Tszyu And Spencer Lock Horns During Roundtable Face-Off – ‘It’s A Different Mentality’
Tim Tszyu boxes Joey Spencer on April 6 in a fight that could define his career, as the pair had their roundtable face off.
Tszyu is on a two-fight losing streak, having come out second-best to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev. Tszyu lost his WBO Junior Middleweight Belt to Fundora after coming out second best in a split decision loss. He suffered a cut over his hairline early on as blood continued to pour out, which clouded his vision. Tszyu also missed out on the vacant WBC belt, which was on the line.
The Australian then took some time off before jumping in the ring with the IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Bakhram Murtazaliev. However, Tszyu hit the canvas numerous times as he suffered his second loss in a stoppage defeat. His father, Kostya Tszyu, urged his son to train with him to Russia, with suggestions he needed major changes.
Spencer is a rising boxer whose only loss has come against Jesus Ramos in 2023. Since then, he has secured three wins in a row. They were victories against Miguel Angel Hernandez, Janer Gonzalez and Marcelo Fabian Bzowski. This is Spencer’s biggest fight, as a win would boost his resume. Here is what they had to say when they faced off against each other.
Tszyu Vs. Spencer
“No, I think that it’s good to be looking at your options, and you’ve got to think about the future somewhat in fighting and in business. But I’m fully prepared. I’m ready to go out there and spoil the plans. It’s my job to go out there and show them that. Telling them doesn’t do anything. I don’t know where Tim’s headspace is. I’m sure that he’s focused on the fight. I’m sure he knows this is a serious fight. He’s got to get through me to get to Keith Thurman. Whether or not he’s fully focused on this or thinking ahead to Keith is his business. But I’m only thinking about one fight, and that’s Tim,” Spencer
“I’ve had the mistake of not overlooking but sort of looking through someone before. This guy in front of me—I’m not doing that. It’s a different mentality this time. It’s looking at him rather than straight through him. I know what he possesses. I remember seeing him in Minnesota. We fought on the same card. I remember at the time he was young, sharp, on a tear. In my head, I wasn’t thinking we’d ever be in the same position where we’d fight each other. But here we are,” Tszyu
“Tim’s fought world-class opposition. His last two fights were no different. When you do that, there’s always an opportunity to come up short. But I think Tim’s proven that he’s definitely got world-class talent. He’s been in there with some of the best and has had some good wins,” Spencer
“He keeps saying that he (Tim) came out fighting more conservatively. At the end of the day, Bakhram brought that out of him. He hit him with clean shots, and Tim felt that energy. [And] he wasn’t fighting someone who was picking, poking, and dancing around. He fought someone who hit him right in the chin in the first round. That’s why he had to fight back,” Spencer
Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.
