Errol Spence Arrives Down Under For Tszyu Challenge

Former unified world welterweight champion Errol Spence has arrived in Australia ahead of his high-stakes clash with Australian superstar, Tim Tszyu, as he bids to score a statement road victory in their blockbuster PPV showdown next weekend.

The fight headlines a PBC Pay-Per-View event airing live on Prime Video and DAZN on Saturday, July 25th (U.S. time) from Afterpay Arena in Sydney, Australia.

Spence, a Dallas native, traveled over 9,000 miles and touched down in Sydney on Thursday morning (local time) alongside acclaimed trainer Ronnie Shields. The pair received a traditional "Welcome to Country" ceremony. The ceremony was organized by No Limit Boxing's Rose Brothers, proud Indigenous Australians and the longtime promotional team behind Tszyu, as a gesture of respect and welcome to Australia.

"It was dope, man — getting welcomed by the Aborigines as soon as I came out after a long flight,” said Spence after the 15-hour flight from Los Angeles. “I'm happy about it. It woke me up a little bit.

“I'm going to enjoy it a lot down here. It'll be a dope event. Hopefully when I come out, not everyone will boo me and I'll put on a great show…I'm the big fish. I'm going to take over his backyard."

Spence enters the matchup with a 28-1, 22 KOs, record and was long considered one of boxing's top pound-for-pound fighters. The Texas southpaw stockpiled standout victories over Kell Brook, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Yordenis Ugas before suffering the only defeat of his career, when Terence Crawford wiped him out in a nine round TKO in their undisputed welterweight title clash in July 2023.

He has not fought since, with injuries and a prolonged layoff raising questions about his form, particularly after surviving a severe car accident earlier in his career. And, as we wrote earlier that he was contemplating retirement over the course of the last three years.

Meanwhile, Tszyu, 27-3, 18 KOs, has also endured a turbulent run. The former world champion owns impressive wins over Terrell Gausha and Tony Harrison, but consecutive losses to Sebastian Fundora and by KO to Bakhram Murtazaliev cast doubt over whether he could work his way back into boxing's elite?

Tszyu won earlier this year in May by decision over Denis Nurja in New South Wales, Australia and has now made a change in his corner. He's enlisted the help of former two division world champ, notional hero and International Boxing Hall of Famer, Jeff Fenech.

And, he's obviously at the distinct advantage of fighting in his home area without the lengthy travel concerns that Spence just endured. that Tszyu endured several times while fighting and losing in the USA.

Now, we're about to find out how big that obstacle will be for Spence.