On Sunday, June 18, Tim Tszyu is set to defend his interim WBO super-welterweight world title against Carlos Ocampo, the Mexican contender. 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.
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.”
The Tszyu-Ocampo showdown will be broadcast live in Australia on Foxtel’s Main Event and Kayo Sports, and in the USA on Showtime.