If Tszyu beats Nurja, the plan is for him to next square up against Errol Spence this summer.

Although Crawford was complimentary of Tszyu, he sided with the former rival he blasted during a July 2023 undisputed welterweight title fight.

“Tszyu is a student of the game. You can tell that,” Crawford said while meeting with Tszyu and media members in Rockdale. “I think it’s going to be a good fight. I’ve got Errol. But I think it’d be a good fight for both of them at this stage of their careers. I’m not 100 percent confident. I just know the caliber of fighter that Errol is, just like I know the caliber of fighter Tim is. I think both of them have taken a lot of damage in their career so far, but I just think Errol, skills-wise, just edges it.”

Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) has not fought since getting dropped three times and stopped by Crawford in nine rounds. The 36-year-old Texan is expected to make his return later this year, but it remains to be seen if it will be at 154 or 160 pounds.

Tszyu’s fight against Nurja will be contested at middleweight, which perhaps serves as a sign that Tszyu wants to get comfortable at the weight limit before facing Spence.

The 31-year-old from New South Wales is a former 154-pound titleholder who is 2-3 over the last two years. Tszyu lost to Sebastian Fundora in a bloodbath in March 2024 and was stopped by Bakhram Murtazaliev inside three rounds seven months later. Tszyu bounced back by blasting Joseph Spencer in four rounds, but then quit in a rematch against Fundora in July.

“On the first fight with Fundora, Tim had him,” said Crawford. “They should have stopped that fight. That was bad coaching. I think he would have been better off if they’d stopped that fight and let him come back the second time, instead of letting him carry on and take that punishment.

“They shouldn’t have sent him out there with Bakhram in the following fight. I think Bakhram had just the wrong style. They messed him up. And Tim was capable of doing the same thing. It was just the wrong game plan.”

Tszyu is coming into the clash with Nurja (20-0, 9 KOs) off a 10-round unanimous decision win against Anthony Velazquez in December, but he isn’t taking any offense that Crawford is picking Spence to beat him.

“Crawford is one of the greatest of our generation,” said Tszyu. “It’s cool to have his presence. I like how he’s just a humble guy, down to earth. He hasn’t let fame and fortune get in the way of life. He’s an example.

“That’s alright [that he’s picking Spence]. You need 50-50. You need people to say this guy and this guy, that’s fine. Certain styles make people swing in different ways. That’s what makes me and Errol Spence so interesting. It could go either way.

“The fun part will begin [this weekend against Nurja], and I can’t wait to get in there, show my skills and be victorious.”

Tszyu vs. Nurja will take place at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Sunday Australian time on Kayo Sports and Saturday U.S. time on Prime Video.

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan