The potential fight hinges on Tszyu getting past Denis Nurja this weekend in Wollongong, but Crawford has already made his views clear on how a Spence bout would go. Without hesitation, he sided with his former opponent and showed where both fighters currently stand.
Spence has not fought since his ninth-round stoppage loss to Crawford in 2023, a fight that saw him drop three times before it was called off. The layoff spanned nearly three years, leaving questions about how much he has left at the top level heading into a potential return at 154 pounds.
Tszyu, meanwhile, is trying to rebuild his position after losing his WBO title and working his way back into contention. He faces Nurja next, with the understanding that a win could move him into a bigger fight with Spence if the deal holds.
Crawford gave Tszyu credit for his run thus far, but stopped short of supporting him in this game.
“Tim Tszyu has had a great career; it’s still going. He’s accomplished a lot for his experience,” Crawford said during an interview with Fight Hub TV. “Will he be back on top and become a champion again? I can’t say he won’t, I can’t say he won’t. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
When asked directly about a Spence fight, Crawford’s answer was more telling.
“I think Spence beats him. At this point in both of their careers, I think he beats him.”
There is certainly a logical case for Crawford to support Spence. In boxing, your legacy is often defined by the quality of your opposition.
If Tim Tszyu (who has recently struggled to a 2-2 record in his last four major fights) comes out and obliterates Errol Spence, the immediate reaction from critics will be, “See? Spence was already shot/damaged when Crawford fought him.”
By picking Spence to win, Crawford is essentially saying, “The guy I beat is still an elite, world-class monster.” If Spence wins, it retroactively makes Crawford’s 2023 performance look even more superhuman.
