Joey Spencer (19-1, 11 KOs) is a heavy outsider for his fight against Tim Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs) but the American isn’t giving it any thought, declaring the bookmakers “know nothing”.
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After two consecutive losses, including a stunning knockout at the hands of Bakhram Murtazaliev, Tszyu will be looking to get his career back on track when he faces Spencer in Newcastle next Sunday.
Despite his recent setbacks, Tszyu is a strong betting favourite to take care of Spencer, a two-time PBC Prospect of the Year, to set up a blockbuster meeting with Keith Thurman.
But Spencer, while incredibly respectful and complimentary of Tszyu as a fighter, dismissed suggestions he should put any weight into what the bookmakers think of his chances.
“I don’t give any ground to that, any type of seriousness to that,” he told Fox Sports News.
“Who makes the odds? They know nothing. They’ve proven it many times and especially in this one.
“Murtazaliev was probably the underdog against Tim too, right? They know nothing. I’m a real fighter. He’s going to see it when I get in there.”
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Spencer, who has a 19-1 record with 11 of his victories coming by knockout, may not think much of the bookmakers but he certainly has a high opinion of Tszyu, even if his last two fights haven’t gone as planned.
Of course, the loss to Sebastian Fundora was hardly a blemish on Tszyu’s record given the nasty cut he sustained in the second round of the fight.
Tszyu’s longtime doctor said at the time that the world title fight should have never been able to continue and yet it did, and that is not lost on Spencer along with the fact the Australian agreed to fight Fundora after his initial bout with Thurman fell through.
“I always really respected Tim,” Spencer said.
“He’s a guy when Thurman pulled out with his injury, to take Fundora as a last-minute replacement, that takes balls.
“Things happen in boxing, you only get one night. You get 30 minutes to go out there and put everything on the line. You get maybe a couple of fights a year and it takes one shot to put you down, it takes one elbow or a headbutt to cause a cut that can change everything.
“He fought like a man in those fights and I respect it.”
Tszyu: This fight feels different | 06:00
Spencer is preparing for the “best version” of Tszyu and while there are legitimate questions over how the Australian will respond after back-to-back losses, his American opponent won’t fall into the trap of hunting the finish too soon.
There could be some temptation for Spencer to do just that should he find success early in the fight, especially given the way Tszyu was picked apart by Murtazaliev.
The mental demons may still be there for Tszyu, but Spencer also knows it is a “dangerous” game to leave himself open to counters.
“It depends, because he is a dangerous guy even when he’s hurt,” Spencer said.
“He lets some shots go even when he’s hurt so we’ll see what happens, see how bad he’s hurt… it’s a long fight, so you’ve got to let it play out.
“That’s one of the harder parts of boxing, to know when to go in for the kill. Sometimes you can go in far too early so it’s what my team are there for, to let me know. I’ll hear them, I’m always listening in to their voices so if they tell me it’s time, I’ll go in for the kill.”
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