Errol Spence demands new weight limit for Tim Tszyu showdown

With July 26 drawing ever closer, the date on which Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence Jnr are due to fight in Australia, there is a sense of last-minute chaos in the air.

According to Jeff Fenech, Tszyu’s trainer, the comebacking Spence – out of the ring since a brutal welterweight loss to Terence Crawford three years ago – requested the weight limit for their bout to be increased to 160lbs. A catchweight of 158lbs had previously been agreed after 156 was initially on the table at the start of negotiations.

Before that, the 27-3 (18 KOs) Tszyu is understood to have wanted the bout to be set at 154lbs, the limit of the junior middleweight class in which the Australian has spent much of his career.

In the end, however, both parties agreed to 158 in the interest of getting the Afterplay Arena fight over the line.

Spence, whose last victory came against Yordenis Ugas in April 2022, has campaigned at welterweight for nearly all of his career though he did weigh just over 156lbs for a 2015 victory over Chris van Heerden.

“They’re wanting to go up two pounds, want the fight at 160,” Fenech told Fox Sports Australia on Wednesday.

“But OK, Tim Tszyu is a big kid. I remember his father Kostya used to put up to 20 pounds back on after weighing in. And his son is the same.”

Tszyu, who was left waiting when Spence failed to show up for a digital face-off last month, is for now taking it all in his stride.

"Well, I took Sebastian Fundora on roughly a week’s notice,” he said, referencing his split-decision loss to Fundora in 2024. “So, you think I’m worried about a couple of pounds? No, I go for it.

“It doesn’t worry me, man. I think he’s starting to realise the disadvantage that is travelling all the way down here for a fight.

"And so, as a result, he’s now trying to convince himself he has a competitive edge.

“He’s trying to make himself feel better."

Spence and his team are expected to arrive in Australia Thursday.