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Spence underwent surgery to repair a detached retina in his left eye in 2021 before successfully returning to the ring, with the injury remaining a talking point throughout the build-up to his comeback after almost three years away from the sport.<\/p>\n
The comments came after the American superstar kept Tszyu and coach Jeff Fenech waiting at Fox Sports Sydney<\/a> for more than an hour ahead of an agreed satellite face-off, leaving the Australian annoyed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m coming for every limb,\u201d Tszyu said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it. Simple. Especially that retina.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, two weeks later, Spence and Shields have made it clear they believe the Australian went too far.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t take it well,\u201d Spence said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t like that he said that at all, because I feel like if I would have said that, I\u2019d have been villainized for it.<\/p>\n \u201cLike people really would have been like, \u2018You know, man. He said he\u2019s gonna take his eye. He\u2019s taking it too serious.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cLike they would really have came at me for that, but you know, I guess he said it.\u201d<\/p>\n Shields agreed, insisting there are some things that you don\u2019t say before a fight.<\/p>\n \u201cBoxing is already a barbaric sport,\u201d he told Fox Sports Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you\u2019ve got to have some sort of sensibility in the sport you represent.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you say, \u2018Hey, I\u2019m going to knock you out\u2019, OK, that\u2019s boxing. But to say \u2018I\u2019m going to take your eye out\u2019 and all this kind of stuff, you know, that\u2019s way too far.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s why Errol wouldn\u2019t shake his hand. He\u2019s saying, \u2018I\u2019m not going to be cordial if he\u2019s going to talk that way\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Errol Spence and Tim TszyuSource: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n Still, the \u2018The Truth\u2019 insisted he wasn\u2019t about to lose sleep over the comments, knowing he\u2019ll have the chance to settle things with his fists on Sunday. <\/p>\n \u201cIt really doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fight week. I\u2019m super excited, happy. I\u2019m blessed to be here, and I\u2019m taking this moment. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m definitely gonna do what I want to do, and I\u2019m gonna make this fight very, very interesting and come out with a victory.\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, Spence himself has thrown a few jabs Tszyu\u2019s way over the years.<\/p>\n Long before the pair were finally matched, \u2018The Big Fish\u2019 publicly labelled Tszyu \u201ctrash\u201d<\/a>, said he\u2019d put $10,000 on Tony Harrison to beat him, and later suggested the Aussie wasn\u2019t in the same class as his legendary father, Kostya.<\/p>\n When those comments were put back to him on Wednesday, Spence doubled down. <\/p>\n \u201cKostya was a very different fighter,\u201d said Spence.<\/p>\n \u201cKostya was a very good fighter.\u201d<\/p>\n And for Spence, the difference isn\u2019t hard to spot. <\/p>\n \u201cThey definitely fought different,\u201d explained Spence.<\/p>\n \u201cKostya Tszyu was just way better.. how he could outpoint people. <\/p>\n \u201cHe had a great amateur background, and you know\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like Kostya was just more of a boxer puncher. <\/p>\n \u201cHe wasn\u2019t a guy to just don\u2019t you know come straight forward. You know things like that. <\/p>\n Kostya could fight off his back foot too.\u201d<\/p>\n Tszyu, meanwhile, has made no secret of his intention to take the fight directly to Spence from the opening bell.<\/p>\n Asked if that approach would play into his hands, the American simply smiled and shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cIt could be, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly time will tell.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n GRAND ARRIVALS: Moment that exposed \u2018rattled\u2019 US great as Tszyu makes sudden career change call in face-off<\/a><\/p>\n MOVING UP: Nikita Tszyu lands unexpected world title opportunity as massive fight locked in<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018GUY DID NOT STOP\u2019: Aussie greats\u2019 Tszyu warning after training sneak peek at \u2018generational talent\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Tszyu permanently moves to middleweight | 01:07<\/p>\n