Tim Tszyu is called out by fierce rival and is branded ‘AVERAGE’ after the Aussie star suffers disappointing defeat by Bakhram Murtazaliev

Tim Tszyu has been branded ‘average’ by one of his fiercest rivals, following his disappointing performance in Florida on Sunday night.

While questions now revolve around who the Australian boxer will fight next, it seems one opportunity to face off against his old rival could now be on the cards, after he was called out by his long-standing adversary online.

It comes after the 29-year-old was dismantled by Russian boxer Bakhram Murtazaliev over three rounds, with the Australian being knocked to the canvas four times during the fight.

A dejected Tszyu was stunned after the fight and claimed he didn’t know what happened, with Murtazaliev unloading some devastating strikes on him.

Tszyu will now go back to the drawing board after having suffered his second loss on the bounce. But it appears he could face off against long-standing rival Michael Zerafa who called him out on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

Zerafa may be the best opponent available to the Aussie superstar, with any potential meeting between the two being a mouthwatering prospect for many fans who have been hoping to see the two adversaries square off in the ring.

After the fight, Zerafa wrote: ‘Looks like it’s time to settle our unfinished business @TimTszyu’.

Earlier this year Zerafa, 32, had dismissed talk that he could retire from professional boxing, insisting his best days were ahead of him.

Following his defeat by Erislandy Lara in March, Zerafa hit back with a big victory against Tommy Browne in August.

Tszyu (left) suffered a devastating defeat by Bakhram Murtazaliev (right) in Florida 

But Tszyu has been called out by his old rival Michael Zerafa on X, with the boxer also branding Tszyu as ‘average’

It seems though the middleweight could drop down a class in order to finally take on Tszyu.

The pair had been scheduled to square off in the ring back in 2021, but that did not transpire, with Zerafa backing out at the last minute.

Since then the pair have held a frosty relationship, with Zerafa giving his verdict on Tszyu’s fight, seemingly claiming that the 29-year-old didn’t respect his opponents enough.

‘I’ve been saying this for years, Tim has a bad habit of overlooking his opponents,’ Zerafa told The Sydney Morning Herald.

‘He goes on about Crawford and [Jermell] Charlo and Canelo [Alvarez] and [Errol] Spence, saying this is a hand-picked opponent and that he will smash him. Murtazaliev has just had his first title defence and has made a mockery of Tim.

‘He’s sitting there saying he will knock out Crawford and Canelo. I don’t think he has any mirrors in his house. If he saw himself in the mirror, he would maybe wake up.

Tszyu said he was in disbelief following the fight telling reporters ‘What the f*** just happened?’

‘He’s definitely not at that level. I’ve been saying it for years. I’ve said it a thousand times, but because of his last name and that winning streak, everyone is against me. All of a sudden my phone hasn’t stopped and I’ve become the A-side.

‘I believe there is unfinished business for me. He’s human, you take away that last name and you just have an average guy standing in front of you.’