Errol Spence Jnr and trainer Ronnie Shields believe Tim Tszyu crossed a line when the Aussie vowed to target the American’s surgically repaired retina ahead of Sunday’s Sydney blockbuster.
The tension between the rivals has continued to simmer during fight week, with both Spence and his veteran coach taking exception to comments Tszyu made about exploiting what has long been viewed as one of the biggest question marks hanging over the former unified welterweight king.
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Spence underwent surgery to repair a detached retina in his left eye in 2021 before successfully returning to the ring, with the injury remaining a talking point throughout the build-up to his comeback after almost three years away from the sport.
The comments came after the American superstar kept Tszyu and coach Jeff Fenech waiting at Fox Sports Sydney for more than an hour ahead of an agreed satellite face-off, leaving the Australian annoyed.
“I’m coming for every limb,” Tszyu said.
“That’s it. Simple. Especially that retina.”
Now, two weeks later, Spence and Shields have made it clear they believe the Australian went too far.
“I didn’t take it well,” Spence said on Wednesday.
“I don’t like that he said that at all, because I feel like if I would have said that, I’d have been villainized for it.
“Like people really would have been like, ‘You know, man. He said he’s gonna take his eye. He’s taking it too serious.’
“Like they would really have came at me for that, but you know, I guess he said it.”
Shields agreed, insisting there are some things that you don’t say before a fight.
“Boxing is already a barbaric sport,” he told Fox Sports Australia.
“But you’ve got to have some sort of sensibility in the sport you represent.
“If you say, ‘Hey, I’m going to knock you out’, OK, that’s boxing. But to say ‘I’m going to take your eye out’ and all this kind of stuff, you know, that’s way too far.
“So that’s why Errol wouldn’t shake his hand. He’s saying, ‘I’m not going to be cordial if he’s going to talk that way’.”
Still, the ‘The Truth’ insisted he wasn’t about to lose sleep over the comments, knowing he’ll have the chance to settle things with his fists on Sunday.
“It really doesn’t matter,” he said.
“It’s fight week. I’m super excited, happy. I’m blessed to be here, and I’m taking this moment.
“I’m definitely gonna do what I want to do, and I’m gonna make this fight very, very interesting and come out with a victory.”
Of course, Spence himself has thrown a few jabs Tszyu’s way over the years.
Long before the pair were finally matched, ‘The Big Fish’ publicly labelled Tszyu “trash”, said he’d put $10,000 on Tony Harrison to beat him, and later suggested the Aussie wasn’t in the same class as his legendary father, Kostya.
When those comments were put back to him on Wednesday, Spence doubled down.
“Kostya was a very different fighter,” said Spence.
“Kostya was a very good fighter.”
And for Spence, the difference isn’t hard to spot.
“They definitely fought different,” explained Spence.
“Kostya Tszyu was just way better.. how he could outpoint people.
“He had a great amateur background, and you know…
“I feel like Kostya was just more of a boxer puncher.
“He wasn’t a guy to just don’t you know come straight forward. You know things like that.
Kostya could fight off his back foot too.”
Tszyu, meanwhile, has made no secret of his intention to take the fight directly to Spence from the opening bell.
Asked if that approach would play into his hands, the American simply smiled and shrugged.
“It could be, he said.
“Only time will tell.”
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Spence’s pressure style has broken down some of boxing’s biggest names, with former champ Chris Algieri recently revealing he was the strongest opponent he’d ever faced.
Yet when asked if he expected to bully Tszyu on Sunday, Spence wasn’t so sure.
“I don’t know. You know, I think that’s Tim’s thing more to bully people,” he said.
“I’m gonna make adjustments. You know, if I can’t bully him, I probably will.
“So we’ll definitely see.”