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Add FightsATW on GoogleThe Errol Spence Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs) vs. Tim Tszyu (27-3, 18 KOs) fight is getting all the bells and whistles normally seen with a big fight. Yesterday in Australia, all the competitors for Saturday’s pay-per-view card showed up for the grand arrival red-carpet event, as this is Tszyu’s biggest fight in his home country as a pro.
On the Main Event broadcast, Shawn Porter asked Spence whether the weight drama, changing it from a catchweight fight of 158 pounds to 160, was more mind games than Spence not being able to make the weight. Spence quickly shut down any conspiracy theories and simply stated that fighting at 158 was pointless and that the fight should be set at the middleweight limit of 160 pounds. Could this be a hint that Spence is testing the waters at middleweight to see how it feels, considering the division is in desperate need of fighters with big names?
At the grand arrival, Spence was his usual cool demeanor and had this to say:
“I don’t think he’s gonna try to shake my hand this time. He knows what it is. I know he’s trying to be a gentleman, but he’s said stuff about breaking my eye and stuff like that and then wants to shake my hand. He’s talking about retiring me, so I’m not trying to shake your hand. You said what you said, now stand on it.
“Training camp was hard. There were times where I just wanted to go home. It took a while for my body to really get adjusted to pushing the pace and going all out.
“It feels good to be in Australia. It’s been dope and the people have been great. I’m ready to put on a show for everyone.
“People can think what they want to think about the weight, but on fight night they’re gonna see something different.”
Tszyu, on the other hand, had an intense look on his face as he was dressed in a suit, signaling that he means business. Tszyu usually has a stoic look, but this felt more intense than usual because he feels Spence has been disrespecting him from the start. Here are a few of Tszyu’s quotes from Monday.
“There’s nothing personal from me. This is such a big moment in my life, so I’m just taking it with both hands. I just want to do some damage and get myself to the next level. This is what it takes.
“Instead of a tactical fight, I want this to be a fight that makes him ask himself ‘how bad do you really want this?’ When you’ve made all that money and had some time off, what’s your real motivation? Do you really want to keep going when it gets hard? For me, I’m all in.
“I’ve had a couple of these big moments. The first was the Jeff Horn fight, then Tony Harrison. Even with the Fundora fights, it didn’t feel like this. This feels like something different. When you put it all on the line to roll the dice, it just gives me a feeling that’s hard to describe. When I feel it, I embrace it.
“I just want to get in there. I’m here to do what I’ve got to do, and that’s fight. I’m very grateful to have that opportunity.
“I’ve watched Spence’s fights against Kell Brook fight, Mikey Garcia and Danny Garcia. But what I bring to the ring is completely different. And I’m going to be even more different than I was in my last fight.”
This fight is building well as we are a few days away from this main event.
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