Joel Camilleri plans to KO Tim Tszyu then steal his path to stardom

As Tim Tszyu laid out his route to the world title, his next opponent, Joel Camilleri, says the son of a gun had just failed the only real test of his young career.

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Laying out his masterplan to wipe out his Australian rivals, Tim Tszyu said he plans to crush Joel Camilleri, Dwight Ritchie and Michael Zerafa before a mega showdown against Jeff Horn in Parramatta next year.

Problem was, as Tszyu rattled off those names, Camilleri was sitting next to him with an unimpressed demeanour.

“He’s trying to look past me, I believe I’m the hardest fight out of all of them,” Camilleri said.

Tszyu (12-0, 10KO) will headline his first Main Event pay-per-view card against Camilleri in a 10-round bout for the Australian super welterweight title on May 15 at The Star casino.

Australian boxing’s rising star, Tszyu is on a trajectory towards some major fights but his opponent wants to steal those dreams for himself.

Tim Tszyu and Joel Camilleri square off before their bout. Picture: Justin Lloyd

“He’s planning his route to the world title stage but he’s not going past me, so when I stop him I hope to get that same route,” said Camilleri (17-5-1, 8KO).

“I’m going to turn Australian boxing upside down.

“If you look at who I’ve been in the ring with, and who he’s been in the ring with, there’s not one guy there that would even test me.

“I’ve been in with Dwight Ritchie who is No. 1 right now, I train and spar with Michael Zerafa, he’s there at the top of the division as well. So when it comes to fight night, you’re going to see who is the more experienced fighter.

“He got dropped by Wade Ryan (Tszyu was floored by an overhand right in the first round, then recovered to win a 10-round decision). He’s been tested and didn’t really pass the test.

Tim Tszyu is undefeated. Picture: Brett Costello

“I hit harder than Wade Ryan, I’m sharper and a better boxer than Wade Ryan, and I believe I’m going to catch him. Once I catch him he’s going to find out my power, and I’ll stop him by KO or TKO by the eighth round for sure.”

Camilleri, a 28-year-old from the tough streets of Melbourne, won the Australian strap after a fifth-round stoppage of previously undefeated Billy Limov in February.

Tszyu is so confident of victory, his camp is already in talks with the NSW Government to stage a showdown against Horn at Parramatta’s new Bankwest Stadium in 2020.

“I want to pack out Parramatta Stadium next year against Jeff Horn, that’s the fight Australia wants to see and we can do that,” Tszyu said.

“My management is working on that, it would be a dream for me.

Joel Camilleri promised to shock Aussie boxings.

“First I have to get past Camilleri and Dwight Ritchie and Zerafa and I believe I will.

“I can’t see this next fight going past six rounds.

“I just came back from the United States and had a training camp there, I had some sparring against a few up and comers and see exactly where I am at, and I was able to go to the next level.

“I want to be the Australian champion and I plan to have that belt around my waist come May 15.”

The Tszyu-Camilleri undercard will feature former NRL star Justin Hodges fighting his second professional heavyweight bout against an unnamed opponent, an intriguing super welterweight clash between Jack Brubaker (15-2-1, 7KO) and Cameron Hammond (18-1, 9KO), while undefeated cruiserweight prospect Jai Opetaia (16-0, 13KO) will also be in action.

Originally published as Joel Camilleri plans to KO Tim Tszyu then steal his path to stardom