Tim Tszyu has fired back at Terence Crawford, promising to prove him wrong when he locks horns with Errol Spence Jr on July 25.
The pair will collide at a catchweight of 158lbs in Australia, where both former world champions hope to reignite their careers.
For Tszyu, this represents a chance to secure his first significant victory since 2023, back when he claimed the WBO super-welterweight title against Brian Mendoza.
After that, the Australian lost a split decision to Sebastian Fundora in 2024, before suffering a more punishing third-round stoppage defeat to Bakhram Murtazaliev that same year.
Tszyu’s relevance at world level was then further diminished by a seventh-round stoppage loss to Fundora last July, with the 31-year-old now hoping to re-join the world scene at 154lbs.
In order to do so, he must first defeat Spence, who has not fought since getting stopped in nine rounds by a masterful Crawford in July 2023.
Prior to that, ‘The Truth’ was considered among the welterweight elite but, now, at the age of 36, it remains to be seen exactly what he has left to offer.
Yet despite the American returning from a three-year layoff, Crawford still believes his former foe has what it takes to defeat Tszyu.
In response, Tszyu has told Jai McAllister that, while he respects Crawford’s opinion, he ultimately intends to prove the former three-division undisputed champion wrong.
“Everyone’s got something to say – I respect that. Crawford knows his boxing but, unfortunately, when that fight [with Spence] does happen, it’s not going to go down that path.”
With a home advantage and a greater run of activity, Tszyu certainly has several reasons to be confident ahead of his showdown with Spence.
