Tim Tszyu predicts Errol Spence Jr.’s comeback fight on 25 July will be his last. Spence, who has not fought since 2023, has also admitted retirement is a possibility, raising questions about his commitment ahead of their junior middleweight contest.
The former WBO junior middleweight champion was direct in his assessment of Spence’s return after a lengthy absence. Tszyu said via Ring Magazine: “Get in and watch his last fight. This is his last goodbye,” This forecast capitalises on statements from Spence himself, who enters the bout after a near three-year layoff. The 35-year-old’s last appearance was the first defeat of his professional career against Terence Crawford in July 2023, and he is now moving up a weight class for the first time.
Spence’s own mindset appears to support Tszyu’s claim. He has stated he is approaching his career on a fight-by-fight basis and acknowledged his focus is not entirely on boxing. “For me, I’m not going to give it all to boxing. It’s really a fight-by-fight basis. I might be done after this. It just all depends,” Spence said. He further revealed that his attention has been drifting during his training camp, adding: “Training camp, I still got eight weeks left, and I’m like, ‘Bro.’ I’ve been thinking about vacation spots.” These admissions suggest a fighter contemplating life beyond the sport.
Tszyu has also faced recent challenges, suffering defeats to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev before steadying his career with decision victories over Anthony Velazquez and Denis Nurja. His recent activity stands in contrast to Spence’s long absence from the ring.
The bout in Sydney carries significant career implications for both men. For the 35-year-old Spence, a defeat could validate Tszyu’s prediction and mark the end of his career as a top-level competitor. For Tszyu, a victory over a former unified champion would represent the most significant win of his recent resurgence and re-assert his status as a leading contender at junior middleweight.
