Howdy fight fans!
It’s a huge day for Australian boxing as Tim Tszyu attempts to get his career back on track after consecutive losses.
It will be no easy feat. Tszyu comes up against rising American Joey Spencer (19 wins, 11 knockouts, one loss) at the Newcastle (Tszyu-castle) Entertainment Centre. The record of the Tszyu clan – comprising Kostya, Tim and Nikita – at the venue currently stands at 50-0.
Joey Spencer (R) and Tim Tszyu) (L) face off.Credit: Getty Images
However, after getting obliterated in his last fight – Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev knocked him down on four separate occasions – the Australian’s career is at a crossroads. Can he come back?
Whether you’re watching the fight live or can’t afford the $70 required to tune in – what cost-of-living crisis? – we’ll bring you all the goss and action here.
Who is Joey Spencer?
Given what Tszyu has gone through in his last two losses, it would be understandable if he was seeking an easy opponent for his comeback.
Joey Spencer ain’t it.
Spencer isn’t a big name – he doesn’t have a wikipedia page – but he can’t be overlooked.
Joey Spencer believes he could end Tim Tszyu’s career.Credit: Getty Images
Known as the “Small Town Soldier”, Spencer has only lost once in a 20-fight pro career. The 25 year old has gotten under the skin of Team Tszyu by arriving at his press conferences late and insisting on two neutral judges, intimating he could be robbed if his fate is left to locals to decide.
The bookmakers don’t rate Spencer’s chances – he’s a 6-1 outsider – but Tszyu was an overwhelming favourite in his last fight, and we all know how that played out.
Is Tim Tszyu still the man?
It’s a question I put to Tim Tszyu when I recently sat down with him in his Caringbah home.
“Of course,” Tszyu replied. “There is no doubt.
“All I’m thinking about is this performance, victory by any means.”
I’m not so sure. Such was the beating he copped at the hands of Bakhram Murtazaliev last October that there are serious questions about whether Tszyu can recover from it.
Tim Tszyu needs to make a statement in his comeback.Credit: Getty Images
A third consecutive loss and there will be calls for the “Soul Taker” to retire. Or worse still, to face Michael Zerafa, a match-up Tszyu has refused to entertain after the latter pulled out of a scheduled showdown.
We’ll soon get an indication of whether Tszyu’s career is back on track or over.
Howdy fight fans!
It’s a huge day for Australian boxing as Tim Tszyu attempts to get his career back on track after consecutive losses.
It will be no easy feat. Tszyu comes up against rising American Joey Spencer (19 wins, 11 knockouts, one loss) at the Newcastle (Tszyu-castle) Entertainment Centre. The record of the Tszyu clan – comprising Kostya, Tim and Nikita – at the venue currently stands at 50-0.
Joey Spencer (R) and Tim Tszyu) (L) face off.Credit: Getty Images
However, after getting obliterated in his last fight – Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev knocked him down on four separate occasions – the Australian’s career is at a crossroads. Can he come back?
Whether you’re watching the fight live or can’t afford the $70 required to tune in – what cost-of-living crisis? – we’ll bring you all the goss and action here.
