Just over a month remains until the July 26 showdown between Australian star Tim Tszyu and American former world champion Errol Spence Jr., two ex-titleholders looking to revive their careers after difficult years. Several boxing insiders have already started making their predictions, including current WBO lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson, widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
During an episode of All The Smoke Fight, Stevenson answered a question from Andre Ward, who asked what he expects from Spence ahead of his return to the ring:
“I think he’s gonna do good. I wish Errol the best. I hope Errol goes in there and beats Tim Tszyu up. I’m an Errol Spence fan. I was cool with Errol Spence before that Crawford fight a long time ago. I want Errol Spence to prosper. I don’t think Tim Tszyu can beat Errol. I know Errol, he’s mentally tough, he’s a dog when it comes to fighting. I don’t think Tim Tszyu can beat him.”
Spence has not fought since the summer of 2023, when he suffered a devastating defeat to Terence Crawford. His comeback has been discussed repeatedly by the media, only to be postponed time and again. Now, he is returning directly against a highly ranked opponent, a move that some observers view as a major gamble.
The bookmakers, however, seem to agree with Stevenson. At the moment, a Spence victory is priced at 1.65, while a bet on Tszyu returns 2.25 times the stake, indicating that the American is considered the favorite.
Tszyu will be looking to upset those odds, and he will have home advantage on his side, as the fight will take place in Australia in front of his own fans. Another factor working in his favor is activity: during Spence’s long absence from the ring, Tszyu has fought seven times.