Charlo then launched into an extended explanation, questioning what version of Spence will show up after years out of the ring and saying the style favors Tszyu.
“He got a bit defense. Errol going to be coming in soft. He don’t really move his head. Tim moves his head. He throw some stone haymaker shots.” I’m just going by the styles make fights, and I’m just being realistic.”
Jermell looked like a war vet, describing combat as he gave his reasons for selecting Tszyu to beat Spence.
For years, these two were the “Twin Towers” of Derrick James’ gym in Dallas. They shared rounds, sweat, and secrets. The issue is that Errol has been very vocal about those sessions, essentially telling the world he “schooled” Jermell.
For a man like Charlo, who carries a large amount of pride and has built his “Lions Only” brand on being the alpha, having a former teammate claim dominance over him is a stain he cannot wash off in a sanctioned fight.
Since they never fought professionally, those gym stories are the one narrative that exists, and you could have to wonder if it’s still eating at him..
Charlo also pointed to the placement, with the bout expected to happen in Australia.
“He going over there to Australia. I see Tim Tszyu winning this fight,” said Jermell.
X is having a field day because Charlo looks like a person who has been sitting in a dark room watching Spence’s training footage on a loop. Fans are calling it “villain arc” energy. He was talking fast, getting louder, and seemed personally invested in the reply.
Jermell had a diabolical look in his eyes during his prediction, as if he were performing a technical exorcism of his old rival.
When he gets that wide-eyed, high-energy intensity, he is normally leaning into his “Lions Only” persona, which thrives on perceived disrespect. On this case, the disrespect is years of Errol Spence Jr. claiming he was the “big brother” within the gym.
“I don’t have to fight Errol Spence, and I don’t care to fight Errol Spence,” said Jermell.
Jermell is largely using Tim Tszyu as a proxy. Since Charlo hasn’t fought at 154 since 2022, he needs Spence to lose to another person to prove that the old era (the Derrick James era) is dead. If Tszyu destroys Spence, it validates Charlo’s technical critiques and makes his own inactivity seem like a calculated move quite than a decline.