Jermell Charlo should be a nervous man as Tim Tszyu sets sights on boxing greatness

Tim Tszyu can surge to greatness by beating Jermell Charlo later this year — and the American champion has played a role in the Australian star’s rapid rise to becoming a boxing terminator.

Tim Tszyu defeats Carlos Ocampo with a first round knockout in his first world title defence on the Gold Coast on Sunday. Picture: No Limit Boxing

It was 77 seconds of Tim Tszyu savagery.

And now undisputed American champion Jermell Charlo should be a nervous man.

Tszyu’s first-round mauling of Mexican Carlos Ocampo on Sunday was not just brutally horrifying – it was more ruthless than anything his famous father Kostya delivered in his decorated career.

On the eve of the bout with Ocampo, Kostya said his son had the potential to be better than him.

For years, such a thought seemed an impossibility.

But after seeing the vicious manner in which Tszyu bludgeoned an 11-year Mexican stalwart who had been stopped just once before in 37 fights, Tim could become the real kingpin of Australian boxing’s royal family.

This wasn’t a boxing bout. This was carnage on the Gold Coast. Kostya was known as a pugilistic killer and his son has not only inherited the flint-hard DNA of a cold Russian life in Serov, Tim Tszyu is perhaps even hungrier. More unforgiving. More clinical.

“I didn’t think it would happen that early,” Tszyu said of his Ocampo KO.

Tim Tszyu could become the real kingpin of Australian boxing’s royal family. Picture: No Limit Boxing

“I got a bit excited actually. I started going through haymakers.

“All I was thinking about was a mad highlights heel, a one-punch reel.

“I still got it with the left hook.”

The Soul Taker will go to Vegas in October and look to rip the heart out of Charlo.

Super welterweight top dog Charlo has been beaten just once in 37 fights. The American thrashing machine is the first undisputed champion at 154 pounds in the four-belt era, and he was slated to fight Tszyu in January before a broken hand delayed the unification blockbuster.

But Charlo cannot delay much longer. His problem is the extra nine months has bought Tszyu more time to become a boxing terminator.

“It’s scary what he could do to Charlo,” Australian legend Jeff Fenech said.

American boxing sensation Terence Crawford said on social media of Tszyu: “He’s dangerous.”

Tim Tszyu now has his sights set on Las Vegas where he will look to take down Jermell Charlo. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Since beating Jeff Horn in August 2020 to become the new rising star of Australian boxing, Tszyu has kept finding more and more levels.

In March, Tszyu reached a truly world-class level when he won the interim WBO world title with a nine-round hammering of American Tony Harrison, the only man who has beaten Charlo.

Sunday’s level at the Gold Coast Convention Centre was out of this world.

It was frightening.

For 30 seconds, he was watchful, not throwing a single punch. Ocampo attacked first, but when Tszyu decided to go into “terminator mode”, as he calls it, it was a Mexican feast.

The Sydneysider dropped Ocampo with a crunching right hand at the 60-second mark.

Ocampo managed to beat the count, but once the referee stepped out of the way, Tszyu zoomed in with demonic intent, unleashing a vicious left hook that sent the 27-year-old Mexican sprawling to the canvas.

Remarkable.

Tim Tszyu defeats Carlos Ocampo with a first round knockout in his first world title defence on the Gold Coast on Sunday. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Ocampo is no mug. Only the great Errol Spence Jnr had stopped Ocampo, taking three minutes to break him with a body shot in 2018.

But this 77-second obliteration of Ocampo underlines just how good Tszyu is, and why he can surge to greatness by beating Charlo later this year.

“There’s no doubt I’m coming to America, that’s the land I want to conquer,” Tszyu said.

“I’m not satisfied with this interim belt, I want all four and I want the name Charlo.”

All great boxers have a signature moment that acts as a signpost of their greatness.

For Kostya Tszyu, it was his magical clobbering of Zab Judah in 2001 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Now the son of Kostya has given Australian boxing another delightfully devastating memory.

‘Iron Man’ Charlo should sleep with less comfort.

The Soul Taker is coming to Sin City.

Originally published as Jermell Charlo should be a nervous man as Tim Tszyu sets sights on boxing greatness