CODE Sports can reveal preliminary talks have been held by the Tszyu and Spence camps for a rematch, pending the outcome of Sunday’s $15 million blockbuster at Sydney’s Afterpay Arena.
The discussions have included when and where the rematch would be held.
One option is for a return bout on Spence’s home turf in Dallas, slated for November or December this year.
As part of negotiations for the middleweight showdown, no official rematch clause was inserted into the fight contract, but it has been discussed in recent days by the Tszyu and Spence camps.
Tszyu’s promoter No Limit has a strong relationship with Spence’s American promoter Premier Boxing Champions, who have previously backed a rematch for Australia’s former world champion.
No Limit and PBC have joined forces before to stage world-title blockbusters between Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora.
The pair first squared-off in March 2024 in the infamous bloodbath at T-Mobile Arena, which Fundora won by split decision, before last year’s rematch which saw Tszyu stopped at the end of the seventh round.
A Spence-Tszyu rematch would largely hinge on the quality of this first contest. A one-sided cakewalk would almost certainly scupper a rematch, but a 12-round thriller between Tszyu and Spence would ignite appeal for a return bout.
Tszyu’s new trainer Jeff Fenech said he would relish a double header between the duo, but insists there will be no rematch if the former world champion is bulldozed by Spence.
“A rematch between them would be fantastic, we’d have no issues going to America,” Fenech said.
“But right now, I don’t want to think about anything except this fight on the 26th.
“There’s only one thing I want and I promise you, you’re going to see the best Tim Tszyu we’ve ever seen.”
Spence hasn’t fought in three years and Tszyu turned up the heat on the American sensation, questioning the true reason for his return to the ring.
Tszyu believes Spence has blown most of his career earnings, exceeding $20 million, and needs to fight again to make money.
“When you have made $20 million dollars from one fight, your mind changes,” Tszyu said.
“It (money) slowly starts to run out, three years of enjoying yourself, it slowly starts to run out and you need a little bit more money.
“So I think that’s probably his biggest inspiration right now.
“I want to make it into, ‘How bad do you want this?’
“What’s his real motivation?”
Tszyu’s former American rival Brian Mendoza has been sparring Spence to help him prepare for this bout and rubbished suggestions ‘The Truth’ just wants an easy payday.
“For people who think Errol Spence is just turning up for a cheque, that’s he done, it’s not the case,” he said.
“I’ve heard that lot, but he is not working like someone who is just showing up to go through the motions.
“I didn’t see someone just showing up for a pay cheque. He’s fully locked in.”