notes that Ennis’s tendency to combat aggressively will make him susceptible to IBF junior middleweight champion Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs).
Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn talked about Bakhram as one of many fighters he’s all for him preventing subsequent. He desires ‘Boots’ (35-0, 31 KOs) to seize some titles at 154 to construct up the Terence Crawford combat.
Why Bakhram Is So Harmful
“Bakhram is probably the most harmful as a result of he can counter-punch, and ‘Boots’ will get a bit offensive. He’s proven an excellent chin up to now, however anyone can go in the event you get hit proper,” mentioned Stephen Edwards to MillCity Boxing about Bakhram Murtazaliev being probably the most harmful fighter for Jaron Ennis at 154.
A Dangerous Matchup at 154 Kilos
There are some large punchers at 154, however none that may examine to Murtazaliev. He’s in his personal particular class. What makes him particularly harmful is how rapidly he’s together with his whip-like left hook. It’s onerous to time as a result of it’s so quick.
Ennis must combat much more conservatively towards Bakhram than he’s accustomed to, as he’ll be getting hit together with his left hook counter-shot all night time. If he will get nailed as usually as he was in his rematch with Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9, 2024, he’s going to sleep. Karen was touchdown all night time on Ennis and making him look dangerous in entrance of his followers on the Wells Fargo Middle in Philadelphia.
Bakhram’s One-Shot Precision
“Bakhram confirmed that he has an enormous left hook. He’s quick-minded with one shot. He’s not quick if we’re doing flurries. Watch his combat with Tszyu. That one hook, that one little catch-and-counter that he does. He’s fast. With one shot, he’s fast with that shot. You possibly can inform, he’s practiced that one shot over and over,” mentioned Edwards about Murtazaliev.
Tim Tszyu was getting hit with Bakhram’s murderous left hook repeatedly of their combat on October 19, 2024. He went down 4 occasions within the combat. Usually, Murtazaliev’s proper hand is one among his greatest weapons, however it was reportedly injured, and he needed to depend on his left hook.
What Ennis Should Change to Win
Ennis couldn’t afford to combat as aggressively towards Bakhram as he did in his first-round knockout of Uisma Lima. If he tried to flurry on him like he did towards Lima, he might get caught. You might see that Lima was nonetheless trying to catch ‘Boots’ regardless of being damage and being unloaded on. Ennis might get clipped if he fights like a wild man towards Murtazaliev.
Will Arons has adopted boxing’s rise and reinventions since 2015, writing characteristic items, combat previews, and post-fight evaluation that seize the heartbeat of the game.
