Alright, this Saturday, boxing fans, we’re getting a battle that feels like it’s been brewing for years, as Australian star Tim Tszyu is openly gunning to send former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. into retirement. After a three-year layoff, Spence is stepping back into the ring, but Tszyu isn’t about pleasantries. He’s made it crystal clear: this isn’t just a fight; it’s a mission to end a legend’s career.
Spence’s Comeback: Too Many Questions, Too Much Time?
Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) is making his middleweight debut in Sydney at Afterpay Arena, headlining a PBC pay-per-view card. This is his first fight since that brutal, one-sided welterweight unification loss to Terence Crawford back in 2023. We’re talking about a 36-year-old southpaw, a 2012 U.S. Olympian and a former pound-for-pound stalwart, who hasn’t fought in three years and is jumping up in weight. The 12-round middleweight bout was even bumped up from an original 158-pound catchweight at Spence’s request. There are massive questions swirling around how much Spence has left in the tank after years of difficult fights, hard cuts to 147 pounds, and multiple car accident recoveries. He’s got legendary coach Ronnie Shields in his corner now after a public split with ex-trainer Derrick James, but even Spence himself hasn’t committed to whether he’ll continue his career after this one. He says this comeback isn’t about money; it’s about authoring the final chapter on his own terms and proving he still has “it” to himself.
Tszyu’s Vicious Intentions and the Escalating Beef
Tszyu (27-3, 18 KOs), the 31-year-old son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, is absolutely not looking to make this an easy return for Spence. Tszyu, a former junior middleweight titleholder, believes he’s picked the “right time” to face the returning legend. While things started cordial at the May press conference in Las Vegas, Spence’s refusal to shake hands totally escalated the beef. Tszyu wasn’t holding back at the final press conference, stating, “Errol is Errol. He does things his own way. I respect what he’s done and achieved but there comes times in people’s journey where they’ve had enough. I think I’ve picked the right time to face Errol. I want to punch him everywhere as hard as I can. It’s not personal, but of course I want to make this his last fight.” That’s not trash talk; that’s a declaration of war. Even with Spence’s pedigree, he’s only a slight betting favorite in what everyone expects to be an action-packed, competitive fight. Tszyu is coming to finish what Crawford started.
This Saturday, July 27, all those questions about Spence’s return meet Tszyu’s fiery resolve in Sydney. Get ready, because if Tszyu’s words are anything to go by, this is going to be an absolutely brutal affair from start to finish.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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