NEWCASTLE, Australia -- In combat sports, every fight can often feel as if it's a do-or-die type proposition. Fighters and promoters build up their bouts as if their lives depend on it, the media buys into the charade, and fans promptly follow suit. But more often than not, those left bloodied, bruised, and beaten are able to find a way to pick up the pieces and forge on.
And then there are those fights that actually are make or break; fights that are either career-defining or career-crippling. The latter of which is something facing Australia's Tim Tszyu when he squares off against rising American phenom Joseph Spencer in Newcastle this Sunday. Should Tszyu come up short, there will be no more lifelines thrown his way.
"It's sink or swim," said a cognizant Tszyu ahead of his crunch meeting with Spencer. "This is my redemption tour. I'm coming back stronger, hungrier, and ready to prove a point. I'm here to make a statement. If I have to walk through fire to get back on top, so be it. This is what I live for."
Eighteen months ago, Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs) was busy staking his claim to being one of the hottest fighters on the planet. He had successfully negotiated a bout with division superstar Jermell Charlo, though injuries to the American meant it never came to fruition. Instead, Tszyu collected the WBO junior middleweight champion belt with a dominant win over Tony Harrison, then defended the strap twice, first against Carlos Ocampo, then Brian Mendoza. Tszyu was yet to taste defeat from 24 outings, living up to the hype his legendary surname carries in the boxing world.
But everything he had worked for throughout his life seemingly unraveled in the blink of an eye. In March last year, Tszyu relinquished his WBO junior middleweight world title with a split-decision loss to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas, a fight in which he suffered a nasty cut in his hairline that restricted his vision and ultimately handicapped his ability to scrap for victory.
He was then unable to rebound against IBF super welterweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando six months later, a fight in which he entered as an overwhelming favourite to win. Tszyu was dropped four times in the opening three rounds and appeared timid and lethargic in the shock, one-sided affair. It was this latest loss that left him at a career crossroads. Every fight fan knows there's simply no chance of recovering a place as one of boxing's best should he slump to three consecutive defeats.
"This is the biggest fight of Tim's career, no question. It's do-or-die," said his promoter, George Rose, a week out from the fight. "For Tim, this is about proving he still belongs at the very top. A statement win here rockets him straight back into the mix with the best in the world. Let's be real, 154 pounds is the best division in boxing right now. The names at the top are massive, and Tim's name deserves to be right there with them.
"All Tim needs to do is shake off 2024 with a great performance, and he's right back in the thick of it. A big win against Spencer, and we're talking Jermell Charlo, Keith Thurman, Sebastian Fundora, Errol Spence, Vergil Ortiz ... all blockbuster fights that can happen next."
Spencer (19-1, 11 KOs) is an extremely dangerous proposition for Tszyu. The 24-year-old from Michigan is already a nine-time American champion and has been touted for some time as one of boxing's genuine rising stars. He is riding a three-fight win streak, having overcome Marcelo Fabian Bzowski, Janer Gonzalez, and Miguel Angel Hernandez all in the past 18 months. And although this will be his first time fighting away from US soil, he's confident he has the tools to spoil Tszyu's party.
"I feel great. It's been a great time in Australia and a great finish to camp," said Spencer during fight week. "I think Tim is going to come out hard. This is an important fight for both of us. This is everything for both of us.
"For me, I want to go to the next level, so I have to get this win. You only get so many opportunities in boxing, so when you're in the position that Tim is in, you've got to make sure you get back in that winners' track. It's important for both of us and it's going to bring the best out of both of us."