Erroll Spence arrived in Sydney on Thursday morning ahead of fight week for his world title bout with Tim Tszyu, and immediately took aim at Tszyu's coach, Australian boxing icon Jeff Fenech.
Spence is currently in a legal dispute with his former trainer Derrick James after their 11-year partnership ended. James is claiming more than $5 million in unpaid training fees, while Spence is seeking declaratory relief, claiming he fully paid under their handshake agreement.
Asked about Fenech, Spence said, "Who? I never heard of him. I don't know who he is. First time I heard of him was when they said he was being Tim Tszyu's trainer. I don't know him at all. I don't know him as a trainer or as a fighter, but he's gonna do what's best for Tim. It might work out good, it might work out bad. We'll see."
Tszyu's coaching changes
Tszyu's team situation has been rocky. He split from long-time manager Glen Jennings and coach Igor Goloubev last year to link up with Pedro Diaz. That partnership lasted two fights before Tszyu joined four-time world champion Jeff Fenech.
Fenech responds to Mundine
Fenech has had to defend his coaching record this month after criticism from Anthony Mundine. Mundine said Fenech "ain't got the best record" and called him a long-time hater.
Fenech fired back, telling Code, "I don't give a f**k what Anthony Mundine says. Anything that comes out of his mouth reminds me of what comes out of my ass. You can write that. It starts with 'S' and finishes with 'T'."
Airport ceremony and passport scare
Spence was given a traditional Indigenous smoking ceremony as he left the airport, where he almost never made it due to a clerical error. A single letter difference between his passport and the paperwork given to immigration officials meant the boxer nearly wasn't allowed to board his flight.
The Texas-born fighter appeared relaxed as he exited the airport, telling Code Sports, "That was pretty dope having the Indigenous people come and greet me, the whole ceremony was dope, I really enjoyed it."
Spence fires back over warm-up fight claim
Spence was also quick to respond to Tszyu, who has claimed he is only in Australia for a "holiday" after Spence opted against a warm-up fight.
"He can say whatever he want to say," Spence told Code Sports. "He gotta be vocal, he trying to promote the fight. I don't think I'm arrogant not taking a warm up fight. I don't take warm up fights. I didn't take a warm up fight for Yordenis Ugas. I didn't take a warm up fight for Danny Garcia. I didn't take a warm up fight for Kell Brook. I ain't taking a warm up fight for anybody, and I ain't taking a warm up fight for Tim Tszyu. I really don't care. It don't matter what Tim or his team says. It don't matter what he thinks, it don't matter what I think. When the bell rings, we'll see the deciding factor for who comes out on top."
Tszyu will have a chance to prove Fenech is a top coach on Sunday, July 26, when he takes on Spence.