Australian boxing champion Tim Tsyzu was taken to hospital for emergency surgery after being bitten by a dog at a barbecue.
Tsyzu, 28, is an unbeaten professional boxer who is the son of former undisputed world champion Kostya Tszyu. Boasting a record of 22-0 and currently holding the WBO interim junior middleweight title, Tsyzu is scheduled to defend his belt against Carlos Ocampo in Queensland, Australia on June 18.
The boxer suffered a severe cut on his right arm after being bitten by a dog on Sunday and was rushed to hospital to have surgery for the wound. Fans are worried his title fight against Ocampo won't go ahead next month, but Tsyzu's manager Glen Jennings has insisted the fight is not in jeopardy. "The wound was superficial. The post-surgical report is all good. There is no doubt that Tim will be ready and 100 per cent healthy and focused to take on Carlos Ocampo on June 18," he said in a statement.
Do you think Tim Tsyzu's fight should still go ahead after being bitten by a dog? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below
Tsyzu, who turned professional in 2016, last fought in March as he stopped former welterweight world champion Tony Harrison. Tsyzu's promoter and CEO of No Limit Boxing, George Rose, said of his fighter's recent health scare: "Like everyone, I was shocked and worried when I first heard the news. It's certainly not the ideal preparation anytime a fighter ends up in hospital a few weeks out from a world title fight.
"The best news right now is that Tim is doing okay. 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. There is no doubt that Tim will be ready and 100 per cent healthy and focused to take on Carlos Ocampo on June 18."
Tsyzu was expected to challenge Jermell Charlo for his undisputed middleweight titles at the beginning of the year, but the American broke his hand in training. The Australian is relishing the chance to fight Ocampo as he believes the Mexican is levels above any of his previous opponents.
"Sign me up against someone good, when we got presented the opportunity to fight Ocampo I was like 'Wow'. It just brought back memories of Mexican rivalries and that style of fight. Technically this is going to be a much harder fight than my previous fight," he told Sporting News Australia.
