Tim Tszyu’s mega-fight with Errol Spence is all but locked in with ‘The Phoenix’ and No Limit boss Matt Rose quietly jetting out to Las Vegas on Thursday night for a whirlwind three day trip to seal the deal.
Code Sports can confirm the bout will take place on July 26, and in a huge coup for Aussie boxing fans, it will be staged Down Under.
There will also be world title ramifications for the winner, and Rose is set to negotiate the weight and a rematch clause with Spence’s team.
Tszyu and Rose slipped out of Sydney on Thursday night, and will spend the next two days finalising the details of the contract for the biggest fight of Tszyu’s career.
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With the drama of his falling out with younger brother Nikita, and the shock of a second switch of teams in seven months still fresh, Tszyu will also take some time out to relax ringside as his mate, David Benavidez, fights Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in a cruiserweight world title blockbuster at T-Mobile Arena.
It is expected the Tszyu-Spence fight will be made official during the Benavidez-Ramirez broadcast.
Tszyu’s new coach, Jeff Fenech confirmed the fight is a done deal.
“Yes the fight is going ahead, I believe the fight is done, Tim is fighting Spence,” Fenech told Code Sports.
“They’ve agreed to everything. They’ve told Tim what he is getting and he is getting an allowance for his training. They wouldn’t be doing that if the fight isn’t done.
“Tim is heading over to America and as soon as Tim comes back from America, we’ll get into camp. Tim will have a clear mind and one thing only – to beat Errol Spence.
“Spence is one of the greatest fighters of his generation and if we don’t respect him, we’re in trouble.”
Spence is a former pound-for-pound top 10 fighter on the planet, but hasn’t fought since a 2023 defeat to all-time great Terence Crawford.
Here’s everything we know about Tszyu-Spence.
VENUE
There had been speculation the fight would be held in Spence’s hometown of Dallas, but No Limit has managed to lure the American superstar Down Under.
Three cities and four venues are in the running to host the biggest domestic fight in Australia this year, with Sydney’s Allianz Stadium and Qudos Bank Arena considered front-runners.
Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast is also in the mix, as is RAC Arena in Perth.
The iconic Allianz Stadium hasn’t hosted a boxing event since Anthony Mundine and Danny Green’s first epic encounter in 2006.
The Moore Park venue could mark a stunning full circle moment for Tszyu, who made his professional debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground next door.
Meanwhile, Qudos Bank Arena was the venue for Tszyu’s biggest crowning achievement, when he stopped Tony Harrison to claim the interim WBO world title in 2023.
WEIGHT
Spence is a former unified welterweight world champion and one of the best 147-pounders in modern boxing history, and the American will likely move up two weight classes to fight Tszyu.
Code Sports can reveal the fight will be held at middleweight, although there is a high chance of it being staged at a catchweight between 157 and 160 pounds.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
In a rare instance for boxing, the fight is big enough without a world title belt on the line.
Although the winner will be within touching distance of one.
Code Sports can confirm the bout will be an eliminator for the WBA or the WBO middleweight title, with the winner expected to get a shot at the belt in their next fight.
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REMATCH CLAUSE
Rose will negotiate with Spence’s team around a rematch clause, for the fight.
Memories of Tszyu’s bloody split decision defeat to Sebastian Fundora are still fresh, and Tszyu won’t want to be left scrambling if something similar happens again.
ROUNDS
Despite it not being a world title fight, expect it to be fought over the championship distance of 12 three minute rounds.