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‘Rattled’ Rose on 48-hr judging drama | 03:03
Tim Tszyu’s rival has had his ability to make weight questioned after rocking up to a Wednesday workout in black tracksuit and beanie, then failing to do much more than shadow boxing for the scores of fans, journalists and cameras in attendance.
The question marks over American Joey Spencer’s fight week appearance arrive as No Limit promoter George Rose also branded it “f***ing scary” to hear Tszyu suggest he could open Sunday’s blockbuster exactly the same way as his last fight – a brutal KO loss against Bakhram Murtazaliev.
Tszyu vs Spencer | SUN 6 APRIL 11AM AEDT | Tim Tszyu makes his highly anticipated return to the ring as he looks to push himself back into world title contention against Joey Spencer | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Tszyu and Spencer have also taken swipes at each other as the tension continues building between the two camps, with the ‘The Soul Taker’ accused of failing to accept why he was so viciously stopped last time out.
Following consecutive world title losses against Murtazaliev and Sebastian Fundora, Tszyu is now looking to punch his way back into championship contention at Newcastle Entertainment Centre this Sunday.
It will be the Australian poster boy’s first outing since being dropped four times in three rounds by Murtazaliev, a performance Tszyu has since conceded several times was too rushed.
However speaking during this week’s Face Off interview, Tszyu was asked by Main Event host Ben Damon if this now meant he would be bringing a more tempered start to his fight with Spencer.
“I dunno,” Tszyu replied. “I woke up this morning and said ‘you know what, f*** it, I want to do the same fire with fire this fight.”
To which Rose says what?
“As a promoter, and with everything on the line,” he told Fox Sports Australia with a grin, “absolutely it makes me nervous to hear that.
“But in prizefighting, this is the ride.
“Tim Tszyu is putting everything on the line in this one, and with the chance for bigger paydays.
“So when he says he’s also going to risk everything (with his fight style) … yeah, it absolutely adds to the excitement, and the entertainment.
“Same as we know it can lead to one of those exhilarating Tszyu moments.
“But geez, it’s scary.
“It’s real f***ing scary.
“Still, Tim is saying he won’t be needing the judges for this one.
“He’s already said they can have the night off.
“(Laughs) Or maybe score a few rounds, but he’ll be ending this fight.”
Soon after, Rose added of what may come in those opening rounds: “Like everyone else, I’ll be sitting on the edge of my seat.
“Because Australia loves Tim Tszyu, everyone wants to see him get his hand raised.
“And however he does that, whether it’s exciting, clinical, whatever … it will mark the return of Tim Tszyu.”
Elsewhere, Rose also questioned Spencer’s subdued appearance at what has now been several fight week activations – including both the open workouts and an amusement centre media opportunity on Tuesday – and questioned if the visitor was perhaps battling with his weight cut.
Since suffering his only career loss against Jesus Ramos Jnr in 2023, the US prospect has taken three straight fights a division higher, at middleweight.
“And a lot of people have started asking me if maybe he is struggling with the weight cut this week,” Rose said.
“Personally, I don’t know.
“But at the open workouts – where he didn’t give much at all — Joey was wearing a tracksuit and beanie.
“And it’s not cold, right?
“Plus this is a bloke from Michigan, from cold country.
“So maybe there is a question there.”
And as for Spencer opting not to work out, despite being an event headliner?
“I know it’s hard to keep your energy up if you are having a tough weight cut,” Rose continued.
“A tough weight cut will do that to you.
“But Tim, he looked fantastic.
“Worked out, then did interview after interview …”
Joey Spencer trains during open workouts at Tszyu Fight Club on April 02, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesAsked by Fox Sports Australia what he made of Tszyu suggesting he would start Sunday’s fight the same way as he did against Murtazaliev, Spencer replied: “I’m not sure, but whatever he wants to do we’re ready for it.
“We’ve spent the camp preparing for a lot of different versions of Tim.
“So whatever he does, he’s going to see I’ve got answers.”
Think it would be a wise move to replay the start that saw him KO’d?
“Tim has said he didn’t fight wise in his last fight,” Spencer continued. “But then he said he wants to come out and fight that way this fight.
“It’s a little bit contradictory.
“But that’s his business.
“I’m focused on how I’m going to fight.”
Spencer was then asked about his suggestions recently that Murtazaliev had dictated how Tszyu fought in their October clash – and if he now could do the same in his ‘Tszyucastle’ headliner?
“The point I was making there,” Spencer started, “it’s really easy when you lose a fight that way, and you’re analysing it … I think it’s a little bit of a cop out (for Tszyu) to blame the loss just on what he did.
“He was in there with a world champion.
“Bakhram came out and did the right things.
“Which doesn’t mean Tszyu couldn’t have made adjustments in that fight, or couldn’t learn from that fight, but it definitely wasn’t ‘oh, if he came out and fought differently it would’ve gone differently’.
“Bakhram came out to win, not to survive.
“That’s what I was saying.
“Obviously Tim is a real fighter, and he fought back.
“And when you fight there is an opportunity you can get clipped. And that’s what happened.”
Spencer also played down questions over his fight week demeanour, saying: “I’m enjoying this fight week more than I’ve ever enjoyed a fight week before.
“Normally it’s hell on earth, but I feel good.”
Tszyu, meanwhile, was giving little away regarding the suggestion he may start against Spencer with a firefight.
Quizzed on his changing opinions, the incredibly relaxed Aussie cackled: “I’m a man that changes his mind quickly … ask my wife.
“You never what Tim Tszyu is coming.
“Today, I’m more calm. But tomorrow when I wake up, man, who knows?”
Elsewhere, Tszyu also branded his US rival a “sook” following several days of drama regarding the judging panel make-up – which will now include two international officials and one from Australia.
“Some people sook about a lot of things, and I’ll just stay away from it,” he said. “We’re different generations.
“I’m old school, who cares?
“I’m wherever, whenever, whether it’s in the middle of nowhere, whatever.
“We’re different.”
“I just want to make him pay. It doesn’t matter whether he wanted this, this, or this.
“In my mind he’s a roadblock and I want to get rid of this roadblock.”
And as for Tszyu suggesting judges won’t be required?
“He doesn’t even believe that,” Spencer replied.
“Or maybe he does.
“I don’t take much from it.
“When I saw that, I felt like he’s trying to psych himself up.”
