Errol Spence Jr. secures 160-pound catchweight for Sydney showdown vs. Tim Tszyu

Errol Spence Jr. will step into the ring at 160 pounds when he faces Tim Tszyu on July 26 in Sydney.

Tszyu immediately accepted Spence’s late request to move the catchweight from 158 to the full middleweight limit. The Australian star said he wants no excuses after the final bell: just the chance to beat the best version of the former unified welterweight champion.

What happened?

Tszyu told Ring Magazine he was notified on Saturday about the weight change. Spence’s team asked for the adjustment because he needed extra time to adjust after arriving later than planned. Tszyu called the request “very strange” but didn’t hesitate to approve it.

“I just wanted him here. I wanted the fight to happen,” Tszyu said. “I’m not a diva. It’s whatever, man. I’m an easy guy. I just don’t want any excuses. I want him here, refreshed, rejuvenated, make sure he’s not struggling with weight.”

Why it matters for Errol Spence Jr.

The extra two pounds remove any doubt about Spence entering the fight at full strength. Tszyu framed the change as a way to ensure Spence isn’t compromised by weight-cutting struggles.

Spence, 32, last fought in April 2024 before a long layoff. His return to the ring at 160 pounds signals a shift back to middleweight after years at welterweight. The weight increase also aligns with Tszyu’s insistence on facing Spence at his peak.

What comes next?

Tszyu and Spence will meet at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on July 26. The fight headlines a stacked card featuring top names in the welterweight division.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has hinted at future stakes for the winner. A victory for Tszyu could set up a clash with Terence Crawford, while Spence aims to reclaim his status as a pound-for-pound king.

Tszyu’s mindset

Tszyu brushed off the late weight change as irrelevant to his preparation. He stressed that his focus stays on beating Spence, not the logistics of the fight.

“For me, it was like, ‘All right, whatever,’” Tszyu said. “Whatever they say, whatever, man. I just want the fight.”

The Sydney crowd will get its first look at Spence in over two years when he steps between the ropes on July 26. Tszyu, meanwhile, keeps his sights locked on proving he’s the best in the division.