Tim Tszyu has endured a tough time.
The 154-pound competitor was about to challenge undisputed champion Jermell Charlo to the biggest match of his life on January 28, but Charlo withdrew after breaking his arm in practice.
And just weeks ago, a dog stuck a tooth in his right forearm, causing a wound that required surgery to repair and jeopardized the upcoming fight.
However, don’t worry. Tszyu was allowed to play against Carlos Ocampo on Saturday in Broadbeach, Australia (Showtime). And, most importantly for him, he believes that the battle of Charlo will take place in the fall.
“It’s not disappointing,” Tszyu told Boxing Junkie when asked about Charlo’s injury news. “I know the war is still going on, it is still ahead. I don’t let things like that happen to me.”
He let the dog bite him, at least at first.
Hall of Famer’s son Kostya Tszyu was having a barbecue at a friend’s house when the dog attacked. Right then his mind went straight to the fight with Ocampo because he didn’t know the extent of the damage.
However, the doctors cleaned and bandaged the wound. And they said he wouldn’t risk it by continuing to train and fight Ocampo.
“It was very close to the war,” said Tszyu. “My first thought was, ‘This is not good.’ As soon as the surgery was done, I was less worried. I had to have surgery because of the risk of infection. They cleaned it all up, put it all back together. There is a bit of fat hanging out but [the bite] far away, fortunately.
“… The first day [of training] it’s hard but i’m good to go. I punched with full intent immediately. Does not matter.”
Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) said momentum is no problem either even though he’s on the verge of the biggest win of his career and is expected to meet Charlo next.
This past March, he scored a ninth-round knockdown against former defending champion Tony Harrison, who replaced Charlo as Tszyu’s opponent after Charlo withdrew. Tszyu is still waiting for his big match but he proved in that match that he can take down one of the best in the division.
Ocampo (35-2, 23 KOs) wasn’t as successful as Harrison or Charlo – he lost to Errol Spence Jr. and Sebastian Fundora – but Tszyu knows the Mexican cannot be ignored, especially with the match against Charlo coming up.
“I’m pretty hungry,” said Tszyu. “I am not satisfied or happy [with what I’ve accomplished]. There’s still a lot of work to do. … I’m just chasing what I can be, what I can be. I have a big goal in my mind. Until that happens, I will not be content or satisfied.”
What is that goal?
“To defeat the man,” he said, “to defeat Charlo. I have to beat Charlo to become a man.
