Tim Tszyu has revealed that fighting “like a c**khead” was his undoing in his knockout loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev last year, vowing to not make the same mistakes against Joey Spencer.
The Aussie faces Spencer in Newcastle on April 6, hoping to get back in the winners’ circle after a 2024 which saw him take the first two losses of his professional career, including that three-round beatdown at the hands of Murtazaliev in Florida in October.
Having been beaten so convincingly on the global stage, there are doubts around Tszyu’s ability to return to the top of the division.
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Against the 19-1 Spencer from Michigan, the 30-year-old has an opportunity put his name back in the mix for big fights at super welterweight, with Keith Thurman lined up for later in the year following his win over Brock Jarvis last week.
Asked what he took away from the Murtazaliev nightmare, Tszyu said he needed to change his approach, but played down any fears around lingering demons.
“Not go in like a c**khead. Just try and keep it nice and smart,” Tszyu told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
“Boxing is physical and mental. Mentally, I’m alright, man. Don’t stress, it’s all good from this side,” he added, before recalling his approach to the bout.
“I think I could have taken [Murtazaliev] out in two rounds. That’s what was going through my head.
“This guy wasn’t going to go past two rounds. And I came in with that intensity.
“A professional fight isn’t two rounds, it’s a 12-round fight and I’ve just got to be smarter.”
While no world title is on the line at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Tszyu admits the stakes couldn’t be higher, as another loss would tank the Sydneysider’s credentials on the world stage.
“Every fight’s the most important one but I’ve got so much to prove,” Tszyu said.
“I know what I bring, I know what I possess and it’s just about showing it and letting the world know that we never left.”
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As the underdog on enemy soil, Spencer is happy to heap even more expectation onto his opponent.
“The pressure’s definitely on Tim in this fight, definitely,” Spencer said.
“I don’t have any pressure, I’m going in there to win this fight. Every fight’s important, don’t get me wrong but he’s in a heavy spot right now.
“He’s got to win this fight for his career and what he holds up, what he represents.
“He’s got a country that he represents and he has a name that he represents that holds a lot of weight.
“He’s definitely got to fight for that and there’s a lot of pressure that comes with that so we’ll see how he handles it.”
Where previously Tszyu fell into the trap of looking ahead to what might be next, on this occasion, his focus has been solely on Spencer.
He was, however, in attendance at the Hordern Pavilion to see Thurman’s third-round KO of Jarvis, working for broadcaster Main Event.
Asked about the 36-year-old American’s comeback, Tszyu kept a lid on things.
“I thought he did good. He did well, came out swinging,” he said.
“You could tell he was a bit older in the first round, but he fought Brock Jarvis, no offence.
“It’s two different levels to world calibre and Brock Jarvis but I think he did well.”
And what does Spencer think of all the Tszyu vs. Thurman chatter?
“We’ll see if [Tszyu] makes it,” he said.
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