Tim Tszyu is set to defend his interim WBO super-welterweight world title against Carlos Ocampo live on Showtime tonight at 11:30 pm ET. The event will take place at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia.
Tszyu, with an impressive record of 22-0, including 16 knockouts, claimed the interim world championship title in March by defeating the former world champion Tony Harrison in the ninth round via TKO. This marks Tszyu’s first return to Queensland in nearly three years, following his victory over Jeff Horn, previously the face of Australian boxing, in a nationwide superfight back in August 2020.
Carlos Ocampo, a former world title challenger, boasts 34 professional wins and two losses, with 22 victories achieved by knockout. He is the top-ranked super-welterweight from the renowned boxing nation of Mexico, having only experienced defeat in title bouts against Errol Spence Junior, a pound-for-pound star, and Mexican Sebastian Fundora, world-ranked boxer.
TSZYU VS. OCAMPO FIGHT DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, June 17 (Sunday June, 18 in Australia)
- Time: 1 p.m. AEST (Sunday) / 11:30 p.m. ET / 4 a.m. BST
- The fight will be broadcast on Showtime in the U.S.
- The fight will take place at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 4 p.m. AEST (Sunday) / 2 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. BST
- The event is set to get underway at 1 p.m. AEST (Sunday) / 11 :30 p.m. ET / 4: a.m. BST with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 4 p.m. AEST (Sunday) / 2 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. BST. T
This fight marks the first time Tszyu will face an opponent from Mexico. His father, Kostya Tszyu, fought against five Mexican boxers throughout his distinguished career, including Julio Cesar Chavez, one of the greatest Mexican fighters of all time, and never lost.
The co-headliner for the event will feature Australia’s Sam Goodman (14-0, 7 KO) against the unbeaten American Ra’eese “The Beast” Aleem (20-0, 12KO) in an IBF super-bantamweight world title eliminator. The victor is anticipated to be announced as the mandatory challenger to unified super bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19KOs).
Also making a comeback to the ring is Liam Wilson, following his contentious world title loss to Emanuel Navarrete in Glendale, Arizona in February. His opponent is former world title contender Eduardo Ramirez (27-3-3), who most recently lost against Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in a WBC world title lightweight elimination in September 2022.
Tim Tszyu: “I was full training on Monday after the thing happened on Saturday,” said Tszyu to Australian press in reference to a dog bite on his right arm. “I’m not going to be limited at all…There’s a dog in me right now that’s about to come out.
“I’m a fighter. My job is to fight. I won’t sit on the couch and wait for [Jermell] Charlo’s hand to get better. I want to fight in the meantime,” added Tszyu previously to the Australian media about his announcement for his title defense against Ocampo. “The fans deserve the fights…The Charlo fight is in the making, but I’m not underestimating Ocampo. I’ve got a hard task ahead of me.
“Technically, this fight is going to be much harder than my previous fights. The Mexican style will require something new in me and I expect it to be tough. Despite being Australian and on the other side of the globe, I’m headlining a fight on SHOWTIME for the third time. Is anyone else doing that? Everyone knows I’m coming to take over.”
Carlos Ocampo said: “I took the fight against Tim Tszyu because he represents an important challenge in my career. He is the one who holds the title today, and on June 18 he will understand what it is to meet a Mexican. I will beat Tim Tsyzyu, make no mistake.”
“I wish him a speedy recovery because I hope it’s not an excuse on Sunday June 18. I won’t aim for your arm because I’m a gentleman. But remember, protect yourself at all times.”
“This has been the best preparation of my career, the sparring was better than that of many world champions and my work won’t be in vain even though I have to go to the other side of the world.”
“I truly believe I will beat Tim in the most unexpected way. Us Mexicans are different. We are distinguished fighters, we are real, we come to fight.”
“In Mexico, sparring is with 12 ounces, not like in the rest of the world, which is with 16. Here (in Mexico) boxers fight to win breakfast tomorrow and the rest of the world doesn’t understand that.”
“I’m going to fight to bring the title home. The prize for winning this fight will be me bringing the world title home to Ensenada, Baja California.”
Tim Tszyu: “I think I’ve dealt with pressure my whole life so for me this is nothing. Us athletes we do this for the fun of it, we do this for the love of it and we’re blessed to do this over and over again. Pressure? This is nothing.”
“I think it sort of shows the position and level I’m at. It’s got nothing to do with him (Ocampo), he’s a top fighter. Whoever they put in front of me, I think whatever. I’ll annihilate them. If it’s Charlo, if it’s King Kong, if it’s a shark I have to go against or a pitbull I have to go against, I’m coming back for round two with anyone. I’ve had these two words that are Spanish in my mind over and over again. It’s ‘No Más’. That’s the type of fight I intend to do,”
Carlos Ocampo: “It doesn’t matter. I’m not one of those fighters who got beaten by Tim’s father. I’m Carlos Ocampo and I’m going to show the difference between them and us. It’s going to be a real war but it’s not going to last very long and it’s going to be [a] win by knockout.”
Ra’eese Aleem: “I’m not looking for a way out. I’ve got this man for 12 full rounds of boxing and I’m extremely excited. This fight is extremely important. When it comes to the bantamweight division I’ve been extremely avoided, I’m a top fighter… I can’t wait for all the fans to tune in, it’s going to be electric. I have a lot of pent-up animosity, I’m ready to throw some punches.”
Sam Goodman: “I’m confident in the work I’ve put in,” added Goodman.
“I know the people I’ve come up against in my training and my fights. I’m ready for this moment… I’m extremely confident I’m going to get the victory and move on to bigger and better things.”
No Limit CEO, George Rose: “What Tim is doing is absolutely crazy as far as global boxing goes, the risks he is taking but that’s what he’s about. He’s [Ocampo] got a hell of a record. He’s a guy who can hit and he’s here to spoil the party. It’s an absolute risk he’s taking. As far as global boxing goes, nobody else in the world is doing what Tim would do taking on a guy like Carlos Ocampo.
”The last guy who considered doing stuff like this is Sebastian Fundora and that didn’t end well for him. He got knocked out taking that risk. Tim is taking an absolute risk in this against a big guy like Carlos and I’m not going to feel 100 per cent comfortable until he makes weight in the morning.”
TSZYU VS. OCAMPO FIGHT CARD
- Tim Tszyu 69.5kg vs. Carlos Ocampo 69.74(Tszyu’s interim WBO Super Welterweight World Title — 12 Rounds)Judges: Daniel Sandoval (USA), Masakazu Murase (JAP), Christopher Condon (AUS)Referee: Danrex Tapdasan Esq. (PHL)
WBO Supervisor: Jack Daniel LeighSam Goodman 55.24 vs. Ra’eese Aleem 55.18kg(IBF Super Bantamweight World Title Eliminator — 12 Rounds)
Judges: Daniel Sandoval (USA), Masakazu Murase (JAP), Adam Height (AUS)
Referee: Kats Nakamura (JAP)
IBF Supervisor: Ben KeiltyJustin Frost 63.2kg vs. Hassan Hamdan 63.4kg
(For Frost’s Australian Super-Lightweight title – 10 Rounds)Rocky Ogden 56.78 vs. Mark Schleibs 55.76
(Catchweight – 6 Rounds)Vegas Larfield 55.12kg vs. Jhunrille Castino 54.8kg
(Super-bantamweight – 6 Rounds)
Troy Pilcher 109.04kg vs. Hasely Hepi 130.5kg
(Vacant Queensland State Heavyweight title – 8 Rounds)
Liam Talivaa 104.3kg vs. Isaac Liki 117.8kg
Heavyweight – 4 Rounds