Tim Tszyu has declared Errol Spence Jnr “rattled” after the pair engaged in a heated Face Off interview that has once again finished up with the pair failing to shake hands – and the American superstar also suggesting he won’t extend his hand after the fight.
It comes as Tszyu has also made the shock announcement that his days fighting as a super welterweight are over, with Australia’s longtime boxing poster boy now looking to become a two-division world champion at middleweight.
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Speaking with media at a Grand Arrivals event on Tuesday night, the fighter now dubbed ‘Phoenix’ also revealed Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech will be staying aboard as head coach for as long as his career lasts.
After weeks of hype, Tszyu finally kicked off fight week celebrations at a gala Sydney Harbour launch where he and Spence walked the red carpet, fronted media, addressed a Main Event Australia panel and, eventually, took part in an extended face off.
Earlier in the afternoon, the pair also sat across from each other in an interview conducted by Main Event’s Ben Damon.
At the finish, it is understood Spence rose from his chair and shook Damon’s hand, however refused to do the same with Tszyu. Walking out of the room, the Texan suggested there would also be no handshake after the fight either.
Asked about the confrontation on Tuesday night, Tszyu grinned: “Doesn’t bother me, man. We’re not going to be friends and that’s alright.
“We’re here to punch on.
“It’s a fight, not a dancing contest.
“And do I want to hurt him? Yes I do. He’s got everything I want.
“It’s not personal for me though, it’s a sport.”
Think it’s personal for Spence?
After all, this is a man who has been in your orbit for two years, and was sitting ringside, and ready to confront you, had things gone more successfully that night of your Sebastian Fundora bloodbath.
Elsewhere, Spence has also publicly backed against Tszyu in several big fights, including Tony Harrison.
Even when the pair announced the fight in Las Vegas, Spence now famously refused to shake Tszyu’s hand backstage, before more recently also failing to show up for a scheduled satellite TV interview between the pair.
“This is my lose yourself moment”: Tszyu | 07:34
So again, think it’s personal?
“Yeah, he’s a bit rattled,” the Aussie shrugged while addressing a media scrum. “But he’s never had a liking for me anyway. So any little thing I throw at him, he’s going to react.”
Despite the afternoon exchange, neither Tszyu or Spence said anything when they squared off later in the evening, and before a huge crowd that included a host of NRL stars like Cody Walker, Jack Wighton and Josh Addo Carr, plus a Main Event broadcast team of Shawn Porter, Paulie Malignaggi and Danny Green.
While the stare down was longer than usual, neither man said a word as fireworks went off behind them.
Asked prior if, maybe, Spence was using the handshake drama to try and make him emotional in fight week, Tszyu continued: “I dunno but I’m not emotional, man. I’m so locked in. So in the zone.
“And it’s good to have this feeling.
“But half the words he says, I can’t understand him anyway. Give me subtitles …”
Elsewhere, Tszyu also surprisingly said that, moving forward, he will now be campaigning permanently as a middleweight.
As revealed last week, Team Spence have requested, and been granted, an increase in weight for Sunday’s bout to the middleweight limit of 160 pounds.
The change represents a two pound increase on an initially agreed catchweight, and is a division up on where negotiations first opened for the fight.
Asked by Fox Sports Australia when he knew about the change, Tszyu said: “Two weeks ago, maybe a week.”
And as for your thoughts?
“Just bring him here,” he grinned. “I’ll say yes. Doesn’t bother me. And this could be the start of something new … middleweight.”
Already, there have been suggestions that, in victory, Tszyu could go straight into a fight with WBA middleweight king Erislandy Lara.
“I will be moving to middleweight.,” Tszyu said when the issue of weight was pushed. “And this is my first fight there.
“I’ve been doing 154 for 10 years.
“This is the first time coming into fight week where I’ve got f***ing blood in my brain. You’re going to see a better performance for sure.”
‘He’s trying to take my eyesight!’ | 01:41
So any chance he ever fights again at super welterweight?
“For what? Money,” he shrugged.
Or a world title offer, particularly if you win big over Spence?
“I’m at 160 now,” he said simply. “That’s my new move and I feel it … breaking news.”
Asked if Fenech also supported this breaking news, Tszyu smiled before replying: “I do what I want to do. That’s the difference from previous times.
“And Jeff supports me no matter what. Very caring bloke.”
And as for how long the Tszyu-Fenech partnership is for?
“That’s it man, to the end of my career,” he said. “What I’ve gained from Jeff words can’t describe it. I’m forever in debt to him.”
Elsewhere, Tszyu also explained how the feeling he has this fight week, it is something he has experienced only twice before.
“There are three fights where I’ve been [this] locked in,” he said. “Where I’ve felt different from previous fights. It’s Jeff Horn, Tony Harrison and Errol Spence.
“It’s a different feeling and I just can’t wait to get in there. I don’t like doing all these interviews, I just want to punch on.”
Toughest challenge of your career?
“Of course, and it’s why I have this feeling,” he said. “I want this fight to come down not to skills, but who wants it more.”