Despite the concerns surrounding Errol’s lengthy three-year absence from the ring, Shakur believes the previous unified welterweight champion still has what it takes to defeat Tszyu.
“I feel [Spence] gonna do good. I wish Errol the very best; I hope Errol goes in there and beats Tim Tszyu up,” Shakur said to Andre Ward’s channel.
“I’m an Errol Spence fan; I used to be cool with Errol Spence before that [Terence Crawford] fight. I do know Errol is mentally tough. Errol is a dog with regards to fighting, so I don’t think Tim Tszyu can beat him.”
Spence has not fought since suffering a ninth-round stoppage defeat to Crawford in July 2023, a loss that cost him his WBC, WBA, and IBF welterweight titles. The 36-year-old now attempts to revive his profession in a brand new weight class after nearly three years away from competition.
Tszyu, meanwhile, enters the bout having rebuilt momentum following a difficult stretch in 2024. The previous WBO junior middleweight champion bounced back from setbacks against Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev with consecutive victories to place himself back into position for one more marquee fight.
Shakur has previously expressed confidence in Spence’s probabilities against Tszyu, but his latest comments suggest he stays convinced that the Texan’s experience, mentality, and overall ability will prove decisive on July 25.
The matchup represents certainly one of the largest tests of Spence’s profession. While Tszyu is trying to secure the signature victory that might redefine his standing at junior middleweight, Errol can be attempting to indicate that he can still compete at the best level following an prolonged period of inactivity.
