The next lesson in Tim Tszyu’s boxing education takes place on the Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon and it’s one all top fighters must pass.
For the first time in 23 professional fights, the undefeated Tszyu must work out a way to defeat a Mexican opponent - notoriously stubborn, crafty and with a rich boxing heritage.
Carlos Ocampo is a year younger than Tszyu but has 37 professional bouts to his name, chalking up 35 wins with 23 knockouts along the way.
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It’s the second consecutive fight Tszyu has taken when he could have sat on the sidelines and waited for his shot at undisputed champion Jermell Charlo.
Instead, Tszyu’s activity, and the range of challengers in front of him, should have him all the more prepared if and when he does face the American.
Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech faced four Mexicans during his illustrious career and, while he had his hand raised in all four meetings, it came at a price.
“I’ll never forget how many times I hit those guys in the head and my hands were worse than their head,” Fenech told Sporting News.
“Four of the toughest fights I ever had. I’ll never forget the state of my hands after those fights. I broke them both in two of them and one of them in both other fights.
“They’re tough, that’s their upbringing. They’re all so proud. They want to show that they're tougher and stronger than everybody else.”
Tszyu has predicted a fifth-round knockout victory for himself, while Ocampo is of the opinion that he’ll get the job done inside the distance and take the interim WBO super-welterweight title back to Mexico.
Fenech believes fireworks are guaranteed when the two come-forward punchers meet but thinks the Aussie's class will prevail.
“This guy’s going to be with him for a while,” he said.
“Where these other guys, the classy Americans, they try to make you miss and make you pay, this guy’s going to go punch for punch and try to punch at the same time and try to punch with more power.
“It’s going to be an amazing fight while it lasts but I believe a body shot may be the thing that does it for Tim. I think Tim’s getting better and better and we’re going to see the best of him in this fight.
“We’ll see a dogfight early. I don’t care where you’re from, when you get hit as many times as Tim’s going to hit this guy, there’s going to be a time where he’s going to think, ‘Wow, maybe I’ve had enough.’”
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While Tszyu is facing his first Mexican, his legendary father Kostya went 5-0 against opponents from that country.
Most fans point to the second-round knockout of Zab Judah as Tszyu senior’s best win but the man himself - and his son Tim - believe the 10-round demolition of Mexico’s Miguel Angel Gonzalez is the jewel in the crown of an all-time great career.
“Just a masterclass,” Tim says of that performance.
“Dad was belting the whole time, wasn’t getting touched.
“He was just belting him non-stop and the guy still wouldn’t drop.”
Kostya Tszyu also stopped Julio Cesar Chavez, arguably Mexico’s greatest fighting product, in the sixth round.
And while his father’s opponent was past his prime, Tim was struck by his spirit
“Even after that, I remember Chavez just still going at it,” Tszyu told Sporting News.
“They’ve got guts and glory and blood in their DNA.”
It remains to be seen whether Tszyu will get his long-awaited matchup with Charlo but, if he can pass the Ocampo test, he will have added yet more strings to his ever-improving bow.
“You’re gonna have all different types of styles and this is a new one I haven’t experienced before,” Tszyu said.
“The last one was a new one, the one before was a new one.
“There’s so many different styles and it’s about finding a way to beat them.
“I think it’s going to be a real tough fight. I’ve got to actually bite down and get tired and throw some haymakers and big shots and he’s going to still keep standing.
“It will really show my strength level and it will show me where I’m at.”
