Joey Spencer weighs in on Tim Tszyu’s set of losses and vows to end his career

Ahead of his showdown with Tim Tszyu, Joey Spencer has weighed in on “The Soul Taker’s” pair of losses in 2024, and then vowed to end his career declaring ‘it’s my time.’

Joey Spencer promises to end Tim Tszyu’s career on April 6, but the dangerous American has come out swinging in support of ‘The Soul Taker’ after Tszyu copped online backlash following consecutive defeats in 2024.

Tszyu revealed to this masthead last year that he and his now wife, Alex, both received relentless online hate in the wake of his world title loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando in October.

But Spencer, who has been in Sydney for just over a week, has thrown his support behind the 30-year-old.

“The backlash that Tim gets, or the hate from the fans who are diminishing him…people are just delusional,” Spencer told this masthead. “They think this is just like some other sport.

Joey Spencer declares ‘it’s my time.’ Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

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“It’s not. This is the hardest sport in the world. People don’t understand that. They don’t get it.

“When you get in there, you’re fighting someone who hits so hard, and if that bullet hits you, you’re dead. It’s one of those things.

“That’s what happened with Tim, but people trash you. He’s done everything he’s supposed to do and he lost a couple of fights at world level – I respect him.”

Many have questioned why Tszyu’s team decided to fight the 198cm tall orthodox fighter Sebastian Fundora after the 171cm southpaw Keith Thurman was injured a year ago.

But Spencer admires the decision to test himself against an entirely different kind of opponent.

Spencer respected Tszyu’s decision to fight Sebastian Fundora. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

He sees himself cut from the same cloth and argues that’s why their fight will provide fireworks.

“He fought a war against Fundora, and you’ve gotta respect it,” he said. “He got caught and cut, but he fought like a warrior the whole time, and I respected the fact that he took that fight at all.

“It was completely different, stylistically – you never see a guy with Fundora’s style.

“It needed a very specific preparation and was on short notice, so I just have nothing but respect for it.”

That doesn’t mean the 25-year-old isn’t hell bent on ending the Aussie’s career on April 6 though.

“It’s kill or be killed, and that’s it,” he said. “I will feel sorry for him afterwards, but that’s just the way the sport goes.

“He’s made good money, he’s won a world title, but now it’s my time.

“I’ve got my family to look after. It’s a lonely sport, man.”

Spencer and Tszyu meet in person for the first time in Australia. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Spencer is talking from experience, having been in the exact same situation Tszyu now finds himself in.

A nine-time national amateur champion, Spencer was twice named the PBC Prospect of the Year, and was fast-tracked to the big time.

Born and raised in Michigan, he made his professional debut in Las Vegas before fighting on big cards all over America as his fame grew.

In his 16th fight, he faced the toughest test of his career against the super-talented Jesus Ramos.

Ramos was a level above, and dropped Spencer in the opening round, but ‘The Small Town Solder’ showed his toughness, swinging and firing back until the fight was called off in the seventh.

The loss at the world famous MGM Grand was a massive setback, and a heartbroken Spencer didn’t fight for another eight months.

His second comeback fight, a year and a half later, couldn’t have been further away from the bright lights and buzz of the Vegas strip.

That bout – a majority decision win over Miguel Hernandez – took place at the local high school in his hometown of Linden, Michigan, population: 4160.

“There’s definitely similarities between me and Tim – a loss takes a heavy toll,” he said. “You only get so many opportunities, so when you lose one, it takes a toll.

“It took a lot of time for me to get over that. There was definitely a grieving period.

“But it was the best thing that could’ve happened to me too. I became way stronger mentally, and became a way better fighter.

“I stayed in the gym, and now I’ve got my next opportunity, and here I am in Australia.

“I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Originally published as Joey Spencer weighs in on Tim Tszyu’s set of losses and vows to end his career