Tim Tszyu insists he will be ready to fight Mexican Carlos Ocampo on the Gold Coast in just three weeks, despite receiving 26 stitches after being bitten by a mate’s bull terrier on Saturday night.
Tszyu sent Aussie boxing into meltdown on Tuesday after it was revealed he had suffered a laceration to his right arm after being bitten at a BBQ in Sydney at the weekend.
The 28-year-old is slated to defend his interim WBO super welterweight title against Mexico’s Ocampo on June 18 inside the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
While Tszyu and his team are adamant the fight will go ahead, and the boxer himself was already back in the gym on Wednesday, Fox Sports Australia understands the wound in his arm required 26 stitches.
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Despite concerns the fight may be cancelled, Tszyu took to Instagram on Wednesday to confirm that the title defence would definitely be going ahead.
Elsewhere, the boxer’s manager Glen Jennings and Gold Coast-based doctor Bill Anseline have also declared Tszyu a certain starter for what will be his final hit out before a unification blockbuster against undisputed American champ Jermell Charlo later this year.
“Quick little update, I’m good,” Tszyu said in his social media post. “Actually I’m real good.
“Nothing is wrong.
“I had a little bit of an incident on the weekend but I’m good to go.
“Thank you everyone for the messages, I truly appreciate it.
“But, man, we’re good to go June 18.
“The show goes on.
“Nothing changes.
“The road to undisputed continues. Never, ever did I say I was going to pull out or postpone.
“Ain’t gunna happen.
“Never was. Never will.
“I’m ready. June 18, let’s get it on.
“See you all there.”
The statement comes after Tszyu also took to social media on Tuesday, hours after the story broke, to post a picture of a Chihuahua with the light-hearted caption: “Don’t worry. Round 2 coming up!”
While Team Tszyu have given little away about the incident – or the severity of the wound – it is understood the fighter suffered a significant gash on his right arm, although it was not visible in his post on Wednesday, which appeared to have been shot at the gym.
Apart from being heavily stitched, Tszyu must also take antibiotics, with the risk of infection the biggest concern moving forward. There is also a chance of the wound reopening given he appears to already be back in training.
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Although Tszyu’s preparations will be extremely hampered, he says there will be no concerns come fight night.
While Tszyu has a guaranteed unification bout against 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, meanwhile, 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 the Mexican now loomed as the toughest fight of Tszyu’s career.
The fighter himself agreed, adding that Ocampo 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.
Yet Team Tszyu are now convinced the fight will go ahead, with manager Glen Jennings stating: “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.”
Tszyu’s promoter, No Limit Boxing chief George Rose added that he was “shocked” and “worried” after first hearing the news.
“It’s certainly not the ideal preparation anytime a fighter ends up in hospital a few weeks out from a world title fight,” Rose said.
“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.”