Tim Tszyu sent a stark warning to Jermell Charlo.
The 154-pound contender annihilated Carlos Ocampo only 1 minute, 17 seconds into their scheduled 12-round fight Saturday (Sunday in Australia) in Broadbeach to set up a fight with the undisputed champion in the fall.
Tszyu will still be an underdog against Charlo but absolutely no one is going to write him off after he stopped Ocampo more quickly than welterweight champ Errol Spence Jr. did in 2018.
“I did it quicker than your boy,” Tszyu said when asked whether he had a message for Charlo, who is recovering from a broken hand. “So get your hand healing and let’s dance. Let’s dance in October.”
STATEMENT. MADE. @Tim_Tszyu dominates Carlos Ocampo with a thunderous first-round knockout 😱#TszyuOcampo pic.twitter.com/DbtMpDT63s
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) June 18, 2023
Tszyu was supposed to have challenged Charlo in January but the champion pulled out because of the injury. The son of Hall of famer Kostya Tszyu instead stopped former beltholder Tony Harrison in nine rounds this past March, which was arguably his most impressive victory.
That win couldn’t compete with the beat down he delivered in front of his home country fans in terms of drama, however.
The fight was in jeopardy a few weeks ago, when a dog bit Tszyu’s right forearm at the home of a friend. Not only was he able to go through with the fight after surgery, he suggested he gained superpowers as a result of the incident.
“You know what it did to me? It got me possessed. I feel like a pit bull now,” he said.
He certainly fought like one.
The beginning of the end for the capable Ocampo (35-3, 23 KOs) occurred about 30 seconds into the fight, when his knees were buckled by a straight right to the jaw.
Tszyu, sensing he could finish off the Mexican then and there, followed with a barrage of hard shots to the head of his wounded prey before finally putting Ocampo down with another right about 30 seconds after the first punch.
Ocampo was hurt but able to continue, in the opinion of referee Danrex Tapdasan. However, moments later, Tszyu finished the job with a brutal left hook that sent Ocampo into the ropes and down.
This time, Tapdasan didn’t bother to count. He waved off the fight, setting off a wild celebration both in the ring and in the stands at Gold Coast Convention Centre.
“I think that a statement was made,” Tszyu said. “I think Errol did it … near the 3-minute mark. I think I got him out of there a bit earlier. I beat you, Errol. I beat you to it.”
Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) has now delivered three impressive performances in a row, a clear decision over respected Terrell Gausha early last year, the Harrison victory and now a Knockout of the Year candidate.
If there were any doubters before that run, there aren’t anymore. He has now made his own name in boxing, separating himself from his famous father.
“I got a question for everyone here: What’s my m—–f—— name? Surely they all know now,” he said.
He was asked whether he receives the respect he deserves in the United States, Charlo’s homeland and the country that will host the expected showdown with the most accomplished fighter in the division.
“No no, there’s no problem with America,” he said. “That’s the land I want to conquer, the land I’m going to next. The big one’s coming up. That’s where I’m headed. …
“I have the [WBO] interim belt now but I’m not satisfied. I want all four. And not just the belts. I just want the name Charlo on my resume.”