Tim Tszyu’s world title defence in balance after dog bite puts boxer in hospital

A dog bite could derail Tim Tszyu’s first defence of his interim boxing world title after the Australian underwent surgery on a laceration to his right forearm over the weekend.

Tszyu was taken to hospital after reportedly sustaining the injury at a barbecue on Saturday, ahead of his scheduled WBO super welterweight title fight against Carlos Ocampo on 18 June.

Tszyu is due to fight the Mexican on the Gold Coast in three weeks’ time, leaving him in a race to recover from the surgery and prove his fitness in time to defend the belt he won in March.

Tszyu’s camp said the wound sustained by the 28-year-old was superficial but required treatment from the team doctor and then a surgeon on Saturday afternoon.

Glen Jennings, Tszyu’s manager, said the post-surgery report was encouraging and that he had “no doubt” his fighter would be ready for the showdown on 18 June.

But the incident will at the very least affect Tszyu’s preparations for the crucial fight, which he hopes to get through before a guaranteed unification fight against Jermell Charlo later this year.

“Like everyone, I was shocked and worried when I first heard the news,” the No Limit CEO and Tszyu’s promoter, George Rose, 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.

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“He has the best and most experienced team around him in world boxing. They have reassured me he’ll be more than ready on 18 June to take on Ocampo. If they’re confident, I’m confident.”