Exclusive: Carlos Ocampo Relishing Underdog Status For Upcoming Title Fight
Carlos Ocampo has a tough road to the IBF welterweight title as he faces champion Errol Spence Jr. on June 16, but Ocampo is not sweating the pressures of facing Spence.
During a recent conference call, Ocampo told Fightful his training camp for his fight has been tremendous, preparing for Spence’s power. As far as welterweights are concerned, Spence has one of the best knockout percentages in the sport, knocking out 20 of his 23 opponents, including former world champions Kell Brook and Lamont Peterson in Spence’s two world title fights.
“We have a hell of a training camp, we did tons of training. We know about the power of Spence. We respect Spence but we prepared like never before and we are ready to go for that belt and bring it to Mexico,” Ocampo said through a translator.
Although Ocampo is an undefeated boxer who has fought his way into becoming Spence’s mandatory challenger, Ocampo is a massive underdog against Spence. Spence is favored by as much as 1/80 and Ocampo is a 16/1 underdog, but Ocampo is not overly concerned with that. Ocampo actually is enjoying his underdog status because he has nothing to lose and so the pressure is on Spence to perform well in front of Spence’s hometown fans at The Star in Texas.
“I think it’s good for me, I have nothing to lose. I have a lot of motivation and everything to prove and I’m going to come down and I’m going to go and enjoy it,” Ocampo said.
The IBF welterweight title fight will headline a three-fight television card on Showtime on June 16 that includes a WBA super bantamweight world title fight. Fightful will have live coverage of the card.
