Australian boxing star Tim Tszyu could be sensationally withdrawn from his first world title defence on the Gold Coast next month after requiring emergency surgery on a dog bite at the weekend.

Set to defend his interim WBO super welterweight title in just three weeks time, Tszyu was rushed to hospital on Sunday and required emergency surgery to his right arm.

The 28-year-old is due to defend his world strap against tough Mexican Carlos Ocampo on June 18 and Tszyu’s manager is confident the fight will still happen.

Fox Sports Australia understands the injury was caused by a dog bite.

Tszyu was at a barbeque at the weekend when a friend’s dog apparently bit him on the back of his right forearm.

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Despite undergoing immediate surgery to repair the injury that evening, it is not yet known if this incident will force the postponement or cancellation of his first world title defence on the Gold Coast.

At best, it will seriously hamper his last weeks of camp but No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose said in a statement he was optimistic the fight would go ahead.

“Like everyone, I was shocked and worried when I first heard the news,” Rose said.

“It’s certainly not the ideal preparation anytime a fighter ends up in hospital a few weeks out from world title fight but the best news right now is that Tim is doing ok.”

“He has the best and most experienced team around him in world boxing. They have reassured me he’ll be more than ready on June 18 to take on Ocampo.

“If they’re confident, I’m confident.”

Tszyu’s manager Glen Jennings added: “The wound was superficial. The post surgical report is all good.

“There is no doubt that Tim will be ready and 100 per cent healthy and focussed to take on Carlos Ocampo on June 18.”

While Tszyu has a guaranteed unification bout against American superstar Jermell Charlo later this year, the Australian is choosing to again roll the dice and defend the gold strap won with a brutal KO victory against Tony Harrison.

Tszyu and Charlo were supposed to fight in January, before it was the undisputed champ who got injured – breaking his hand in training at Christmas.

Ocampo is a former world title challenger and the idea of Tszyu being anything less than 100 per cent for the fight will undoubtedly be a concern for his team.

Speaking recently, Australian Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech suggested Ocampo now loomed as the toughest fight of Tszyu’s career.

Tszyu agreed, adding that his latest opponent was a “tougher fight” than even Harrison, a former world champion.

Apart from being Mexico’s top ranked super welterweight, Ocampo’s only two defeats have come in title bouts against pound-for-pound star Errol Spence Jr and world-rated Sebastian Fundora.

Tszyu’s Hall of Fame father Kostya also fought five Mexicans throughout his own storied career, including arguably the greatest of them all — Julio Cesar Chavez.

He never tasted defeat, however.

“The Tszyu legacy is five-and-zero against the Mexicans,” Tim Tszyu said a Gold Coast press conference to announce the fight only a few weeks ago.

“And growing up, watching the great rivalries, I’ve always wanted to test myself.

“I’m honoured to fight a Mexican … and we’re looking to bring that tally up even higher.”

Fenech added: “If anyone fights like a Mexican it’s Tim Tszyu.

“He throws punches constantly, doesn’t take a backward step … it’s going to be a war.

“He throws more punches than anyone.

“And on the attack, like he is 95 per cent of the time, he just has to have his hands up. Go in there catching punches before he throws punches.

“All these guys around the world, they watch Tim Tszyu and think ‘I can hit him, I can beat him’.

“But nobody throws as many punches as Tim.

“Nobody hits you as many times or takes the energy out of your tank as quick as Tim does.”

Elsewhere, Tszyu predicated a highlight reel finish against Ocampo – “something devastating” – but suggested the end would likely come only after a real war.

“I think this is a tougher fight (than Harrison),” he said.

“A fight where I’m going to be in the trenches.

“The pitbull is going to come out.

“This fight is bringing me up against a style that’s like a brick wall – you punch it and it won’t fall.

“It’s going to be a tough task … (but) I don’t take one step back.

“So we’ll see.

“It’s going to be a stand off.

“We’ll see who takes the first back step … it isn’t going to be me.”