Tim Tszyu’s promoter at No Limit Boxing, George Rose, has admitted the junior-middleweight contender's April 6 fight with Joey Spencer is “do or die”.

Tszyu, 29, endured a rough 2024 with losses to Bakhram Murtazaliev and Sebastian Fundora, having started the campaign undefeated, and the pressure is on to bounce back against Spencer next month.

“This is the biggest fight of Tim’s career, no question,” said Rose. “April 6 in Newcastle is do-or-die. Joey Spencer is young, dangerous, and coming to make a name for himself, but for Tim, this is about proving he still belongs at the very top. A statement win here rockets him straight back into the mix with the best in the world. Let’s be real—154lbs is the best division in boxing right now. The names at the top are massive, and Tim’s name deserves to be right there with them. A big win against Spencer, and we’re talking Jermell Charlo, Keith Thurman, Sebastian Fundora, Errol Spence, Vergil Ortiz – all blockbuster fights that can happen next.

“Charlo’s been the long-standing king at 154, never lost in the division, and now he’s back. That’s a fight that’s long overdue for Tim. Keith Thurman just made a massive statement against Brock Jarvis – he’s another name that makes a ton of sense. And then there’s Fundora. No one’s questioning him as the champion after his performance last weekend, but let’s be clear – Tim deserves a rematch after everything that unfolded in his fight. Everyone knows what would’ve gone down without the cut. Run that one back, and Tim wins.”

Fundora defeated Tszyu in Las Vegas in 2024, with Tszyu badly inhibited by a gruesome cut when Fundora’s elbow collided with his scalp early on. The blood-soaked and impaired Tszyu made it all the way through their fight, but lost via a narrow decision.

“Then you’ve got Errol Spence, who’s had plenty to say about Tim over the years,” Rose added. “If he ever wants to step back into the ring, let’s make it happen. And Vergil Ortiz? That’s an all-action war fans would go crazy for. There’s no shortage of big fights. All Tim needs to do is shake off 2024 with a great performance, and he’s right back in the thick of it. It all starts on April 6 in Newcastle — expect fireworks.”

Tszyu is 24-2 (17 KOs) while Michigan’s Spencer, 25 years old, brings with him to the Newcastle Entertainment Center a record of 19-1 (11 KOs).