Tim Tszyu is bracing for the fight of his life after revealing his decorated career could have been over before he was ever even beaten.
Tszyu will place his slated unified mega-fight with Jermell Charlo on the line when he defends his interim WBO super-welterweight title against Mexican Carlos Ocampo on Sunday.
The Sydney slayer will enter the ring at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre just 22 days after requiring surgery and 26 stitches to his right upper forearm following a savage dog bite.
Tszyu publicly revealed the scars from the attack at an open training session at Pacific Fare on Thursday and said the injury could have been "much worse - much worse".
"I dodged a bullet," he said.
"It was close to the muscle, the tendon and the arteries, which would have been not just blood loss, but end-of-career-type stuff.
"So, I'm blessed."
Tszyu (22-0, 16KO) never for a minute considered pulling out of his "keep busy" showdown with Ocampo (35-2, 23KO), insisting he would have taken on the South American with one hand if he had to.
The dog attack gave the 28-year-old an easy out.
But now he's risking it all if he loses to Ocampo, with a defeat meaning all bets are off with Charlo.
Tszyu and Charlo have been ordered to fight for undisputed divisional honours before September 30 after their scheduled January 29 blockbuster in Las Vegas was postponed after the American broke two bones in his left hand last Christmas.
If Ocampo upsets Tszyu, the Mexican instead will fight Charlo for the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF super-welterweight belts.
Tszyu says he has a responsibility to Australian boxing fans to proceed with the Ocampo bout - and knows he's in for a tough afternoon after facing off with his challenger for the first time on Wednesday night and realising the Mexican is "no smack talker".
"I could see inside him. He's a warrior and to get him down, it's going to take a lot. Let's just say that," Tszyu said.
"The main thing is being three steps in front and I already feel like I'm three steps in front."
Ocampo gave little away at Thursday's training session.
"I don't want to show all my tools outside like now," he said.
"I just want to be prepared and show what I can do when I'm in the ring - that's when I'm going to fight.
"I'm prepared to fight 12, 15 rounds - as many as possible, as many as it takes.
"But I'm also prepared to finish him off as early as possible and I'm ready and willing to do that as well."
Tszyu copped some flak for staying out late on Wednesday but he brushed the criticism off and said he was in the best physical shape of his career.
"I've got a responsibility on my shoulders," he said.
"When you're at home, you've got to defend home. You don't let anyone take it.
"I'm literally carrying the nation of Australia with me. It's a Mexican against an Australian and I'm defending my home crown. This is going to be a war."
