Tim Tszyu's next fight: Ranking top opponents following bout KO win over Carlos Ocampo

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Tim Tszyu
(Matt Roberts/No Limit Boxing)

Tim Tszyu is cutting a swathe through the super-welterweight division and he's quickly running out of potential opponents.

There is however one man on Tszyu's mind.

The Aussie made arguably the biggest statement of his career when he blasted Mexico's Carlos Ocampo out inside a round on the Gold Coast.

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It wasn't a fight Tszyu needed to take but it further strengthened his claims as 154-pound king.

Following the bout, Tszyu said he felt like he could take on all comers.

“I was pumped after," Tszyu said.

"It wasn’t like a real happiness moment.

"Usually I’m like, ‘Yes!’ I’m so relieved.'

"It was more like, ‘Come on, who’s next? Line three of them for one night.’ That’s what it felt like."

So where to now for the 23-0 freight train?

Who will Tim Tszyu fight next?

It's Jermell Charlo or bust for Tszyu.

The undisputed super-welterweight champion has been on Tszyu's mind ever since he unified the division by defeating Brian Castano in their May 2022 rematch.

Charlo hasn't fought since then, having been booked to fight Tszyu in Las Vegas in January before pulling out with a fractured hand, seeing Tszyu turn his attention to the only man to have defeated Charlo, Tony Harrison.

In March this year, Tszyu dished out a round nine knockout to Harrison.

Tszyu was then set to get his long-awaited crack in the US summer but Charlo requested more time for his recovery, again seeing Tszyu get busy rather than bide his time.

Having needed just over a minute to take care of Ocampo, Tszyu will be ready to go again in no time.

Asked what Charlo's team might be telling the 33-year-old following that performance, Tszyu joked that they might look elsewhere.

“Move up," he said.

"Move up, Charlo."

The 28-year-old Sydneysider did however acknowledge who the current main man in the division is, although he did say, despite the improvements he's made, he would have been confident of defeating Charlo had they met as scheduled in January.

“It doesn’t matter, I think even in January I would have got the job done," Tszyu told reporters.

"It's good to have two fights in between, I guess, because the fight gets more interesting now.

"I’m definitely that top dog, just under him. He’s the man, I’ll give him that, he’s the man and I’m just under."

When will Tim Tszyu fight Jermell Charlo?

Tszyu's promoter, George Rose of No Limit Boxing, said he expects a quick turnaround for his star man.

“Conversations have already been happening leading up to this fight," Rose said.

"It’s the next goal, all roads lead to Charlo.

"I’m really proud of the performance of Tim today.

"It’s something that going to give him so much more support when we head over to the States.

September 30 was the deadline set by the WBO. That works in with Team Tszyu.

"Especially after how he finished that fight, I don’t think there’s going to be any layoff time needed."

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Tom Naghten is a senior editor for The Sporting News Australia.
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