“I think that was a statement made,” Tim Tszyu said after his stunning first-round knockout win over Mexican star Carlos Ocampo.
It certainly was – and it made the boxing world sit up and take notice.
Terence Crawford, the 39-0 multiple world title winner across three weight divisions and viewed by many as the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer, put it simply on Twitter: “He’s dangerous.”
Tszyu, told about that tweet in a live TV interview with Main Event, responded: “I respect Crawford a lot. He’s one of my favourite fighters actually. That’s pretty cool to see that he’s watching my fight.”
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Tszyu v Ocampo Full Fight Highlights | 03:54
Tony Harrison, who Tszyu beat just three months ago to win his first world title belt, (albeit an interim one), also took to Twitter: “That was impressive”.
Tszyu was all too happy to have got this fight over and done with in short order, compared to the ninth-round stoppage of Harrison.
“A bit easier than Tony Harrison,” he said. “Nice and quick.”
It comes after former world champion Shawn Porter declared Tim Tszyu must be the favourite for his unification fight with Jermell Charlo.
He said: “This is a big problem for Charlo. Look at all this momentum on the side of Tim Tszyu.
“Tim Tszyu has so much to talk about when they go to a press conference, or they go to this and that – Charlo has to keep his mouth shut, because Charlo hasn’t been busy. What can he talk crap about? Nothing.
“Guess what – everything’s on Tim’s side to win this fight. I even guarantee that even from a standpoint of bookies, if bookies don’t put Tim as the favourite, they’re just favouring Charlo. Tim Tszyu is now the favourite to win and become undisputed.”
That long-awaited bout, delayed after a Charlo injury late last year, is now all-but-inevitable. Tszyu’s message for fans was simple: “Everyone book your tickets. October we’re going to Vegas.”
As for what’s next for Tszyu, he says he’ll be back in the gym as soon as tomorrow: “100 per cent. I didn’t even do nothing today. I’ve had fight week off a little bit. I’ll be back in the gym 100 per cent.”
Former two-time welterweight champ Porter couldn’t believe that, replying: “He’s not going to be in the gym tomorrow. I’ve seen your cars (Tszyu was loaned a Ferrari for fight week).”
Tszyu hit back: “100 per cent I will! I’ll take a photo and I’ll put it up.”