WBO super lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson favors Errol Spence Jr. to win his upcoming junior middleweight bout against Australian star Tim Tszyu. The two former world champions are scheduled to meet on July 25, 2026, in a high-stakes 12-round contest held in Australia.
Stevenson, speaking on The Agnew Podcast, dismissed concerns regarding the Texan’s nearly three-year layoff, asserting that the challenger’s aggressive approach will lead to his downfall.
The clash marks a major return for Errol Spence Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs), who hasn’t competed since losing his unified welterweight titles to Terence Crawford in July 2023. Despite the long absence, Shakur Stevenson remains confident in the veteran’s pedigree. “I got Errol.
I don’t think Tim Tszyu can do anything with him,” Stevenson said, arguing that an “in-the-box” fighter like Tim Tszyu will be destroyed by Spence’s experience and style.
Stevenson believes the Australian’s pressure-heavy technique plays directly into Errol Spence Jr.’s primary strengths. He noted that ring experience “doesn’t go nowhere,” suggesting the technical gap will remain evident regardless of recent activity levels. This assessment comes as fans often hold Shakur Stevenson to high standards when he offers critiques of his contemporaries in the elite tiers of the sport.
Weight adjustments and the three-year ring layoff
One notable logistical detail of the agreement is a reported 158-pound catchweight. While the bout is set in the junior middleweight (super welterweight) division, the additional four pounds were reportedly included specifically to accommodate Errol Spence Jr.’s lengthy absence from competition. Tim Tszyu, who usually campaigns at 154 pounds, has remained far more active, fighting eight times during the period Spence spent on the sidelines.
Other boxing figures have shared varying perspectives on how the layoff will affect the outcome. Former world champion Shawn Porter sided with Stevenson, stating he believes the version of Spence seen before the Crawford fight would have easily won and that little has changed.
However, former undisputed champion Jermell Charlo predicted a victory for Tim Tszyu, citing his clinical performance against Tony Harrison as evidence of his ability to handle world-class opposition.
The activity disparity remains the central talking point for critics. While Tim Tszyu has stayed sharp against consistent competition, Errol Spence Jr. at 36 years old faces the daunting task of shaking off rust in a new weight class.
Even so, the Texan has support from peers like Brian Norman Jnr, who predicted a first-round knockout after observing Spence in camp, describing him as a “hell of a fighter” who is ready to regain his status.
Verbal sparring ahead of the Australian showdown
Personal tensions between the two fighters boiled over during their launch press conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Errol Spence Jr. took aim at the challenger’s pedigree, claiming Tim Tszyu is “no caliber” of his father, the legendary Kostya Tszyu. Spence suggested the younger fighter is merely trying to escape his father’s shadow—a comment that drew a sharp rebuke from the Australian superstar.
Tim Tszyu labeled the American “disrespectful,” even alleging that Spence previously ignored a handshake at a public event. “I will become victorious come July 26,” Tim Tszyu said, referring to the local date in Australia. The hostility has added a layer of intrigue to the 12-round bout, which will be broadcast in the United States via PBC pay-per-view on Prime Video.
The winner of this fight will likely control the narrative for the junior middleweight division. Reports indicate that Jermell Charlo is already being positioned as a potential opponent for the victor. This follows a trend of massive global events, such as the com/tyson-fury-vs-anthony-joshua-date-revealed-update/”>Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua bout penciled for late 2026, that are reshaping the sport’s major hierarchies. For Errol Spence Jr., the trip to Australia represents a chance to prove his career isn’t over, while Tim Tszyu seeks a signature win that moves him beyond his family legacy.
