Tim Tszyu Reportedly Bitten On Arm By Dog- Ocampo Fight In Question
Tuesday in Australia came news that WBO interim junior middleweight champ Tim Tszyu had suffered a bizarre injury at a gathering and his scheduled bout next month with veteran Carlos Ocampo is in question.
Fox Sports Australia reported that Tszyu had been bitten by a friend’s dog on his right forearm, while at a barbeque over the weekend. However, after surgery, it’s believed that he’ll still be able to headline on Sunday afternoon June 18th (Saturday night in the U.S.) in Australia’s Gold Coast.
In a statement to the broadcast outlet, No Limit Boxing CEO and Tszyu’s promoter, George Rose, said he’s optimistic the Tszyu-Ocampo main event should be able to proceed.
“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.”
Our insider Dan Rafael has confirmed it is a dog bite and there’s concern for complications from it that could cause possible postponement of the bout,
Tszyu, 22-0, 16 KOs, is slated to be back in the ring for a second fight in just over 90 days, since dominating and eventually, stopping American, former world champ Tony Harrison by TKO in March. That night in Newcastle, Australia, Tszyu had the home fans roaring as he pounded Harrison into submission with numerous big uppercuts and combinations in the 9th round to force the TKO and get arguably the most significant win of his career.
Tszyu, the son of hall of famer Kostya Tszyu, had elected to take the Harrison fight after undisputed 154 lb. champ, Jermell Charlo, broke his left hand in two places while training for a January defense against Tszyu. Charlo appeared on the Showtime studio coverage of Tszyu-Harrison and proclaimed that he was healed from the hand injury. However, the rescheduling of the Tszyu bout didn’t materialize, and the Australian moved on to fight Ocampo.
Ocampo, 34-2, was beaten decisively on a 12 round decision by Sebastian Fundora last October and was also demolished in less than one round by world welterweight champ Errol Spence in 2018. He clearly will have his hands full with the popular, hard hitting Australian.
