Tim Tszyu has sent an ominous “statement” towards the United States and American boxing star Jermell Charlo after a brutal KO win over Mexico’s Carlos Ocampo.
The Australian showed that he’d recovered fine from a dog bite on his arm, just over one minute to send the Mexican to the canvas in the Gold Coast.
It was another brutal win for Tszyu, with Ocampo failing to land a single blow on the Aussie before being knocked out.
AS IT HAPPENED: Tim Tszyu’s brutal KO win over Carlos Ocampo
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Following his win, Tszyu took aim at Charlo.
“I think that was a statement made,” he said.
“Errol (Spence) did it in three minutes and I got him out there a little earlier, so I beat you Errol, I beat you to it.
“There’s no battle with America, that’s the land I want to conquer, the land I’m going to next. The big one’s coming up so that’s where I’m heading. I’ve got this interim belt, but I want all four. It’s not just the belts, I want the name Charlo on my resume.
“I did it quicker than your boy, man. So come on, get your hand healed and let’s dance in October. No disrespect, let’s just dance. Me and you, the best dancing partners we’ll be.”
Tszyu’s brutal victory made the United States stand up and take notice, with the knockout of Ocampo catching the attention of American star Terence Crawford, who Tszyu described as one of his favourite boxers.
“I respect Crawford a lot, he’s one of my favourite fighters actually. That’s pretty cool to see that he’s watched my fight,” the Aussie said.
American boxing great Shawn Porter was also impressed by what he saw on display from the Aussie.
“The statement is no longer to the boxing world, it’s to Charlo himself, ‘I’m ready for you, if you didn’t think so, now you know’,” he said.
“This is a big problem for Charlo. Charlo is in for it. Why? 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, Charlo has to keep his mouth shut because Charlo hasn’t been busy. Charlo can’t talk. What can he talk crap about? Nothing.
“Everything is on Tim’s side to win this fight. Even from the standpoint of bookies, if the bookies don’t put Tim as the favourite, they’re just favouring Charlo. Tim Tszyu is the favourite to win.
“The question is going to be, ‘Can he do it in America?’, I’m going to go ahead and say, ‘Yes’. When you fight at home you face a lot, sometimes it’s easier going abroad and fighting there.
“Let’s be honest, he has to go over there and win. I also think he has to win in spectacular form. It can’t be a split-decision win over Charlo, he has to do what he’s been doing over here. Now he has to take it to America and do it over there.”
Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech had no doubts that Tszyu’s game could translate when he travels abroad to America.
”I think Charlo has, not tried to avoid Tim, but he’s trying to fight bigger and better names. You can’t get a bigger or better name than Tim Tszyu now,” he said.
“He’s just made a huge statement. I just honestly believe he’s getting better and better.
“Don’t be surprised if he passes Jeff Fenech, Kostya Tszyu and everybody else, this kid can do it all. This kid is amazing.”
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