Shawn Porter has shared his candid outlook on how former rival Errol Spence Jr. could perform against Tim Tszyu in their upcoming catchweight bout at 158lbs.
The two fighters are set to meet in Australia on July 25, marking Spence’s return to the ring since his ninth-round stoppage loss to Terence Crawford in 2023. Prior to that defeat, many believed Spence was on an unbeaten path, but he was dominated by Crawford, losing the IBF, WBC, and WBA welterweight titles he had earned by defeating Kell Brook, Porter, and Yordenis Ugas.
Tszyu, meanwhile, enters the fight after two routine points victories, following a seventh-round knockout loss to Sebastian Fundora last July. In their first clash, Fundora won a split decision in 2024, and Tszyu later suffered a punishing third-round stoppage defeat to Bakhram Murtazaliev. Now 31, Tszyu aims to reassert himself at world level, but first must face Spence at a reported four pounds above his usual fighting weight.
Porter, who lost a split decision to Spence in 2019, believes the 36-year-old is still capable of derailing Tszyu’s quest for a second world title. Speaking on his channel, Porter dismissed concerns over Spence’s three-year layoff.
“I’m leaning toward Errol Spence beating Tim Tszyu. Before the Terence Crawford fight, I think he would have beaten Tszyu. I don’t think much has changed in that time. He’s taken a long break, but he says he was just waiting for that itch to return.”
At this stage, it will be interesting to see what threat Spence can pose to the middleweight or super-welterweight divisions.
