Spence returns after a devastating Crawford loss. Tszyu tries to understand what he is capable of
Errol Spence returns from his loss to Crawford in a bout against Tim Tszyu. But in reality, the return needs to be seen in a broader context. He has been out of the ring for three years minus three days – he last fought on July 29, 2023. In the matchup against Terence, he showed nothing. Crawford destroyed him from the first seconds, sent him down in a series of knockdowns, and stopped him in the ninth round.
Later, everyone recalled Errol's accident – 2019, Lamborghini, he flew through the windshield and shattered his face. People rarely survive accidents where a car rolls that many times, but the champion managed to. Later came the retina surgery. Poor preparation for the Crawford fight, which his coach spoke about afterward. A lack of motivation, which Spence himself admitted.
Whether there were problems in the camp is unknown, because during the preparation, everyone noted Errol's readiness. But the fact of the loss remained a fact. Crawford was three orders of magnitude better back then.
Now Errol says he is ready:
"I feel mentally sharper now. This break gave me time to rethink everything. I needed it."
Returning at 36 after such a layoff and a previous beating is an incredibly difficult task. At the same time, perhaps this time was exactly what the American needed to rest, gather himself, and break back into big-time boxing for a while longer.
Spence is moving up. Literally
An important detail about this fight: formally, it is taking place neither in the welterweight nor in the super middleweight division. The catchweight is 158 pounds (71.66 kg). Spence is moving up – he previously fought at 147 pounds. Tszyu is moving down – he competed at 154 pounds. The boxers are meeting in the middle. For Spence, this is his first fight at the new fighting weight.
Tszyu also fell apart after 2023. But he has more time to return
Tim is nothing like his father in boxing, who was once the undisputed world champion. By 2023, Tim had reached his peak – he held a belt, had confident wins, and had beaten Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza. But then, a different chapter began.
Fundora showed all of Tim's problems the first time. Then Murtazaliev – four knockdowns in three rounds, his corner stopped the fight themselves. Then the rematch with Fundora – this time Tim refused to come out of his corner in the seventh. Three losses in two years, and each subsequent one is more painful.
It is unclear if he is capable of coming back. Although 31 is not a scary age, there have been quite a few losses with devastating consequences. Perhaps too many.
Along with this – his last two bouts: victories over previously undefeated opponents. Plus, Tszyu changed his trainer – he went to Jeff Fenech, an Australian legend and three-time world champion. A symbolic choice for a home fight. Another fact: Tim has never lost in Australia. All three losses were abroad.
Confrontation in the ring
Spence is a southpaw who will fight a right-hander. A classic matchup. Tszyu moves forward, presses, and lands punches with elite accuracy – 45-47% connect rate. But this very aggression has made him vulnerable in past losses: his defense is a bit simple, and Tim takes quite a few shots.
The most important thing here is Spence's form. If he is as he used to be, the Australian is in trouble. But is it even possible to reach anything close to peak form at this age, after such a layoff, and in a country with different time zones and climate?
Spence himself warns: "If Tim doesn't change his game plan, everything could end the same way as his previous losses." The Errol who was destroying everyone in 2019-2022 is trouble for Tszyu. The one who showed nothing against Crawford is a big chance for Tim. Three years without a fight, with all the concussions and surgeries – it's either recovery or degradation. We will find out the answer in Sydney.