‘Best active fighter on the planet’: World champion lauds Tszyu ahead of Ocampo bout
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Two-time welterweight world champion Shawn Porter has described Tim Tszyu as the best active boxer on the planet and predicts his busy fight schedule could tilt a looming clash with Jermell Charlo in the Australian’s favour.
Tszyu will proceed with his bout against Mexican Carlos Ocampo on the Gold Coast on Sunday despite a disrupted preparation. The 28-year-old suffered a dog bite that required surgery and 26 stitches and then had thieves attempt to break into his house and luxury Mercedes car.
A loss would scupper the clash he has waited all his life for, against cocky undisputed champion Charlo for all four major belts. While Charlo hasn’t fought since winning his rematch with Brian Castano more than a year ago, Tszyu remains busy. Tszyu caught the world’s attention with a devastating knockout win against Tony Harrison in March and will take on Ocampo despite having a clash mandated with Charlo before September 30.
Porter, in Australia to commentate on the Tszyu-Ocampo bout, lauded the “Soul Taker” for taking risks that fast-track his development.
“I think Tim is the best functional fighter right now in the world,” Porter said. “He’s busy. Out of sight, out of mind. A lot of fighters don’t realise that ‘I take six months out of the ring and no one remembers what I did. Nobody remembers who I am.’
“He’s being consistent, he’s keeping the work right there in front of everybody. You can’t deny Tim, especially if he puts it down against Carlos Ocampo. Two fresh performances this year and looking for another one, that’s great.”
Tim Tszyu is ready to make another statement on the Gold Coast on Sunday against Carlos Ocampo.Credit: No Limit Boxing
While Tszyu is the overwhelming favourite to defeat Ocampo, he will likely face Charlo as an outsider. However, Porter believes Tszyu is now on level-pegging with the cocky American and could surpass him with a resounding victory on Sunday.
“A year ago I would have said Charlo wins that fight, easy,” Porter said. “After seeing that fight against Tony … Now? With Tim busy, keeping that workrate up and riding the waves of energy of being consistently successful, this fight is going to be harder for Charlo.
“If [Tszyu] does something amazing, something no one has been able to do and knock out Ocampo – Errol [Spence Junior] 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.
“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.
Tim Tszyu being interviewed by Shawn Porter and Jeff Fenech on the Gold Coast on Friday.Credit: No Limit Boxing
“It may even be 50-50 now. I see Tim really maturing. When you get in the ring with someone and they say, ‘Who have you fought?’, each fight is a step up the ladder.
“I believe that Tim is taking all the steps and Charlo is staying here. It’s only a matter of time before he goes here [on the same level]. And on fight night, he could do that [go another level]. That remains to be seen, but right now I think it’s a 50-50 fight.”
Ocampo’s only two losses were in world title fights, but Tszyu is supremely confident.
“He’s a top fighter but whoever they put in front of me, I feel like I’ll just annihilate them,” he said.
“Whether it’s Charlo, whether it’s King Kong – if it’s a shark I have to go at or a Pitbull I go against, I’m coming back for round two against anyone.”
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