‘I’m the big fish’: superstar Spence’s warning to Tszyu

Darren Walton and Will Nicholas | July 16, 2026

Tim Tszyu’s blockbuster with Errol Spence Jr will go ahead but the major undercard bout may not amid travelling and logistical chaos.

Spence finally arrived in Sydney on Thursday morning after fears the undefeated American superstar could be a no-show following an administrative bungle in the US.

But Koen Mazoudier’s scheduled showdown with another unbeaten pin-up, Jermall Charlo, is in serious doubt as the American desperately awaits a visa.

Officials are scrambling to sort the issue but, with the clock ticking to fight day on July 26 at Afterpay Arena, Mazoudier’s slated super-welterweight tussle may not go ahead.

Promoters are at least breathing a sigh of relief at Spence’s arrival after briefly losing contact with the former unified world welterweight champion before his departure from Los Angeles.

“It feels good. I thought it was going to be a lot colder than this, so the weather’s great,” Spence told reporters at Sydney airport.

“I was looking from the plane, it looked like it’s a great city. So I’m enjoying myself out here and I can’t wait for Sunday.”

The 36-year-old was treated to a Welcome to Country upon arrival.

“I wasn’t expecting that at all,” he said.

“You know, to get greeted by Aborigines and getting the whole dance and getting to meet them and everything. I appreciate that, especially coming out after a long trip.”

But that was where Spence’s love for Australia ended.

After a bitter build-up, Spence (28-1, 22KOs) said he had no words for Tszyu (27-3, 18KOs), only a warning.

“I really just don’t care for him. I don’t have no message for him. I’m the big fish. I’m going to come take over his backyard,” he said.

“I fought overseas a lot, so it’s not something that I’m unfamiliar with at all.

“So I’m going to take it all in, enjoy the whole process, and hopefully everybody won’t boo me and I’m going to put on a great show.”

Mazoudier (15-4-1, 6KOs) feels the same way about Charlo (34-0, 23KOs).

“I don’t give a shit right now. I couldn’t give a shit about Charlo,” he told AAP on Thursday.

Preparing, regardless, for the biggest fight of his life, Mazoudier is hoping No Limit Boxing can find him another match-up if Charlo proves a no show.

“I’m ready to punch on with anyone they put in front of me, whether it’s Charlo, whether it’s Spence, whether it’s Tszyu, whether it’s some other person,” the 30-year-old said.

“I’m not thinking about them. I’m thinking about what I need to do. That’s all that’s on my mind.”

Given his twin brother Jermell twice reneged on scheduled showstoppers with Tszyu, Mazoudier’s camp are not the least bit surprised their bout is up in the air.

“I was just on the phone to his manager, Peter Mitrevski, in the car,” Mazoudier’s co-coach and corner man Luke Phipps said.

“I just said to him, ‘By the reports you’re reading in the media now, it looks like we’re fighting Tim Tszyu next Sunday’.

“So we know all that stuff as well. We knew that there was 100 articles coming out and saying this. I wouldn’t expect anything else.”