Tim Tszyu insists he WILL be ready to fight in just 17 days’ time after the Aussie world champion required 26 stitches following vicious dog bite: ‘He definitely didn’t like me’
Tim Tszyu insists he will be in the ring in 17 days’ time for his world title fight against Carlos Ocampo despite requiring 26 stitches following a dog bite.
Tszyu, the interim WBO superwelterweight champion, is scheduled to face his Mexican rival on June 18 on the Gold Coast, but that date was at risk after a bizarre incident left him injured.
The Australian was rushed to hospital after suffering a dog bite inside the elbow bend of his right arm last Saturday, resulting in questions as to his fitness.
But Tszyu maintains he will be fit and firing when he steps in the ring, and revealed he only took one day off after the incident.
‘I visited my friend and I guess the dog just smelt me and went at it. It wasn’t bad, luckily it was just (superficial) but yeah, he definitely didn’t like me,’ Tszyu told Fox Sports.
Tim Tszyu insists he will be ready to fight in 17 days’ time despite a bizarre accident
‘I just wanted to be really, really cautious about everything because I know with dogs a lot of infections can happen, so I wanted to get to hospital and get it sorted.
‘I was worried at first but when I woke up a day after, I was alright – felt a bit sore after but the day after that I was good, Monday I was back in the gym training. It was one day off literally.’
He added: ‘It was funny, I was in my operating bed and getting ready to go into surgery, and all I hear in the background is someone watching Kayo and a little ad comes up – Tim Tszyu fighting on the Gold Coast.
‘And I just said to the nurse, ‘Tim Tszyu’s not fighting on the Gold Coast at this moment in time!’
‘It was just a bit of fat (that was visible), just a bit of blood… I was hanging the two pieces of meat together.
‘These things happen, it’s a dog, you know? I was ready for Round 2 actually, I called my mate up, and I was like we’ve got to get the dog back man, Round 2!
‘My Frenchie’s a little softie so that wouldn’t have helped, he would’ve gotten eaten alive.’
Tszyu admitted that he is unlikely to spar between now and fight night, as he wants to avoid ‘ripping anything open.’
The Aussie boxer required emergency surgery this week after his right arm was bitten by a mate’s Staffordshire bull terrier while he was attending a BBQ – he required 26 stitches
Tszyu will take on dangerous Mexican Carlos Ocampo (pictured) on June 18
‘I’ve tried to take it a bit easier with the punching, but I’ll be sparring my last week next week, so I’ll be back into it.
‘I haven’t told many people but I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries in my career.
‘I had a broken hand leading up to my first fight in my first year – I should’ve pulled out but I didn’t. Leading up to Charlo I had a torn shoulder; I didn’t say nothing, I just kept going along with it and got on with it.
‘It is what it is, when you’re dealt with circumstances you’ve got to just deal with it and find a way.’
