What time does Tim Tszyu vs Carlos Ocampo fight start?

Tim Tszyu steps in the ring again this weekend but his own team says he’s “absolutely crazy” for taking a hugely risky fight.

Matthew Sullivan

3 min read

June 18, 2023 - 2:19PM

Tim Tszyu is risking everything when he steps in the ring on Sunday for a fight he didn’t need to take against Carlos Ocampo.

Tszyu is waiting to fight undisputed superwelterweight champion Jermell Charlo later this year once the American recovers from a hand injury.

The Aussie didn’t need to fight Tony Harrison earlier this year but he passed that test with flying colours and is determined to stay active while Charlo bides his time.

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On Sunday afternoon, Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) will take on Ocampo (35-2, 23 KOs) at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in his first defence of the interim WBO super welterweight title.

Ocampo is an experienced fighter but Tszyu will look to follow in his father Kostya’s footsteps by defeating the Mexican.

Kostya famously beat all five Mexicans he came up against his career and it would be a surprise if Tim loses on Sunday.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not one of those fighters who got beaten by Tim’s father,” Ocampo said at Friday’s press conference.

Tim Tszyu (right) will fight Carlos Ocampo on Sunday. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“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.”

No Limit promoter George Rose said Tszyu was taking a huge risk by even fighting Ocampo.

“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,” Rose said.

“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.”

But Rose is confident Tszyu will stay undefeated and beat Ocampo.

“Anything that Tim says he wants to do and says he can do, I believe him 100 per cent,” Rose said.

“I think he’s got the best team around. He’s the hardest working athlete in Australia … I’ve got every faith in Tim to get the job done.”

Tszyu vs Ocampo on the Gold Coast. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Tszyu said he isn’t feeling the pressure to win and stay on track for the world title bout with Charlo.

“I think I’ve dealt with pressure my whole life so for me this is nothing,” Tszyu said.

“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.”

“It’s got nothing to do with him, 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.”

Also on the card is Australian Sam Goodman (14-0, 7 KOs), who will face his toughest test yet as he faces Ra’eese Aleem (20-0, 12 KOs) in an IBF super-bantamweight world title eliminator.