American superstar Errol Spence Jnr had only concern before agreeing to fight Tim Tszyu in his own backyard this July, declaring: “The only process was negotiating how much I’m going to get … [then] it was easy for me”.
The declaration comes as Spence has also taken the big stick to Tszyu’s chances against him, and questioned his global profile, promising to KO the longtime Australian pay-per-view star who “isn’t the biggest of names”.
After disappearing from the boxing world for three long years, 36-year-old Spence is finally making his hyped return against Tszyu on July 26 — with Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena favoured to play host.
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And in a sit-down interview with fellow American great Shawn Porter, Spence has revealed he initially sought bigger names for his hyped return to the ring – including reigning WBC super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora.
From there, Spence also suggested it was him who effectively chose to make his return outside of the United States, before then promising to finish Tszyu like previous opponents Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Asked initially about how the impending July blockbuster was made, Spence laughed: “The only process was negotiating how much I’m going to get.
“(Then) It was easy for me.
“They were trying to get me to fight at Cowboy Stadium, or somewhere in America. But I was like ‘nah, I want to have my first fight back somewhere else’.
“Then it came up Tim Tszyu and I said ‘I’ll definitely take that fight’ …”
Asked by Porter about having always fought the best, and if Tszyu now represented that, Spence continued: “Ahhh, he wasn’t the best I can get.
“I was looking at Fundora. I was looking at top names saying ‘I’ll fight y’all’.
“I’m the type of guy, I don’t believe in ring rust. I’m different.
“Fight night, it comes out.”
Tszyu previews mega-clash with Spence Jr | 14:08
“As fighters,” Porter then continued, “we’re always looking at the best. Always looking at the biggest fights.
“And sometimes it takes that manager, or that person next to us to say ‘hey, let’s slow it down, let’s start right here’.
“You wanted the biggest of names and we see now you have Tim Tszyu. Not saying he isn’t the biggest of names, but you have Tim Tszyu.
“So after going away from what you wanted, do you now look at this and say ‘this is the best fight for me’ …”
Spence, grinning: “Definitely. I feel like the styles mesh well.
“And you don’t have to retract on that. You know what you said. Tim isn’t the biggest of names.
“He cool, but he ain’t the biggest of names.”
Porter, grinning now and looking straight down the camera barrel: “For Main Event, he is the biggest of names”.
Spence: “He’s one of the biggest names in Australia, you know what I’m saying?”
So as for how the July headliner plays out?
“Man, I really don’t know,” Spence continued, still grinning. “All I know is he’s definitely going to get punched up.
“I can’t tell you how the fight will play out … but it’s definitely going to last as long as it lasts.
“Like I say all the time, I don’t get paid for overtime.
“So as soon as I can get out of the ring, get to my family, throw the peace sign and get out, I’m going to do that.”
Soon after, Spence continued: “I think it’s going to be a one-sided fight.
“He’s going to give it everything he has. But I’m definitely going to put on a great show.
“I’m going to show the world that Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence is back.”
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Elsewhere, Spence also suggested Tszyu was right to dump Cuban coach Pedro Diaz in favour of Australian boxing great Jeff Fenech – who has himself trained the likes of Mike Tyson, Danny Green, Vic Darchinyan and Sakia Bika.
“I feel like [Tszyu] has a lot of heart,” the former world champ explained. “And that’s why he switched back.
“He had the Cuban coach, but I felt like that wasn’t going to work out well for him. He can’t learn that type of style the Cuban coach is teaching.
“That’s more cultural. More rhythm and things like that. Things he don’t have.
“Tim is more a come forward fighter. Heart. And he is pretty good.
“He beat Terrell Gausha, beat Tony Harrison, although got him on the back end of his career. But I feel like this is supposed to be his coming out party against me. So I’m super excited.”
And as for now coming into Tszyu’s backyard to throw down?
“I really don’t care,” the Texan shrugged. “I’m excited. I dream about stuff like this.
“It gives me chills, coming out and everyone booing. That gets me more pumped up than anything, people booing and throwing stuff.
“That takes the nervousness out of me.
“People booing, saying things, yelling and screaming, it’s like the old Spartan movies we used to watch as kids, you’re going to war.
“It gives me a high.
“I’m excited to get the fans’ reactions and feed off that.”
Asked initially about his comeback, Spence said: “I’m sure there are a lot of doubters and people saying different things.
“Saying ‘he’s a shell of himself … he can’t come back’. But they always say that.
“During the eye injury, they said that. Then the car crash, they said the same thing. And they’re going to continue saying it, which only adds fuel to my fire.”
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