Carlos Ocampo has arrived Down Under promising to “embarrass” Tim Tszyu – and end his family’s domination over Mexican fighters — after having already bashed the Australian’s clone in training.
Only a day after Tszyu promised to finish Ocampo within five rounds in their hyped WBO title fight this Sunday, the challenger has hit back from within his Gold Coast camp.
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Speaking with Fox Sports Australia via an interpreter, Mexico’s No.1 ranked super welterweight said he has identified a series of “mistakes” in the fighting style of Tszyu – who is undefeated in 22 appearances.
The 27-year-old is also promising to not simply upset the Aussie favourite, but put the same vicious beating on him that famed countryman Julio Cesar Chavez inflicted on Hector Camacho 31 years ago.
Ocampo added that his team had also tracked down and employed a Tszyu clone in preparation for their shot at the interim WBO super welterweight title.
“We got a sparring partner who was identical in height and style,” the challenger warned. “And believe me, he didn’t do well at all.
“I’ve found several mistakes in his (Tszyu’s) fighting style.
“I don’t think even his corner has been able to detect them.
“But thanks to my coach Rafa Guzmán, we’ve worked on them and if Tim wants it, we’ll see a war.
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“But if he doesn’t, I’ll show him what it’s like to have 10,000 people watching him go down at home.”
Ocampo also predicted his performance this Sunday would be similar to the beating Mexican superstar Chavez put on Puerto Rico’s ‘Macho’ Camacho in their famed 1992 blockbuster.
Coming into that fight, Camacho had lost just one of 41 professional bouts, but was completely demolished by Chavez in what was eventually a lopsided decision win for the WBC light welterweight title.
Ironically, it would then be another eight years before Chavez – arguably the greatest Mexican fighter of them all – would then lose to Tszyu’s Hall of Fame father Kostya.
All up, Kostya Tszyu fought five Mexicans without loss.
“But I will not be a defeated Mexican like the one his father saw,” Ocampo insisted.
“I will be Julio César Chávez in his prime, defeating Macho Camacho.
“His team has made a mistake picking me.”
Ocampo then added he would be the latest Mexican fighter to earn a big win on foreign soil, saying of Team Tszyu: “They don’t know what a Mexican fighter is.
“(Luis) Nery won in Japan, Venado López in England, and I will win in Australia.”
Seeming to refer to Tszyu’s recent dog bite drama, the challenger continued: “I hope Tim’s nightmares weren’t as bad as the one awaiting him on fight day.
“I have extra space in my suitcase to take his title back to Mexico.”
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In a distinguished career spanning 36 fights, Ocampo has lost only twice – both in world title outings against Sebastian Fundora and Errol Spence Jnr.
Before dropping his bout to Fundora via unanimous decision last October, when challenging for the WBC interim title, the Mexican was on a tear of 12 straight wins.
While he and his team are now bunkered down on the Gold Coast, Ocampo gave promoters No Limit a nervous few days after initially refusing to fly.
Despite being booked to arrive in Queensland last Friday, Ocampo would not board a flight without his entire corner with him – meaning a delay of three days.
Speaking with journalists before a Tuesday training session on the Gold Coast, meanwhile, Tszyu suggested he was ready to make quick work of Ocampo.
While refusing to detail the weaknesses he saw in his rival — “it’s nothing for me to say now, it’s for me to say Sunday” – he did respond with “round five” when asked for a prediction.
Soon after however, Tszyu added that he was well aware of the challenges presented by Ocampo.
“I know he’s tough,” Tszyu said. “So it could go the distance.
“I know he’s a fighter that has never backed down so he could be hard to get rid of.
“But look, I believe in myself. What I go through.
“And I think the opportunity (for a knockout) will come.
“But I’m ready for a tough fight.”