Joey Spencer is aiming to spoil Tim Tszyu’s comeback

Joey Spencer knows what his role is expected to be. But the 24-year-old American will fly to Australia not to play the fall guy to Tim Tszyu, but rather to be the spoiler.

“This fight is very important for my career,” Spencer said when discussing the April 6 event at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle. “A lot of people are going to be tuning in and watching this fight to see if Tim can bounce back. 

“I believe that I’m going to be an underdog in this fight. People are gonna take this as a comeback fight, that he’s going to come in and be able to get his career back on track. But when I come in and do what I need to do to get this win, I’m definitely going to be on the map in a way that I haven’t been up to this point.”

Tszyu had a rough 2024. He lost his junior-middleweight world title to Sebastian Fundora in March and then was bludgeoned for three rounds by IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev in October. The 30-year-old Tszyu is 24-2 (17 KOs).

Spencer, who hails from Michigan, is 19-1 (11 KOs). He was stopped in seven rounds by Jesus Ramos Jnr in March 2023 and has scored three victories in a row since – including a majority decision over the 9-0 Miguel Angel Hernandez in December.

“I’m excited to get big fights after this,” Spencer said. “I feel like it’s going to open the door for me to fight bigger fights and the ultimate goal, which is winning the title. I want this one a little bit more than I think I’ve ever wanted a fight before. I really want to win this one.”

Tszyu is the more accomplished of the two fighters. Spencer thinks his own attributes will help him take out the former titleholder.

“I believe I beat him because I believe I’m a superior boxer,” Spencer said. “In all facets, I believe that I’m the better fighter. As far as his weaknesses go, I feel like he’s got a warrior spirit. It can turn into a weakness. It can also be a strength. It just depends on how it’s being used. I believe I’m going to come in with the better game plan, and I believe that he’s not going to be able to deal with what we prepare in this training camp. 

“So if I touch his chin right, do I believe that I can put him away? Absolutely. I’m coming to take him out, whether it’s a decision, a stoppage or a knockout. A knockout is always fun, but I don’t necessarily think that just because he was knocked out in his last fight, I’ll have an easier time knocking him out. 

“I’m taking this fight and going into it the same way that I go into every other fight, which is letting the game plan play out and fighting my fight, and if the knockout comes, it comes.”