Dog bite drama; Tszyu unfazed

Fight is on despite surgery

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

Tszyu said he was 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 dog attack ended with him rushed to hospital with an arm wound last Saturday night.

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

“I’m all good, the fight is going ahead,” Tszyu (pictured) 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 saw the lighter side of the situation after news broke of the injury, 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. It’s understood the Staffie latched onto Tszyu’s right arm leaving the fighter with a large gash on his forearm.

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 pit bull 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 standoff 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’ll put Ocampo away in devastating fashion.”