Spencer makes weight, game on in high-stakes Tszyu bout
Darren Walton |
Proud patriot Tim Tszyu is vowing to mark his territory and protect his homeland after Joey Spencer overcame a week of drama and turmoil to make weight and confirm the pair’s spicy super-welterweight showdown in Newcastle.
After being accused of “sooking” about three Australian judges initially being assigned to the fight and turning up to open training sessions in beanies and sweaters, Spencer actually hit the scales lighter than Tszyu on Saturday.
After wasting all week, the American had no more time to spare to fire off any more barbs after days of verbal sparring between the two combatants.
“All the need for talk is done. We’re ready to fight,” Spencer said.
Tszyu was happy to play ball as he bids to resurrect his career after two disastrous world-title losses last year in the US to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev.
The Tszyu family, including his Hall-of-Famer father Kostya and younger brother Nikita, are an incredible 50-0 in Australia – and unbeaten in 12 fights in their so-called ‘Tszyu-Castle’ fortress.
“My country, my town. Let’s defend,” Tszyu said.
“Let’s get it on.”
No backward steps, both fighters are, inevitably, promising to win Sunday’s high-stakes bout.
The power-punching Spencer (19-1, 11KOs) believes this is his date with date destiny.
“It represents a dream come true,” said the 25-year-old “Small Town Soldier” from Michigan.
“This is what I’ve wanted to do my entire life. I believe with all my heart that this is my time.
“Everything has come together for this opportunity, and so I’m just enjoying it. I’m enjoying the moment.”
Stopping short of claiming he has Tszyu (24-2, 17KOs) rattled, the international challenger is adamant he has the home hope covered.
“I don’t know if he’s underestimating me or not. I’m not inside his head. He says something different in every interview, so we don’t know what he really feels or thinks,” Spencer said.
“It’s probably good on his part to keep everybody else guessing. But that’s why I’m not focused on him.
“I just know I’ve put in, what I know I’ve got inside me. I feel like my journey has brought me to this point.
“He’s a great opponent, he’s done great things, I think he’s extremely dangerous but, at the end of the day, it’s not about him. It’s about me and I feel like I’ve got what it takes to be at this level and to win this fight.
“I’m not arrogant enough to say that I’m just going to be able to choose what I do in this fight and he’s not going to respond.
“We’re both going to have to respond to each other. This is going to be a competitive fight, and so that means there’s going to be ebbs and flows, adjustments to be made.”
Tszyu knows his career is at a crossroad following his devastating defeats last year.
“A lot of greats fall,” the 30-year-old said.
“It’s not about how you fall. It’s about how you get back up and this is my redemption.”
AAP
