Australia’s Tim Tszyu has been locked in for a blockbuster showdown against American superstar Errol Spence Jnr.

Fox Sports Australia can confirm reports out of the US this morning suggesting Tszyu will face Spence around the middle of the year – and after having one more fight on home soil, and potentially on the same card as Liam Paro’s IBF world title fight.

Spence hasn’t fought since 2023, when he lost to Terence Crawford.

However, US fight journalist Mike Coppinger was the first to report that Tszyu will take a tune-up fight in Australia prior to the showdown with Spence, which is slated for the US summer.

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Errol Spence Jr hasn’t fought since a 2023 loss to Terrence Crawford.Source: Getty Images

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia back in January, Tszyu said he would absolutely welcome a blockbuster showdown with Spence Jnr.

Despite having lost three straight title fights on US soil, Tszyu remains popular with American promoters PBC and has now landed the huge fight off a solid December comeback win over Anthony Velazquez.

While Spence has long been considered among the biggest names in world boxing, a showdown with Tszyu also makes sense given the popular Texan hasn’t fought since being stopped by Crawford three years ago.

American analyst Paulie Malignaggi and popular US trainer Robert Garcia were the first to confirm whispers about Tszyu taking on the man who was once welterweight king.

And while Tszyu had said last month he was unsure about what talks were underway with Spence, he stressed his willingness to throw down should he win his next fight, which is being rumoured for Australia in late March

Tszyu is already back in Miami, Florida training with new coach Pedro Diaz.

Asked if he was keen on a potential Spence showdown, Tszyu laughed: “Oh, of course I’d be keen. Are you serious?

“That one, if it is to happen, would be a megafight for Australia.

“One of the biggest ever for an Aussie, and up there alongside Jeff Horn versus Manny Pacquiao.

“It’s an intriguing match up too.

“And with huge stakes and plenty of questions on both sides.

“Do I still have it? Does Spence still have it?

“But I’ll leave all that to my team.

“I head back overseas next Friday and start preparations for whoever is next.”

Tim Tszyu weighs in during the weigh in at Tik Tok Theatre on December 16, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Wonderfully, Tszyu also shares something of a contentious history with Spence.

Way back in 2023, and on the eve of fighting American Tony Harrison for WBO gold, Australia’s pay-per-view king branded Spence “a punk” and hinted that they could be set for a future showdown.

The declaration followed Spence, at the time still ranked No. 4 on the world’s pound-for-pound list, taking to social media to declare he was wagering $10,000 on a Harrison upset, and after also having backed Tszyu (unsuccessfully) to get beat by Terrell Gausha.

Then prior to Tszyu’s Las Vegas headliner against Sebastian Fundora early the next year, Spence again took to social media in fight week, writing on ‘X’: “Headed to Vegas. I want the winner”.

And just to ensure everyone understood exactly what he meant by that, the 34-year-old Texan added video imagery of a shark.

Asked soon after about Spence’s challenge, Tszyu grinned: “I’ve wanted Errol Spence for a long time.

“We’ve had history, he’s called me a few things so I’d like that fight as well.”

When working the recent fight between Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa for Main Event, US analyst Malignaggi revealed whispers were growing louder about Tim Tszyu facing Spence for what will be the American’s first appearance in almost three years.

US trainer Garcia also confirmed the rumour – saying “I heard that too last night” – when asked if Spence might be next for his undefeated charge, Vergil Ortiz Jnr.

Garcia dismissed the idea of Ortiz Jr facing Spence anytime soon, saying: “He’s been out for so long, and he’s had problems, accidents, so it wouldn’t be that exciting for me right now.

“If he goes out and looks sensational and destroys Tszyu, then, yes, it’ll make a lot of sense.”

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