Tim Tszyu’s world came crashing down quick, fast, and in a hurry.

In 2024, the Aussie native lost his IBF title, his spotless record, and a chunk of his prestige. Throwing him back in there with a top-of-the-line opponent might be considered malpractice. So, his team decided that Joseph Spencer would be the perfect warm-up fight.

It’s your typical confidence booster, something that’s designed to put Tszyu (24-2, 17 KOs) in the right frame of mind and bury those nightmares from his recent past.

Spencer though, rushed over to the nearest mirror he could find. Once he found one, he looked directly at his forehead. The way Team Tszyu and most observers have been treating him, he’s somewhat convinced that the word pushover is written on his face.

The way he sees it, Team Tszyu and everyone who’s doubting him, are erroneous and he can’t wait to prove it.

“I know what I bring to the table,” said Spencer to Sean Zittel during a recent interview. “I know all the work that I put in, I know the road that it’s been to get me to this point.”

A tenuous stepping stone is how Spencer is being viewed. And while he hates to admit it, he somewhat understands it.

A few years ago, he was dominated and stopped at the hands of Jesus Ramos. It took some time to get over it but he’s officially put it behind him. With three straight wins under his belt, Spencer (19-1, 11 KOs) feels like a brand new man. If you can’t see the changes he made to his game, the 25-year-old believes you’re being disingenuous.

With just a few days remaining before they get it on at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Australia, discussing his improvements would make little sense. From Spencer's point of view, once he hands Tszyu his third consecutive L, the rest of the world will see what he’s talking about.

“I feel like the puzzle piece is coming together," continued Tszyu. "I just feel like it’s my time.”