Edgy boxing promoter George Rose has laid bare the multi-million-dollar roll of the dice Tim Tszyu is taking by fighting Mexican warrior Carlos Ocampo.
Ordered by the WBO to square off with undisputed super-welterweight king Jermell Charlo before October 1, Tszyu's dream of following in his father Kostya's famous footsteps and becoming a unified world champion will be shattered if he loses on Sunday.
Ironically, as he perches himself high up the 54-story Star casino ahead of his date with destiny at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Rose is also betting the house on Tszyu to come up trumps.
But he's definitely anxious ahead of Tszyu's first defence of his interim WBO title.
"I'm scared," Rose said at Friday's pre-fight press conference for a high-stakes showdown that Tszyu didn't need to take.
"For him, he's the fighter and he's got supreme confidence.
"But for me, it's a risk. Every fight's a risk and that's the risk that he's taken."
No Limit Boxing has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in Tszyu's pursuit of world-title glory and Rose is acutely aware that the entire operation could go up in smoke.
He pointed to Tszyu's divisional rival Sebastian Fundora's shock first-time loss to Brian Mendoza in April when the previously undefeated American was defending his interim WBC title.
"Fundora was the mandatory for the WBC and he got hit and knocked out while he was waiting for his opportunity," Rose told AAP.
"And that's the risk Tim's taking this Sunday. No matter how good Tim is, he's in against a world-class opponent, and a big guy too.
"For Tim, it's been a lifelong dream, something he's been building towards his whole life - and it's the same for us.
"Tim Tszyu is our guy. He's Australia's guy, the one who flies the flag for our country. He is our most talented boxer, the best, and he's putting that all on the line.
"Everybody's got to hold their breath in this moment until his hand his raised (as the winner)."
Rose said "millions" of dollars are at stake for 28-year-old Tszyu, who is also fighting just three weeks after undergoing surgery for a savage dog bite inside his right elbow.
"An undisputed world-title win, that sets him up for life," he said.
"That's what he's risking with this fight. He's risking the chance the set himself up for life, the chance to win the four belts, the chance to get Charlo who we've been trying to get for years."
For all the concern, Tszyu (22-0, 16KO) insists Rose has nothing to worry about, saying Ocampo (35-2, 23KO) won't even go the distance.
"I've dealt with pressure my whole life so this is nothing," Tszyu said.
"Us athletes we do this for the fun of it, for the love of it. I'm blessed to be able to do this over and over again."
Ocampo maintains he'll knock Tszyu out but will enter the ring an $8 underdog with bookmakers.
"It shows the position and level that I'm at. It's got nothing to do with him," Tszyu said.
"He's a top fighter but whoever they put in front of me, I feel like I'll just annihilate them.
"Whether it's Charlo, whether it's King Kong. If it's a shark I have to go at or a pit bull I go against, I'm coming back for round two against anyone."
