Errol Spence On His Health Concerns

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated May 4, 2026 5:51 AM ET

Errol Spence Jr. has spoken directly about the health questions that have followed him since his final fight, while preparing for his return to the ring against Tim Tszyu.

Spence will box on July 25 at a catchweight of 158 pounds. Nearly three years have passed since Terence Crawford dropped Spence three times and stopped him in the ninth round to become undisputed at 147. The performance reignited questions about the long-term consequences of a near-fatal car accident that left Spence with severe dental and facial injuries years before the Crawford defeat.

Spence returned after that accident to stop Yordenis Ugas in the tenth round and beat Danny Garcia on points in 2022, suggesting the damage was manageable. But the Crawford fight — one-sided from the opening bell — raised doubts that have not gone away. More recently, public appearances drew attention for what some described as slurred speech. Spence has now had his say on the matter.

Spence Reacts

“I’d say I’m all right. How’s my speech now? My speech [has] always been kind of slurred with these teeth right here, because they’re not spaced out, so air can’t even come through. That’s just from the car accident. I appreciate everybody [expressing their] concerns. I have my concerns, too. They’re right to have those concerns,” Spence said

Statistics	Errol Spence Jr.	Tim Tszyu
Record	28-1 (22 KOs)	27-3 (18 KOs)
Age	36	31
Last Fight	L – Crawford (TKO R9, Jul 2023)	W – Nurja (Apr 2026)
Ring Inactivity	~3 years	Active
Post-Fight Surgery	Cataract (right eye)	N/A
Trainer Change	Derrick James → Ronnie Shields	No change

It is an unusual admission from a fighter preparing for a comeback, but Spence has never been one to manage perception over substance. Since the Crawford defeat, he has also undergone cataract surgery on his right eye and spent the bulk of three years largely out of public view — an extended silence that has only fuelled the uncertainty around his condition.

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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