Tim Tszyu in devastating setback after savage stoppage as Kostya detail comes to light

Tim Tszyu has been defeated in just three rounds after his team threw in the towel on the day his father opted to be part of his entourage to mark the special occasion. In a beautiful detail, Kostya Tszyu was part of the Aussie boxer's team for the first time after a beautiful family reunion earlier this week.

However, Kostya would have been left devastated after Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev obliterated Tszyu in rounds two and three to leave his corner throwing in the towel to stop the onslaught. Tszyu headed into the fight as heavy favourite, but was rocked on numerous occasions in round two with a sharp left hook doing the early damage.

Tszyu never recovered as he tried to slug it out with Murtazaliev. The 29-year-old's team rightfully thew in the towel to end the damage and leave Tszyu's career in the balance. The Aussie was looking to bounce back from his first career loss to prove himself as the best 154 pound fighter on the planet. But his tactic of entering into a firefight with the bigger Russian backfired badly.

And the Aussie will need to rethink his career trajectory with his second straight defeat a hammer blow to his future endeavours. Fights with Errol Spence Jnr and Terence Crawford are just about off the table as the Aussie will have to re-group and figure out his move at 154 pounds.

"Things didn't go to plan. The better man one tonight. No excuses...boxing isn't meant to be perfect," a devastated Tszyu said in the ring after the fight. "After the first shot, things didn't go to plan. That is part of boxing. You get hit and your reactions are a bit slower. But the victory belongs to Bakhram tonight."

Tim Tszyu's father surprises him ahead of fight

Earlier this week, Tszyu admitted his surprise when his Boxing Hall of Fame father Kostya surprised him ahead of the weigh-ins to announce he will be watching on. Kostya Tszyu hasn't seen a fight of his son's since 2016, but in a touching gesture the legendary boxer will join Tim Tszyu for the ring walk.

This is a huge win for Tim Tszyu having already praised his father's influence and presence earlier in the week. Tszyu admitted his father's appearance was a great present before seeking to get his career back on track.

“Dad only told me this morning he wasn’t going to be here for this,” Tim said. "It’s so typical, man. I'm used to it now. It’s good to see him ... he’s buzzing. The last name Tszyu will live on as the greatest boxing family that ever lived." Kostya then greeted younger son Nikita in the flesh for the first time in 11 years as the pair shared a long, emotional embrace.

"My dad has worry beads. That's what they're called," Tszyu said. "Dad can't go a day in his life or move around anywhere without them.

"I remember as a young kid, he always used to ask for them. I remember he couldn't find them once and it was a big panic. So he got me some good ones and I guess I've got to start flipping them around."

Shawn Porter calls out Tim Tszyu

Earlier, boxing great Shawn Porter warned Tszyu about chasing Crawford so early in his career. And it appears Tszyu might have to give up on that dream, for now, as he looks to bounce back from his second defeat in a row.

“Tim is at that level,” Porter said, of where Tszyu stands compared to Bud and Spence Jnr. “And while I say respectfully that I don’t think he can beat Terence Crawford, Tim can beat everyone else at super welterweight.” And Porter isn't the only one to think Tszyu's insistence on chasing Crawford could backfire.

Aussie rival Michael Zerafa was more critical and claimed it would be foolish for Tszyu to face Crawford at this stage in his career. While applauding Tszyu's career trajectory, Zerafa said the American would stop him in his tracks.

“I don’t think Crawford knows who Tim Tszyu is to be honest,” Zerafa said. “And when you look at how things are playing out right now, I don’t think Crawford fights him anyway.

“It would be silly for Tim too, because he gets stopped in six. In the Fundora fight, we saw there were a lot of mistakes from Tim, and what I’d call ongoing mistakes. Tim gets hit a lot."