Errol Spence return targeted for Tim Tszyu in Australia

Report links Spence comeback to junior middleweight bout with Tszyu following long layoff

Errol Spence Jr. is being lined up for a July 26 return against Tim Tszyu in Australia, according to a report by Dan Rafael. The bout would mark Spence’s first fight since his 2023 loss to Terence Crawford and a move to junior middleweight.

Dan Rafael reported that sources say the bout is being planned for Sunday afternoon, July 26, in Australia. That would place the U.S. telecast on Saturday night, July 25.

Spence has not fought since his stoppage loss to Terence Crawford in July 2023. Long layoffs can be hard enough on their own.

Adding a move to 154 pounds and traveling abroad makes this an ambitious way back. Jumping straight into another high-pressure fight against a guy who thrives on forward momentum is a huge mental hurdle.

Tszyu is younger, naturally bigger, and used to the division. Fighting in Australia also gives him the comfort of home support and familiar conditions.

There is pressure on Tszyu as well. A win over Spence would quickly lift him back into major-fight talk and restore some momentum after a difficult recent spell.

The date itself also works neatly for broadcasters, giving Australia a live Sunday event while American viewers get a Saturday night card.

Spence moving to Ronnie Shields’ camp shows he knows he needs a fresh perspective, but a new trainer can only do so much to fix three years of inactivity. This isn’t a fight for a man who is unsure of himself.

Spence has never been a “tune-up” guy. Even after his near-fatal car accident in 2019, he came back directly against Danny Garcia. He has always operated on the belief that he is the “Big Fish” in the pond, and at 36, he likely feels he doesn’t have the luxury of time. Spending six months on a soft touch might feel like a waste of the precious few elite rounds he has left.

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