Errol Spence is at the biggest fight of his life this week for Tim Tszyu but there is much that does not seem right with him.
So far Errol Spence has seemed like he has been all training camp for Tim Tszyu, not focused.
Not there mentally.
Not switched on.
He wanted the weight increased for the catchweight fight this weekend with Tim Tszyu which was a tell tale sign he is struggling in his training.
He put on excessive weight by doing weights for the bout which nine times out of ten for any professional boxer is never good.
Let alone one coming back from a long layoff from over three years out of the ring from a fight where he was not only beaten but completely outclassed in.
Terence Crawford three years ago bust him up and knocked him out and he has not boxed since.
Now over three years on he is on the other side of the world in Australia and all the pressure is on him this week, it really is.
You can tell the pressure is getting to him too with his switched off, not convincing care free attitude.
He is under pressure and his ingenuine talking before the fight does not fool anyone.
Let alone those in Australia or his opponent Tim Tszyu.
If Tim Tszyu is smart he will look to make this a physical fight this weekend and push a pace on a now older Texan Errol Spence right from the get go.
Tszyu needs to get going right from round one full of focus.
Spence has older legs now and his timing is going to be way off after the three plus years out of the ring. This needs to be exposed right in round one from Tszyu.
Tszyu as well has competed at 155 pounds his whole career and the fight is above this weight at a catchweight which he can play to his advantage by making things a physical fight right from the get go.
Tszyu can box but Spence is sometimes as well a bit of a bulldozer merchant in there like Tszyu sometimes but Spence will have trouble doing that at this weight and with all the time away from professional boxing.
Tszyu can lean on Spence right from the get go in the fight and look to wear Spence down in a physical bout where Spence will start feeling that pace after a few rounds.
Of course Tszyu will have the home advantage in Australia as well and this can work to his benefit in the gas tank department as well if he drains the energy and mental focus from Spence more and more from round one and there after.
Tszyu cannot start slow on Saturday night and must hit the ground running and take the Spence legs, energy and gas tank away early doors.
He has all the technical and physical tools in the sweet science of boxing to do this.
Aussies are known for their brawling at times and if Tszyu can make this into more of a brawl with some intelligent pressure in his boxing, and have different game plans, this will be to his advantage in there.
A combination of clever boxing behind a lot of well timed pressure and making this a tough, physical, part brawl of a fight for a Spence that has been away from boxing for a long time now.
He can wear Errol Spence down and get to him in the mid rounds if he starts well.
Here is how Tszyu can do this at the weekend with Errol Spence:
- Attack the body relentlessly – drain Spence’s gas tank and leg drive early.
- Neutralize his southpaw jab – parry, slip, and jam it to kill his rhythm.
- Smother his space – clinch, lean on him, and don’t let him box at range.
- Fight in the pocket – trade power hooks and uppercuts where Spence can’t use footwork.
- Walk him down – be the aggressor and force Spence to fight backwards.
- Make it ugly – turn it into a gritty brawl, not a technical chess match.
- Cut off the ring – trap him against the ropes and corners to limit his escape.
- Use heavy feints – freeze him with doubt, then explode forward with combinations.
- Target his hips/legs – with low legal shots to weaken his pivot and movement.
- Smother him with volume – throw in long bursts and clinch to test his stamina and will.
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