Tim Tszyu knows the art of mind games and mental warfare in professional boxing and combat sport, clearly, by this.
The Australian steps in there tonight against American Errol Spence in a catchweight bout of 160 pounds in Australia.
Three years ago Spence was outboxed and stopped by Terence Crawford inside the distance.
A real whopping and Spence has that in his mind ahead of tonight. Tszyu has said he will give him flashbacks of the Crawford fight tonight.
Clever from Tszyu. Here is why that is an effective mental tool of warfare ahead of the fight:
- Targets Spence’s only loss—a brutal KO defeat where he was dropped three times
- Reminds Spence he hasn’t fought in three years since that beatdown
- Plants doubt about whether his punch resistance is still intact
- Suggests his legendary warrior mentality can be broken
- Flipped the script—Tszyu, not Spence, will be the bully
- Turns Spence’s dismissive attitude back on him
- Rejects Mendoza’s claim that Tszyu’s will can be broken—puts focus on Spence’s fragility
- Frames the fight as Spence’s “retirement” bout—he’s coming to finish Crawford’s work
- Reminds everyone Spence’s pre-Crawford invincibility is gone
- Calm, surgical mind game—more unsettling than trash talk
Spence might shock everyone and box out of his skin and defeat Tszyu but he is really up against it tonight.
Tszyu must start fast and be switched on right the way through and if he boxes to his best, he should be able to defeat Spence.
Let’s just see a great fight for spectators of boxing tonight.
May the best man win.
Here were the Spence vs Tszyu weigh in results a short time ago.
Not long to go now until Errol Spence and Tim Tszyu are in the ring tonight.
Roll on.
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