Tim Tszyu once again proved his elite standing in the boxing world on Saturday night. Fighting at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Australia, Tszyu (now 25-2 with 18 KOs) delivered a dominating performance against Joey Spencer, finishing the bout with a fourth-round TKO.
Spencer, who entered the ring at 19-2 with 11 knockouts to his name, seemed to replicate the errors he made in his loss to Jesus Ramos two years ago. As Spencer pressed himself against the ropes—a tactical error when facing someone of Tszyu’s ability—he left himself vulnerable. Tszyu unleashed a torrent of punches, overwhelming Spencer. Following a back-turn from Spencer, indicating a readiness to concede, the referee had seen enough and intervened. Tszyu’s punches were precise and unyielding, while Spencer found himself pinned, unable to retaliate effectively.
### A Worthy Challenge or a One-Sided Affair?
The bout was anticipated to be a more balanced contest, one that would help Tszyu prepare for future high-caliber opponents. Names like Keith Thurman, or champions like Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev, have been floated around as potential adversaries. However, Tszyu’s display against Spencer left some questioning whether this match served as adequate preparation.
One can’t help but wonder if this fight did little more than pad Tszyu’s record. Spencer’s lackluster showing did little to convince observers that he was world-class material, raising eyebrows about the motivation behind choosing him as an opponent. For Tszyu to truly ready himself for a rematch with a powerhouse like Murtazaliev, or a clash with Fundora, a tougher warm-up might be necessary. Some suggest a fight with Serhii Bohachuk, whose knock-out capability could mimic that of Murtazaliev’s, could be a fitting precursor.
Spencer seemed to misinterpret the style that makes Murtazaliev effective, lacking the impact to capitalize on such a strategy. His punches landed, sure, but they lacked the punch needed to deter an opponent of Tszyu’s caliber. On the contrary, Tszyu was able to replicate his past performances without the looming threat of significant power from Spencer’s side.
The night ended with Tszyu standing tall, but it left a lingering question: Does this win set him on the right path for the upper echelon of the junior middleweight division? With Spencer outmatched, the answer might lead him to pursue opponents with proven track records to truly test his mettle.
