5 Burning Questions for Spence-Tszyu
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Errol Spence Jr. is finally set to make his long-awaited return to the ring. He steps back into the spotlight three years after his loss to Terence Crawford. Standing across from him is Tim Tszyu, another former title contender looking to get his career back on track. It’s one of the biggest crossroads fights of the year.
Ahead of fight night, we ask 5 Burning Questions about Spence’s return, Tszyu’s future, and what this fight could mean for the changing landscape of boxing.
#1. Errol Spence Jr. hasn’t fought in three years, since losing to Terence Crawford back in 2023. What are your expectations for his long awaited return to the ring?
Lee: Listening to Errol Spence Jr. talk recently, he attributed his TKO loss to Crawford to training camp issues. In my opinion Crawford would’ve beat Spence Jr. regardless of his training leading up to the fight. But I think Spence Jr. will look good in this fight because Tszyu isn’t a “slick” fighter. He’s more of an in-the-pocket fighter.
His style should allow Spence Jr. to establish his jab and land his body shots more effectively. I am a true believer that ring rust is a thing. We need to keep a close eye on the early rounds of the fight and see what Spence Jr. looks like. Especially if Tszyu comes out with immediate pressure.
Evan: I’m not sure what to expect with this fight in general. On one hand, I’m excited to see Errol back in the ring and curious what he’s got left. But there’s so much uncertainty surrounding him going into this event.
Between coming off a three-year long layoff, a high profile loss to Bud Crawford where he was battered, having a new trainer in Ronnie Shields, and now being 36 years old, I don’t know what version of Spence Jr. is going to even show up. That extended absence from competing, combined with the damage he’s taken are big factors to consider.
So, I don’t have many expectations because of all the unknowns surrounding the former unified welterweight champion’s comeback.
#2. Is there any way Spence Jr. can return to his form prior to the Crawford loss or regain any of the star power he had before then?
Lee: This is a tough question, but Father Time and attrition are undefeated. Spence Jr. has fought some of the best welterweights of his era and has taken plenty of punishment over the years, especially in the Crawford fight.
He can still look good against certain opponents, but his name and stature mean he will likely pursue big fights against younger, elite competition. Those matchups will require him to move his feet and, most importantly, avoid damage. Ultimately, his performance in this fight will determine where his star power stands.
Evan. I’m with Lee in that I don’t see Spence Jr. having any sort of definitive return to being an elite fighter again. I think the guy that beat Danny Garcia, Kell Brook, Mikey Garcia, Shawn Porter, and Yordenis Ugas is an apparition of the past.
Not only is it going to be tough to recover from the type of bludgeoning Crawford put on him, but his style was also fully audited somewhat in that loss. Plus, he’s now on the back end of his thirties which is going to diminish his physical abilities too.
That doesn’t mean he can’t be in meaningful fights going forward though, if he can defeat Tim Tszyu in decisive fashion. Especially during a time where American boxing is in dire need of some sizzle. Errol has the cache as a proven commodity with his star power.
Beating Tim would help reignite that and potentially position him for bigger matchups at either 154 or 160 pounds in the future.
#3. With both guys having their backs against the wall, who is in more desperate need of a win, Spence Jr. or Tszyu?
Lee: Spence Jr. held at least one belt in the welterweight division for six consecutive years. Tszyu was looked at as one of the best upcoming super welterweight fighters. But, defeats to Sebastian Fundora (twice) and Bakhram Murtazaliev have derailed that talk.
I think Spence Jr. is more desperate for a win because, at 36, time isn’t on his side. Another loss would only fuel doubts about whether he’s still the same fighter after his car accident and devastating defeat to Crawford. A win keeps him in the mix at 154 or 160. As for the 31-year-old Tszyu, he still has time to rebuild if he comes up short.
Evan: Both of these guys are sort of viewed as damaged goods. So the desperation for a win is pretty equally shared between them. We’ve already talked about many of the reasons why Errol needs a victory. Given his age, extended layoff, durability concerns, etc…there’s just so much uncertainty with his return.
Whereas Tszyu has been thrown in the trash in a way by much of the boxing world. After getting steamrolled by Bakhram Murtazaliev and losing to WBC champion Sebastian Fundora twice, Tim’s stock has taken a dramatic hit. Fans and pundits alike seem to feel he was exposed as a bit of a hype job.
At 31 years old, there’s clearly some concerns around his punch resistance and chin overall now as well too. Beating even a diminished Errol, would arguably be the best win of Tim’s career and silence some of his detractors for the time being.
#4. Can the winner of this move forward and make a splash at 154 or 160?
Lee: Once again, my colleague poses a tough question. The answer should be an easy yes, but it isn’t. The winner can only make a splash at 154 or 160 if they deliver an impressive performance.
A dominant win could open the door to bigger opportunities. Spence Jr. could land a major fight at 154 or even a rematch with Crawford (which I personally don’t want to see). A Tszyu victory could set him up for a title fight with Josh Kelly, while a matchup between Spence and Jermell Charlo in Dallas would be a major attraction.
Evan: I genuinely don’t believe either fighter can have a lasting impact at 154 pounds. Tszyu’s two losses to Sebastian Fundora are going to take him out as an option for any of the other big names in the division. Whether it’s against Jaron Ennis, Vergil Ortiz Jr. or Xander Zayas, I think all of them wouldn’t find much intrigue or challenge in facing Tim.
Errol meanwhile, would at the very least provide some fresh matchups with all those aforementioned names. An Ennis-Spence Jr. or Ortiz Jr.-Spence Jr. event, would undoubtedly be a big deal, especially stateside. Ultimately though, he’d more than likely be used as a stepping stone to elevate their individual star power.
At 160 pounds, it’s a different story. The middleweight division is currently pretty wide open and lacking big names. I could easily see whoever wins here between Spence Jr. and Tszyu, making a run at some titles there.
Fighters such as Amari Jones, Carlos Adames, Denzel Bentley, Erislandy Lara, Jesus Ramos, and Yoenli Hernandez, are all much more beatable than the shark tank that is currently atop of 154. Any of those matchups would be far more intriguing and winnable for Errol and Tim.
#5. With the emergence of Zuffa boxing and them continuing to sign top names like Conor Benn, Ryan Garcia, and Shakur Stevenson, can PBC continue to survive putting on events like this one?
Lee: PBC can still be a force in boxing. But, they have to be willing to do business with other promotions. That unfortunately, has always been problematic for them in the past.
Zuffa Boxing and Ring have quickly emerged as major forces in the sport, meaning PBC can no longer rely on being the clear A-side in negotiations. Re-signing David Benavidez should be a top priority, as he’s one of boxing’s biggest stars still in his prime.
If PBC wants to remain relevant, it must evolve with the changing landscape.
Evan: I second what Lee said. With the impending changes to the Ali Act and having the financial backing of the Saudi’s, Zuffa Boxing’s takeover of the sport is imminent. In order for PBC to survive in the coming landscape change, they have to work with other promotions. Making marquee, big fights by collaborating with Golden Boy, Matchroom, and Top Rank, will be instrumental to countering what Zuffa is trying to do.
They also must retain their big stars like Carlos Adames, David Benavidez, Errol Spence Jr., Gervonta Davis, Pitbull Cruz, Rolly Romero, Teofimo Lopez, and Sebastian Fundora. With the amount of money Zuffa is throwing at fighters, PBC has to be wary of their talent being poached.
Keeping that roster and stable of talent under their banner, will be crucial to their longevity in the sport going forward.
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