Tim Tszyu has offered his honest thoughts on Errol Spence Jr requesting a 2lb allowance for their Australian showdown next weekend.
The two former world champions will collide at Sydney’s Afterpay Arena, with Tszyu boasting a home advantage for arguably the most important fight of his career.
While he has previously been involved in major title fights – against Sebastian Fundora, Bakhram Murtazaliev and Brian Mendoza – the 31-year-old must now prove that he still belongs at world level.
Even with a win over Spence, there is no guarantee that Tszyu becomes a two-time world champion but, if nothing else, a successful performance should afford him the confidence to roll the dice again at 154lbs.
Until then, though, the Australian must face Spence at 160lbs after they originally agreed to meet at a catchweight of 158lbs.
Having accommodated this request, Tszyu has told The Ring that he did so with a desire to defeat the best possible version of his opponent.
“I don’t want any excuses. I wanted him here. I wanted the fight to happen. I’m not a diva. I’m an easy guy.
“I want him here, refreshed, rejuvenated, not struggling with weight, everything on point. I want to beat up the best Errol Spence.”
While Tszyu has been relatively active, albeit at the expense of losing three of his last six fights, Spence happens to be coming off a three-year layoff.
In other words, the 36-year-old has not fought since his ninth-round stoppage defeat to Terence Crawford, who ultimately relieved him of his WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight titles.
Now, ‘The Truth’ is attempting to reinvent himself at a higher weight but, by his own admission, the Tszyu fight could quite easily prove to be his last.
