The highly anticipated boxing match between Tim Tszyu and Errol Spence Jr. is now in jeopardy due to a series of unexpected events. The $50 million fight, set to take place on July 26th, has been thrown into disarray by a series of unfortunate circumstances surrounding Spence Jr.
Spence Jr., who was set to board a flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after arriving from his training camp in Houston, Texas, encountered a clerical issue with his passport and ticket details. This has led to his disappearance from the public eye, with no updates on his flight to Sydney, which was scheduled to arrive at 7:00 am on Thursday (AEST).
This development comes just 24 hours after Spence Jr. and his trainer, Ronnie Shields, had their visas approved to enter Australia. With media duties for the fight set to begin on Tuesday, Spence Jr. now faces a race against time to enter the country and participate in the highly anticipated match.
Adding to the complexity, Spence Jr. disrupted fight preparations by demanding a weight change just days before the contest, moving from the agreed-upon welterweight limit of 158lbs to the middleweight limit of 160lbs. This change has caused concern, as the 36-year-old has not fought in three years since his $50 million clash with Terence Crawford, and it is reported that he was unable to reach the 158lbs limit.
The Australian boxer, Tim Tszyu, is now set to fight at his heaviest in nine years, which could impact his performance. The initial agreement between the camps was for the bout to take place at 154lbs, but an emergency meeting led to an agreement of 158lbs, before Spence Jr. made the weight change request.
Furthermore, there are growing concerns over the participation of Jermell Charlo, who is due to fight Koen Mazoudier in a 10-round super welterweight clash on the undercard. Charlo's visa has not yet been approved, and there is uncertainty about his arrival in the country and his ability to prepare adequately for his fight.
These developments have created a sense of uncertainty and tension leading up to the fight, with organizers and fans alike eagerly awaiting updates on the situation.
