Tszyu set for blockbuster return against dangerous US star as title comeback bid begins

Tim Tszyu is readying to headline against America’s Joey Spencer in April as part of his push back into world title contention – and a return to the United States as soon as this year.

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Determined to bounce back from consecutive world title losses in 2024, 30-year-old Tszyu is now back training at his Rockdale gym for a fight against the highly regarded Spencer (19-1, 11KO). If ultimately held in Australia, the event is expected to take place in Newcastle on April 6.

The fight announcement, expected to soon be made official, comes only four months after ‘The Soul Taker’ suffered his second straight world title defeat – a brutal stoppage loss against Russia’s IBF champ Bakhram Murtazaliev.

While the news was first leaked over a week ago, there were also whispers suggesting the Sydneysider could be made to wait out a showdown with American Keith Thurman, who fights Australian prospect Brock Jarvis at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on March 12.

Already, Thurman has said he will happily face Tszyu later this year after being forced out of a Las Vegas headliner initially scheduled between the two early last year.

That injury withdrawal proved a sliding doors moment for Tszyu, who then suffered a shock world title loss against the man who stepped in late for Thurman – towering US southpaw Sebastian Fundora.

The former world champ then lost a second title fight against Murtazaliev in October.

It was just days out from that fight in Orlando, Florida, where Tszyu and Thurman, who was working commentary, again crossed paths at the hotel prior to weigh-ins – with the brash American shouting “sign the paperwork, baby”.

But before any of that takes place, Tszyu must first take on Michigan native Spencer, whose only professional loss came against Jesus Ramos in 2023.

Since then, the American has earned three straight victories, with the most recent a majority decision win over Miguel Angel Hernandez in December.

Should Tszyu win, and Thurman defeat Jarvis, there will almost certainly be a push from Australian promoters No Limit and their US counterparts PBC to put the pair together later this year – and potentially back in the States.

Speaking at last week’s press conference to announce his shock Australian showcase, Thurman vowed to finish Jarvis within five rounds before then taking on Tszyu — who the former welterweight king now insists he could beat “one handed”.

Despite having been out of the sport for three years, Thurman boasts an incredible resume that includes having never been beaten by anyone not named Manny Pacquiao.

His most recent win, in 2022, was also against reigning WBC welterweight champ Mario Barrios.

Quizzed this week on suggestions his shock return Down Under is part of a plan to fight both Jarvis and Tszyu this year, Thurman replied: “You guys want it and the promoters from that side of town are capable of making this happen.

“This is what it is.

“(But first) I’m going to remind people who Keith Thurman is by beating up some kangaroo.

“All you want me to do is beat up some kangaroo.

“I’m going to fly over there, I’m going to get me this kangaroo, then I’ll come back and get Tszyu if that’s the entertainment you guys want.

“You’ve had Roy Jones Jnr.

“You’ve had Manny Pacquiao.

“You’ve had some world class fighters come to your soil.

“Luckily for you, I’m what’s next.”

Further on in the press conference, when pushed by Jarvis on his having withdrawn from fights, including the Tszyu headliner, he continued: “I’ve pulled out of two fights with two injuries.

“One was a whiplash against Shawn Porter. I gave him the fight and won.

“I should’ve just beat Tim Tszyu one handed.

“You all saw what happened (to him), it was a big mistake. You mess with the big fish, US – we run boxing. You don’t run boxing, we run boxing.

“I’ve been about this life, son.

“You already got slapped the first time you tried to meet a champion.

“And you’re about to get slapped one more time.

“So don’t worry kid, I’ll be happy to give you the whoppin’ your daddy never did.”