One of the biggest questions hanging over Errol Spence Jnr’s comeback has been answered, according to a former world champion.
Just 20 days out from his long-awaited showdown with Tim Tszyu in Sydney, Brian Mendoza says the former unified welterweight king is looking as sharp as ever – and can still take a shot.
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After almost three years out of the ring following his devastating stoppage loss to Terence Crawford, plenty have questioned whether Spence can still deal with punishment.
Mendoza says the answer is a resounding yes.
Having shared the ring with Tszyu in a world title fight back in 2023 before becoming one of Spence’s sparring partners for this camp in Houston, the American says ‘The Truth’ has shown no signs of being gun-shy or chinny.
“I did check Spence’s punch resistance,” Mendoza told FightHype.
“I can definitely say I sent some missiles his way – and I honestly feel like he responded well anytime I landed something.
“He eats the shots well. I saw a recovered Spence and I think his punch resistance is there.”
Mendoza also noticed Spence making adjustments almost straight away in sparring – another sign, he reckons, the former champ is back in business.
“I was catching him with shots the first day we sparred. The second day we sparred, those shots were not landing,” Mendoza.
“People forget he was a boxer as an amateur. He was an olympian. He used to box people, but he found out he could run people over and he got a little too happy with that.”
The comments come after several respected boxing voices, including former world champions Sergio Mora and Shane Mosley, questioned whether Spence can return at an elite level against a dangerous opponent like Tszyu.
Mora delivered a particularly grim assessment, suggesting Spence was simply “doing it for the money” and warning “it’s not going to end well”.
Mendoza, however, believes those critics are barking up the wrong tree.
“For those of you that think he’s done, that he’s just showing up for a paycheck… he’s not working like someone who’s showing up for a paycheck,” he said.
“The work ethic I got to see in the couple of weeks I was in camp, and just from being in the ring with him… there were adjustments every day.
“He’s not someone that’s just showing up and clocking in and going through the motions.”
Having gone 12 rounds with Tszyu before spending weeks helping prepare Spence for his comeback, Mendoza believes few people understand both men as well as he does.
And that is why he expects fireworks when they finally collide later this month.
“I think he [Spence] is going to give Tszyu a hell of a fight,” he said.
“It’s not such an easy fight to choose anymore. A lot of people were picking Tim in this one but it’s a lot more up in the air than they think.”
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And Mendoza isn’t the only respected boxing figure refusing to write Spence off.
Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, the trainer who masterminded Terence Crawford’s one-sided demolition of Spence three years ago, also believes the American will surprise plenty of people against Tszyu.
“That’s going to be a great fight,” McIntyre told FightHype.
“If Errol is going to be himself, he should win. But we don’t know what he’s got left.
“But if Tim comes in and is himself, he’ll push Errol to the edge.”
Asked whether he viewed it as a 50-50 fight, McIntyre shook his head.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said.
“I think Errol will probably win it.”
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Even so, the experts remain split, with celebrated trainer Robert Garcia among those tipping Tszyu to claim one of the biggest wins of his career.
Tszyu and Spence will square off in Sydney on July 26.