Tim Tszyu says he has 25 stitches in arm from dog bite

World champion Tim Tszyu has revealed the bloody details behind his encounter with a dog last Saturday night, but says his June 18 fight will go ahead as planned.

Australian boxer Tim Tszyu has arrived on the Gold Coast to train ahead of his next world title fight which will take place on the Gold Coast. Mermaid Beach Tuesday 9th May 2023 Picture David Clark

World champion Tim Tszyu has revealed he has 25 stitches in his arm after detailing the dog attack which left him “holding two pieces of meat together” in his arm awaiting emergency surgery.

Tszyu suffered the shock medical emergency at a friend’s house last Saturday where he was rushed to hospital after getting bitten by his mate’s bull terrier.

Tszyu will not show his injuries or reveal the gruesome images from the incident until after his blockbuster June 18 world title bout on the Gold Coast.

But it’s fair to say, the bite was anything but superficial.

“He got me pretty good actually,” Tszyu told Main Event in a video uploaded to YouTube on Thursday night.

“When I first saw it I just wanted to be really cautious with everything because I know dogs a lot of infections can happen so I wanted to go straight to hospital and get it all sorted.

“It was just a bit of fat I could see, a bit of blood.

“I was hanging onto it. I was hanging two pieces of meat together.”

Tim Tszyu says he will fight with 25 stitches in his arm. Picture David Clark

While he harbours no ill feeling towards his friend or his dog for the untimely incident, Tszyu knows it makes his job much harder for his world title defence in just over two weeks.

Conceding his immediate thought was there was no way he could contest the bout just three weeks later, he is now adamant the fight must go on.

He expects the stitches to be removed next week and aside from a nice new scar he will resume sparring and be ready to fight.

“I was worried at first but when I woke up the day after I was alright,” he said.

“Monday I was back in the gym training. One day off and literally I was good.”

And once he defends his title, he will reveal the true extent of the injury he plans to carry into perhaps the most dangerous bout of his career.

“I will show everyone after the fight,” he said.

“Right now I’m in the mindset of fighting. This is just a little distraction

“It is what it is is what I keep saying.”

‘Nothing to worry about’: Tszyu says world-title bout in no danger

Peter Badel and Jamie Pandaram

Tim Tszyu has declared his world-title blockbuster on the Gold Coast is going ahead despite requiring emergency surgery after being attacked by a bull terrier.

Speaking exclusively to News Corp, Tszyu insists he is not in danger of withdrawing from his maiden world-title defence against Mexican Carlos Ocampo at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on June 18.

There were fears Tszyu (22-0, 16KO) could be forced to pull out of the Ocampo (35-2, 23KO) bout after a freak dog attack saw him rushed to hospital with an arm wound last Saturday night.

The 28-year-old was tight-lipped about the incident, but is adamant a course of antibiotics and a few days off training will not derail what shapes as his final fight before a planned unification blockbuster against Jermell Charlo.

Tim Tszyu says his world title bout on June 18 is definitely still on. Picture David Clark

“I’m all good, the fight is going ahead,” Tszyu said.

“I don’t want to say too much about what happened because there’s no issues.

“I feel fine.

“There’s nothing to worry about, I’ll be OK to fight.”

Tszyu was able to see the lighter side of the situation after news broke of the injury on Tuesday, posting a photo on Instagram of a Chihuahua with the caption: “Don’t worry. Round 2 coming up!”

It came after the interim world champion was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier at a friend’s house party in Sydney last Saturday night, and was rushed to hospital where doctors performed emergency surgery.

It’s understood the Staffie latched onto Tszyu’s right arm, and after some time let go, revealing a large gash on the fighter’s forearm.

Tszyu had emergency surgery after a dog bite on Saturday night. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

Tszyu could resume training as early as this week and undeterred by his bull-terrier attack, the unbeaten Sydneysider is bracing for another dog-eat-dog Mexican “war” with Ocampo.

“It will be a dogfight,” Tszyu said of his upcoming opponent.

“I will be in the trenches like a dog … the pitbull is going to come out.

“Ocampo is tough and it will be like punching a brick wall. My hands have to be ready for a beating.

“But you know how I am. Every fight I’ve had, I’ve never taken one step back.

“Every fight is a risk. This will be a tougher fight than when I beat (Tony) Harrison (to win the interim world title in March).

“It will be a Mexican stand-off and we’ll see who takes the first step back.

“It won’t be me.

“A clear message will be sent out on fight night. I will put Ocampo away in devastating fashion.”

While Tszyu’s surgery went well, he must take antibiotics to prevent any infection from the bite, and usually patients are advised to let the injury heal for two weeks.

Tszyu does not have that kind of time to prepare for Ocampo, a former world title challenger who has fought Errol Spence Jr and Sebastian Fundora, and is a major threat to his title belt and shot at undisputed king Charlo later this year.

Although Tszyu’s preparations will be extremely hampered, he says there will be non concerns come fight night. Picture David Clark

Tszyu would be having his toughest sparring sessions this week and next in preparation for Ocampo, but that preparation will now be hampered.

Tszyu’s promoter, No Limit Boxing chief George Rose, hopes the dog attack does not open the door for a Mexican boilover.

“Like everyone, I was shocked and worried when I first heard the news,” he said.

“It’s certainly not the ideal preparation anytime a fighter ends up in hospital a few weeks out from a world title fight but the best news right now is that Tim is doing OK.

“He has the best and most experienced team around him in world boxing.

“They have reassured me he’ll be more than ready on June 18 to take on Ocampo.

“If they’re confident, I’m confident.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu says he has 25 stitches in arm from dog bite