The Mayweather move that saved Tszyu as star reveals extent of ‘career threatening’ dog bite scare

Tim Tszyu reckons without the Floyd Mayweather shoulder roll, he would not be fighting this Sunday.

And likely, never fighting again.

“Because the dog,” he says, referencing that mate’s bull terrier all of Australia now knows about, “it could’ve gone for so much worse than my elbow.

“Could’ve got my stomach.

“All the doctors I’ve spoken to, they’ve all said it could have been career ending for me.

“They’ve all said I dodged a bullet that night.”

Watch undefeated Australian superstar Tim Tszyu put his title on the line against Mexican warrior Carlos Ocampo LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo Sports. No kayo subscription needed. Sunday 18 June 6PM AEST. ORDER NOW >

Seated now poolside at Gold Coast’s The Star casino, Tszyu is walking Fox Sports Australia through what he now concedes was almost the night his career ended.

Officially, Tszyu is done with dog talk.

And will say as much soon after our interview is done, when fronting a Wednesday evening launch party for this weekend’s hyped WBO showdown against Mexican Carlos Ocampo.

Interviewed on stage by Main Event host Ben Damon, Tszyu will tell the crowd how, for three weeks now, every question thrown his way has “been about that stupid dog”.

A topic he now wants to fade as quickly as that healing scar on his right arm.

But behind the scenes?

Well, given Tszyu still has iPhone images of his arm being held “like two pieces of meat”, the undefeated Aussie star knows not only is he “blessed” to be fighting Sunday, but fighting again at all.

Aware how without that Mayweather shoulder roll studied, mimicked and refined who knows how many times, things could have been worse to the point of, say, his torso being ripped open.

Yet incredibly, and despite being just three weeks removed from a mauling still severe enough to require emergency surgery and 26 stitches, the champ now has nothing to show for said ordeal but a healing scar.

And again, he says, because of that famed Floyd Mayweather roll.

A defensive move Tszyu has not only watched, and studied, thousands of times, but in those milliseconds before he was attacked, moved into instinctively.

“Only it was southpaw, like this,” Tszyu explains, moving now to mimic that move which helped Mayweather become a global boxing star.

A defensive strategy where the lead shoulder is rolled up to protect the chin, and lead arm moved down across the body, protecting the torso.

Then, as the attack comes, you roll the body.

“And whether instinct or whatever, I was able to block the dog off as it jumped,” Tszyu continues.

“It jumped at me twice and I blocked it with the shoulder roll.

“I guess, because it was me, I was able to react immediately.

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“In a split second – boom – I knew exactly what to do. Then my mate jumped in and got the dog off.”

Asked how long he had been at the Saturday evening BBQ before the attack occurred, Tszyu said it had only been “a few seconds, maybe a minute”.

“But because I was able to react immediately, the dog got me right here,” he says, pointing to a spot just on the inside of his right elbow.

“It’s completely hidden, you can’t see it.”

But you know what is even better again?

“You can’t really hit it, either,” he continues.

“And that’s why I’ve been so confident ever since the incident happened, saying to people ‘OK, whatever’.”

But what chance Ocampo has a crack anyway?

Speaking about Tszyu’s injury earlier this week, Mexico’s No.1 super welterweight suggested his rival had “no excuses” come the fight and should protect himself “at all times”.

None of which worries the undefeated Aussie, however.

“If he tries to hit me there, he’s going to be in a world of trouble,” the 28-year-old insists.

“It opens him up for me to respond with something myself.

“And while I definitely see toughness in the guy I also see holes I can exploit.”

Holes?

“I’ll just say there are certain shots I’ve been practicing that will work perfectly – 100 per cent perfectly – come fight night,” Tszyu says.

“Yes, I know his strengths.

“But I also know the fighters he’s beat, they’re nothing compared to what will be in front of him this Sunday.

“That’s the biggest difference.”

Apart from being back in the gym almost immediately after surgery, Tszyu is also unsurprised by how quickly his wound has healed.

“Because I’m so healthy,” he grins, “I recover quickly”.

The fighter also readily adds, however, that had this attack happened even a year ago, he would not have been capable of handling things like he has.

But this is also a big part of why Tszyu, first, took on American Tony Harrison in March, and now doubles down against Ocampo in July – even with a guaranteed bout against the division’s undisputed king Jermell Charlo in the offing.

Sure, plenty questioned him rolling the dice against a former world champion like Harrison. Just as they are again now with Ocampo – especially given he underwent emergency surgery just three weeks ago.

“But the reason I keep fighting, it’s for progression,” Tszyu says simply.

“The feeling I have when I’m in that ring now, I’m just so comfortable.

“And that’s why these past few weeks I’ve been able to block everything out and push through.

“And a couple of years ago, this would’ve all bothered me.

“Bothered me hard, too.

“But now I can push on and that’s down to maturity and experience, which is all part of growth.

“In this journey toward the top, I’m really proud of who I’ve become.

“And now, I’m right there.

“So it’s about continuing to build the momentum; keep improving, keep gathering momentum not only inside the ring but everywhere.”

Still, Tszyu also fights this Sunday well aware of what could have been.

“Which is why I have to make the most of every opportunity,” he says.

“Because I know I’m blessed to have this fight against Ocampo … and I know things could’ve ended so much worse.”