WBO interim junior middleweight champion Tim ‘The Soul Taker’ Tszyu 23-0 (17) has continued his rampage through the 154-pound division as he closes in on a well overdue shot at undisputed champion Jermell ‘Iron Man’ Charlo 35-1-1 (19).
The 28-year-old Tszyu from Sydney, Australia rolled through the well-credentialled Carlos ‘Chema’ Ocampo 35-3 (23) in just 77 seconds at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia on Sunday afternoon local time.
Mexican Ocampo, 27, had lost just twice previously, a 12-round decision loss to contender Sebastian Fundora last October and a first-round body shot knockout to Errol Spence Jr at welterweight five years ago.
Tszyu came out all guns blazing at the opening bell, opting to trade with Ocampo rather than size him up as he would usually do. He wobble the visitor with a salvo of punches before putting him down with a deadly accurate right hand to the temple.
Ocampo barely beat the count but was allowed to continue. Tszyu, one of the best finishers in the sport, swarmed all over him, decking him again, this time with a left hook.
Referee Danrex Tapdasan waved off the contest at the 1:17 mark of the opening round.
According to CompuBox, it took Tszyu just 11 landed punches to do the job – 10 power punches and one jab.
Three weeks out from the bout Tszyu suffered a freak injury when a friend’s Staffordshire terrier bit him on the right arm at a barbeque, causing two deep lacerations that required multiple stitches.
“You know what? I had a lot of different adversities going into this fight, so for me it was more about just getting through it, pushing through,” Tszyu said.
“I didn’t think it would be that early because this guy is a warrior, but again, it’s Tim Tszyu here.”
Prior to bout, retired former world champion turned Showtime commentator Shawn Porter said an impressive victory over Ocampo would make Charlo-Tszyu a 50-50 fight.
“If [Tszyu] does something amazing, something no one has been able to do and knock out Ocampo – Errol [Spence Jr] stopped him, but it was a body shot – if he beats down Ocampo and knocks him out, that’s something for me to write home about,” Porter said to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The more time Charlo stays out of the ring, not fighting, and especially with Tim getting into the ring and fighting, it’s just becoming a harder fight for Charlo. It may even be 50-50 now.”
Tszyu was scheduled to face Charlo on January 28 before the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine champion was forced to withdraw from the bout after suffering two fractures in his left hand shortly before Christmas.
Rather than sit on the sidelines waiting for his mandated world title shot, Tszyu went straight after the only man to defeat Charlo in Tony Harrison, knocking him out in nine rounds in March.
The WBO has issued a deadline of September 30 for Texan Charlo, 33, to defend against Tszyu. The fight will take place inn the US.
“There’s no doubt I’m going to America, that’s the land I want to conquer,” Tszyu said.
“The big one’s coming up. I’ve got this interim belt but I’m not satisfied. It’s not just the belts. I want the name ‘Charlo’ on my resume.”
