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‘I still feel like I belong’: Tim Tszyu ready to bounce back against ‘very best’

Tim Tszyu has explained where things went wrong during his shock world title defeat against Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev in October, admitting the disappointment is "not a feeling I want to relive".

Tszyu suffered his second straight loss when he fell to Murtazaliev via TKO in just the third round of their IBF world title fight.

The former champion was knocked down three times in the first two rounds and then a fourth in the third round, forcing his team to throw in the towel.

Bakhram Murtazaliev punches Tim Tszyu at Caribe Royale Orlando. Getty

Tszyu's brash approach was no match for the taller fighter, with the horror loss positioning the Aussie's career at a crossroads.

Speaking for the first time, Tszyu insisted he still has the skills and style to be back challenging for world titles soon.

"I still feel like I belong at the top level," he told media on Thursday.

"The loss was to a world champion, someone that's not a 'bum'.

"I think the expectation is that people just think that because of my performances and what I've done, I'm supposed to just annihilate everyone.

"But when you take on the very, very best in the divisions, you're going to expect to get hit and honestly it was just one shot.

'I still feel like I belong': Tim Tszyu ready to bounce back against 'very best'

Bakhram Murtazaliev walks to the corner after knocking down Tim Tszyu. Alex Menendez via Getty Images

"I think it was a left hook or something like that but I guess I didn't see it coming and I just never really recovered.

"The thing I learned about myself was, no matter what, I still get up."

Tszyu admitted that he felt "superhuman" going into the fight following his near-perfect preparation and training, which included reuniting with his famous dad, Kostya, in Thailand.

In March, Tszyu succumbed to American Sebastian Fundora in a bloodbath.

During the two-belt clash, where Fundora withstood the Sydneysider over 12 punishing rounds for a split decision, Tszyu sustained a deep cut to his forehead that gushed blood.

"I've never watched my dad's fight — the Ricky Hatton fight — back and I've never watched the Fundora fight back so I'm not really expecting to watch this one back either," Tszyu said.

'I still feel like I belong': Tim Tszyu ready to bounce back against 'very best'

Tim Tszyu battles against Sebastian Fundora during their 12-round title fight at T-Mobile Arena. Steve Marcus via Getty Images

"It's not a feeling I want to relive again.

"I sort of just brush it on the past and move on to the present and the future."

Despite the double blow, Tszyu said he would continue to face up in the super welterweight division but brushed off talk of a fight with countryman and rival Michael Zerafa.

"Nah, don't mention that name," he said.

"I've always been an international fighter. So, while I do want to come back to Australia, that man doesn't deserve to be on this type of stage so let him dwell.

"The show goes on, the world titles will come and I'll be back fighting under the biggest and the brightest lights possible.

"When I reflect and look back at the year, I got to fight at T-Mobile arena, I got to fight on the biggest stages of them all so I improved as a fighter."

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