Tim Tszyu ‘now the favourite’ to beat Jermell Charlo, tipped to ‘blow America to bits’

Tim Tszyu made an emphatic statement with his first round KO win, and now he’s made America and his fierce rival sit up and take notice.

Tim Tszyu and Jermell Charlo.

Tim Tszyu is ready to take on America and his fiercest rival’s delaying tactics might just have played into his hands.

Tszyu cemented his status as the mandatory challenger to undisputed superwelterweight champion Jermell Charlo with a brutal knockout win over Carlos Ocampo on the Gold Coast on Sunday.

The Australian needed just over a minute to claim victory after knocking Ocampo down early and finishing the job with a barrage of blows that left the Mexican sprawling on the canvas.

Tszyu remains undefeated and takes his record to 23-0 (17 KOs).

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It was an emphatic statement and sent a huge message to Charlo that Tszyu is ready to fight him for his belts.

Tszyu didn’t need to fight Ocampo, given he’s the mandatory challenger to take on Charlo later this year.

But with Charlo recovering from a hand injury, Tszyu has remained active and showed he is the real deal.

This win over Ocampo was a walk in the park compared to Tszyu’s impressive ninth round knockout victory in March over Tony Harrison — the only man to have beaten Charlo.

Tim Tszyu destroyed Carlos Ocampo. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Charlo might have fancied his chances when Tszyu was knocked down by Terrell Gausha en route to victory in first fight on American soil last year.

But 18 months on, it will be a different Tim Tszyu that will take on Charlo in a blockbuster fight set to be held in Las Vegas in September.

Tszyu passed the test against Harrison with flying colours and the demolition of Ocampo proved he is in career-best form and growing with confidence.

Former world champion Shawn Porter said Tszyu now has serious momentum behind him and should be considered the favourite against Charlo.

“This is a big problem for Charlo. Look at all this momentum on the side of Tim Tszyu,” Porter said on the Main Event broadcast.

“Tim Tszyu has so much to talk about when they go to a press conference, or they go to this and that – Charlo has to keep his mouth shut, because Charlo hasn’t been busy. What can he talk crap about? Nothing.

Undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo. Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP.

Tim Tszyu is coming for Charlo. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“Guess what – everything’s on Tim’s side to win this fight. I even guarantee that even from a standpoint of bookies, if bookies don’t put Tim as the favourite, they’re just favouring Charlo. “Tim Tszyu is now the favourite to win and become undisputed.”

Boxing superstar Terence Crawford, who will fight Errol Spence Jr in a blockbuster welterweight bout later this year, tweeted his praise for Tszyu.

He’s dangerous

— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) June 18, 2023

He wasn’t the only American boxing star who sat up and took notice of Tszyu.

That was impressive

— Tony Harrison (@Iamboxing) June 18, 2023

Yep. I’m ready to see Charlo-Tszyu

— Kenneth Sims Jr (@KennethSimsJr) June 18, 2023

Tim Tszyu via KO1.

Damn.

— Brian Campbell (@BCampbell) June 18, 2023

Tszyu didn’t play with his food

— Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (@EricksonHammerL) June 18, 2023

Told of Crawford’s comment, Tszyu said: “Crawford is one of my favourite fighters. That’s pretty cool to see he watched my fight actually.”

A Tszyu vs Charlo fight has been a long time in the making and Tszyu is more confident than ever he can beat the champion and take America by storm.

“Look, I’m a professional at heart. I want the big fights,” he said.

“He’s the man of the division. I’m second in line right now. We should just get it on. 

“I know his hand has been busted, but now let’s just get it done. That was the message sent.”

Porter said it’s crucial for Tszyu to continue his strong form in the US, and he believes the Aussie can take down Charlo.

Porter said: “The question is going to be ‘can he do that in America?’ I’m going to say yes. He needs to go to America. He needs to continue this.”

Tim Tszyu is ready to take on America. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech said Tszyu is primed to “blow America to bits” and tipped him to surpass the heights of himself and Tszyu’s famous father Kostya — arguably Australia’s two greatest ever boxers.

“People always compare people with their dads and put a lot of pressure,” Fenech said.

“This kid’s just stepped into a zone of his own. He’s Kostya’s son, which is a great thing a great legacy. But this kid’s done everything on his own. 

“Don’t be surprised if he surpasses Jeff Fenech, Kostya Tszyu and everybody else. This kid can do it all. This kid’s amazing, getting better and better.”

Tszyu replied: “If I can do half of what you and dad did, I’ll be a happy man.”

Fenech added: “His promotional team have given him an amazing platform now to go over and blow American to bits. He’s going to be a huge name over there.

“I went there too late. I regret it in a lot of ways. His team needs to get him there and he will be massive.

“He has two or three fights like today, they are going to love him there. He’s reached amazing heights in his last two fights.”

Shawn Porter and Jeff Fenech are predicting big things for Tszyu. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Fenech said Charlo’s hand injury and seemingly never-ending delaying tactics are “a blessing” for Tszyu.

“The Tim Tszyu that’s going to meet him now is going to destroy this guy,” Fenech said.

“The Tim Tszyu a year ago? I was a little worried. But I don’t have a worry in the world now Tim.”

Tszyu is raring to fight in the US again and could well be embraced by American boxing fans.

“It’s always been my dream to go there,” he said.

“I want to be a throwback fighter (who) just gets in the ring with whoever, wherever, whenever. I think boxing fans such as American boxing fans respect that. That’s what I want to be respected for.”