‘He’s dangerous’: Tszyu’s demolition of Ocampo has the world talking
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A few moments after Tim Tszyu only took a few moments to demolish Carlos Ocampo, boxing superstar Terence Crawford, a potential future opponent for the undefeated Australian, took to Twitter.
“He’s dangerous,” Crawford tweeted.
Indeed. Tszyu required only one minute and 17 seconds to account for the credentialed Mexican, whose only two losses came in world title fights. It was as if Tszyu had parked his car in a restricted zone and didn’t want to get a ticket.
“You don’t get paid overtime in this sport,” Tszyu said.
Having had to wait for so long for his shot at Jermell Charlo, Tszyu is suddenly a man in a hurry. The fight against the undisputed champion was scheduled to take place in January, only for Charlo’s injured hand to prompt a postponement, most likely until October.
During Charlo’s sabbatical, Tszyu destroyed Tony Harrison, the only man to have defeated the superstar twin.
Tim Tszyu in beast mode.Credit: No Limit
And then, in front of a raucous crowd at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Tszyu made another statement to the world against the hapless Mexican. Only moments after the “contest” started, it was over.
The first knockdown, courtesy of a huge overhand right, came after just 59 seconds. Ocampo got up and would soon wish he didn’t. Shortly afterwards, he copped a crushing left hook and there was no rising from the canvas this time.
“Just landed, it just landed,” Tszyu said.
“I knew he was gonna be easier to hit. I knew he was a warrior and that he can take the shots, but I didn’t think it was gonna happen that early, in all honesty.
“His legs were all buckled, so I got a bit excited. Actually, I started throwing haymakers because all I was thinking was I want a mad highlight reel, just like a one-punch stoppage.
“I still got it.”
Tszyu had ready-made excuses if this went awry. A dog bite, which required surgery and 26 stitches, was part of a disrupted preparation that also included an attempted robbery of his house and car.
It’s a fight he didn’t need to take, but he took it nonetheless.
And it’s all over.Credit: Getty
“If you don’t take any risk, you’re not gonna achieve anything,” Tszyu said.
“You might as well go, I don’t know, do something else with your life.”
Crawford will fight Errol Spence Jnr in a megafight next month. There is every chance, should Tszyu beat Charlo, that he will have a crack at the winner. Told about Crawford’s tweet, the “Soul Taker” said: “That’s respect, man.
“He’s a great fighter and I’m backing him to beat Errol Spence.”
It was a quick day at the office for Tim Tszyu.Credit: No Limit Boxing
The immediate focus now shifts to Charlo.
“Now, I’m definitely that top dog just under him,” Tszyu said.
“He’s the man, I’ll give him that. He’s the man and I’m just under.”
Tszyu feels he could have accounted for Charlo had the fight gone ahead in January as originally planned, but feels he has grown over the past two fights.
“I just keep rocking up, keep performing,” he said. “That’s all I can do.”
It was good day for the local fight scene. Tszyu’s compatriot, undefeated Australian Sam Goodman, earned a split-decision victory in his IBF super-bantamweight world title eliminator against American Ra’eese Aleem.
One judge favoured Aleen 116-112, while the others gave it to Goodman 117-111 and 116-112.
“I thought it was crazy, I thought I won eight rounds to four,” Goodman said when asked about the contentious scorecards.
Sam Goodman will now fight for a world title.Credit: No Limit
Goodman is now the mandatory challenger to unified junior featherweight titlist Marlon Tapales.
“You know, I’m coming for him, guns blazing,” Goodman said.
“There were a lot of people that doubted me and it fuelled me.
“I know how good I am and I showed glimpses of it today.
“I know I’m at that level, I’m ready to beat world champions and I’m gonna do it.”
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