Tim Tszyu has branded Errol Spence Jnr a “diva” — and vowed to viciously target his damaged left eye — after being left waiting for over an hour at Fox Sports studios by the US superstar, who then failed to show altogether for an agreed satellite showdown.
Tszyu’s Hall of Fame coach Jeff Fenech also slammed the bizarre brushing of an event organised by Australian promoters No Limit, while also delivering his own warning to a man his charge has already branded “a disrespectful f***”.
“Spence thinks he’s f***ed us mentally,” Fenech shrugged shortly before walking out of the Sydney studios. “It hasn’t worked”.
Tszyu v Spence Jr. | Sunday July 26 from 11am AEST | Tim Tszyu takes on the biggest name in his career so far – future hall-of-famer Errol Spence Jr, in a can’t miss event for boxing fans around the world. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Only weeks after making headlines for refusing to shake Tszyu’s hand before a Las Vegas press conference, Spence has once again gone and deliberately disrespected Australia’s boxing poster boy.
As part of the continuing build to their Sydney blockbuster on July 26, both fighters had agreed to take part in a televised showdown that was set to air later this week.
Yet when Spence didn’t show, Tszyu was left seething and had a message of his own for the American.
Specifically, the Aussie vowed to target that left eye Spence damaged only weeks out from a 2021 megafight against Manny Pacquiao.
The popular Texan was famously forced to withdraw after suffering a torn and detached retina during a sparring session, which also required immediate surgery.
“I want to inflict pain,” Tszyu said immediately after the snub. “I’m coming for every limb, and especially that retina …”
On Thursday morning, Tszyu and a small entourage led by Fenech arrived at Fox Sports HQ for what was supposed to be a televised showdown with Spence, who was dialling in from Texas.
Despite having already agreed to the interview with No Limit however, the American never showed — and despite Tszyu waiting in studio for over an hour alongside Main Event host Ben Damon and promoter George Rose.
Making the slight even more obvious, Spence’s stablemate Jermall Charlo had no problem making his own timeslot from Texas, doing both his panel interview and a separate chat with Fox Sports Australia.
As a result, and before departing the studio, Tszyu took aim at the American rival who had also refused his offer of an outstretched hand back in May.
“He’s a diva,” Tszyu fired of Spence. “The guy is living in his own little fairytale, thinking he runs the show. He thinks everyone is on his time.
“But unfortunately, we’re not. Just as I won’t be when we finally step into that ring.
“Yes, the guy has achievements. Same as he’s made a s*** tonne of money.
“But once we get into the ring, all that fades away. It’s me and him. That’s the best thing about boxing.”
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“Defending my land” Tszyu on Spence bout | 01:09
Fenech also took aim at Spence, yet stressed his fighter would not be impacted in any way by the slight.
“Listen, Tim Tszyu is a man,” the four-time world champion said. “He knows Spence has just tried to play a game and good luck to him.
“Spence thinks he’s f***ed us mentally … it hasn’t worked. We’ve delayed training by a couple of hours? No problem.
“We’re well ahead of where we expected to be at this point anyway. So we’ll go home now train, then eat properly and rest up.
“We’ve done the honourable thing here. We left home at eight o’clock this morning to make sure we were here early and ready for what we’d committed to.
“So while I don’t like talking about other fighters, Spence has definitely disrespected everyone. But we’re ready for this fight. We’re fine.”
During the panel program, Damon first interviewed Tszyu and Rose, before then interjecting with: “Well, this is the section where we were meant to cross to the United States and talk to Errol Spence.
“But we are hearing now that, despite a number of phone calls, and this time being booked with Errol, he has not jumped on and he will not be joining us for this chat …”
Asked for a reaction, Tszyu replied: “We’ll we’ve been waiting [wired up in the studio] for 45 minutes now, and I’ve missed out on sparring today … well, had to change it up for this to be done. So I’m quite upset.”
Rose added: “It’s disappointing. I was really excited to get the opportunity to hear from Errol and get the opportunity for these guys to have a chat. Let the Australian public know how he feels about coming here.
“Now we miss out on that. But this is going to be another moment that is fuel for Tim Tszyu’s fire. We talked a moment ago about the handshake that ignited it. I think this is going to be another moment in the memory bank for when Tim Tszyu’s hand is raised … it will be another [reason] why Tim was so p****d off and performed the way he did.
Tszyu v Spence Jr. | Sunday July 26 from 11am AEST | Tim Tszyu takes on the biggest name in his career so far – future hall-of-famer Errol Spence Jr, in a can’t miss event for boxing fans around the world. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Card confirmed for Tszyu v Spence Jnr | 00:52
“Because we are going to see the best version of Tim Tszyu on July 26 to knock off one of the greats of this generation. We’ll see one of the best performances ever from Tim and this is just fuel for the fire.”
At which point Damon suggested Tszyu appeared to be “quietly seething”.
“Just a diva attitude,” he continued. “I had to change plans. But it is what it is. Right now I’m thinking about every limb of his body that I want to hurt.
“I want to inflict pain. And in three weeks I get to put my hands on him …”
Asked if he felt disrespected, Tszyu continued: “Of course. We had an obligation to have a chat. And he wouldn’t oblige.”
So as for his message for Spence?
“I’m coming for every limb, especially that retina …”
The latest snub follows Spence deliberately rejecting Tszyu’s handshake offer prior to a press conference to announce their fight in May.
The American also took aim at Tszyu comparing the bout to his Hall of Fame father Kostya’s famed battle with Julio Cesar Chavez, saying: “That’s cute, but it ain’t what this is.
“This is Errol Spence versus Tim Tszyu. He’s not the calibre of his daddy. He can’t compare himself to his pops.
“He’s fighting me. He is trying to get out of his daddy’s shadow. We’ll see July 26 if he can get out of that shadow”.
None of which impressed the Aussie.
“I’m a very respectful guy,” Tszyu said at one point of the Las Vegas press event.
“I came up to him before and tried to shake his hand – he just walked past me like a disrespectful f***. That just shows the type of person he is.
“And that’s alright. He’s talking about the comparisons between me and my dad, I’ve heard it all.
“Every fighter I’ve ever fought has said the same thing. It’s alright …”
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