Home Boxing News Tim Tszyu expecting tough challenge against Carlos Ocampo this weekend

Tim Tszyu expecting tough challenge against Carlos Ocampo this weekend

Tim Tszyu. Photo credit: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Junior middleweight contender Tim Tszyu 22-0 (16) is expecting a very different challenge from hard-nosed Mexican Carlos Ocampo 35-2 (23) than what he had in his last bout against slick boxing American Tony Harrison 29-4-1 (21).

The 28-year-old Tszyu of Sydney, Australia will defend his WBO interim title against Ocampo, 27, at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland on Sunday afternoon local time.

In his previous outing, Tszyu beat down former WBC champion Harrison over nine rounds in March. Harrison is the only boxer to defeat reigning undisputed 154-pound world champion Jermell Charlo 35-1-1 (19).

Tszyu says he will have to employ a different game plan to combat Ocampo effectively.

“He’s just a tough, tough, tough fight,” Tszyu told the Daily Mail. “Stylistically it’s a different type of fight to Harrison. It’s going to be a fight where you get tired, you’re throwing a lot of punches, you’re throwing a lot of heavy shots rather than concentrating on placement.

“With Tony Harrison it was more strategic, it wasn’t as brutal.

“Ocampo is a warrior, first and foremost. It’s in his blood. He won’t give up, he’ll die on his shield.”

Ocampo has lost just two bouts – a 12 round decision to 6-foot-6 southpaw contender Sebastian Fundora and a first-round knockout loss to reigning WBC, WBA and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr in a world title shot early on in his career.

“Thing is, he fought Errol when he was only 21 years old, you can’t really judge someone at that time,” he said.

“There’s been six, seven years since then – but of course, the body shots are good.”

Tszyu was scheduled to face Charlo in late January before the champion injured his hand in sparring and was forced to withdraw from the bout. When the American is fully healed, his first title defence must be against Tszyu.

It seems that the thought of facing Tszyu has been getting under the 33-year-old’s skin.

“When they release me, I’m knocking that bitch out from Australia, and I ain’t going to say nothing else,” Charlo said.

“Yeah, this motherfucker running his mouth and talk. You got to get confirmation from all the motherfuckers that you fought some because I’ve done my due diligence in the world of boxing.

“At 154, I’m the king. I’ve been a king; I’m the king. You got to go try to. You know what Tony Harrison told you. You got this staircase over here.”

Tszyu remains unfazed by Charlo’s threats, confident he can do a number on him.

“I think he’s made plenty of money in his career, he’s comfortable with where he’s at right now, and I think all that plays a part,” Tszyu said.

“Right now, I’m chasing him, I want that fight, where he’s more comfortable.”

Tszyu has trained in the US in the past and says it is a very different environment to what he is used to in Australia.

“The fighters there treat you with no respect, 100 per cent,” he explained.

“It’s about coming into the gym and being a bit uncomfortable, which is the biggest lesson I’ve learnt. Different faces, different people, different gym environment – all that plays a part in growth.”

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