Errol Spence Return Against Tim Tszyu Clouded By Uncertainty

Errol Spence says he feels great heading into his fight with Tim Tszyu on Sunday at Afterpay Arena in Sydney, but nobody outside Ronnie Shields' Houston gym knows what version of the former welterweight champion will show up after nearly three years away from the ring.

Spence last fought in July 2023, when Terence Crawford dropped him three times en route to a ninth-round stoppage that ended the Texan's reign as IBF, WBA and WBC champion at 147 pounds. The DeSoto native is now 36, has boxed just three times since his split-decision win over Shawn Porter in September 2019, and carries the physical toll of a near-fatal car crash in October 2019 plus a detached retina that shelved his August 2021 date with Manny Pacquiao. Per The Ring, Spence acknowledged the doubts but insisted the hunger remains. "This feels similar to when I went over to England to fight Kell Brook," he said Thursday. "The mentality doesn't change at all. It's me versus him, and it's everything on the line."

Tszyu Carries His Own Damage Into Middleweight Clash

Tszyu brings psychological scars of his own after stoppage losses to Bakhram Murtazaliev and Sebastian Fundora in two of his past five outings. The 12-round middleweight bout, available via DAZN pay-per-view, is still defined by what Spence has left rather than what Tszyu can do. The Australian enters 27-3 with 18 knockouts.

Spence told reporters he needed the time off to heal and would not have returned unless he felt ready. Whether that means he has recovered from what Crawford did to him — the first time he showed that kind of vulnerability — remains the central question. The layoff gave Spence a chance to work with Shields after years under Derrick James, but closed-door sparring sessions offer no proof he can recapture championship form.

The fight takes place Sunday afternoon Australian time, with Spence a heavy favourite despite the uncertainty surrounding his condition.

Source: ringmagazine.com