Stevie ‘The Viking’ Spark 12-1 (11) says he is the breath of fresh air that Australian boxing never knew it needed.
The 24-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland will get the chance of a lifetime when he faces hot property Tim ‘The Souk Taker’ Tszyu 18-0 (14) for the vacant Commonwealth junior middleweight title at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Newcastle, Australia on Wednesday night.
Spark received the call up to face Tszyu just one week before the son of International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Kostya Tszyu was scheduled to face Michael Zerafa 28-4 (17) who withdrew citing concerns about Covid-19 protocols.
Spark, who has campaigned almost exclusively at junior welterweight, is coming off a dominant eight-round unanimous decision win over Jack Brubaker 16-4-2 (8) at 147-pounds in April despite being dropped during the opening frame.
He said he had no hesitation in accepting the assignment.
“I do this for the fans and that’s why I did step in on late notice because the fans needed to see a fight,” Spark said.
“If you want it bad enough, you’ll make it happen, that’s referring to myself, to Tim, to [promoter] No Limit, when you want something bad enough, you’ll make it go ahead. Unlike some other fighters who aren’t willing to do that.”
Last week former three-weight world champion Jeff Fenech said Spark will present a sterner challenge than Zerafa.
“Tim’s in a real fight now,” he said. “I was in the other corner for Spark’s last fight when he beat Jack Brubaker who I train and I have absolutely no doubt he is a tougher fight for Tim Tszyu than what Michael Zerafa would have been.
“He is a very talented kid and he believes in himself, and these are the guys you need to worry about. I’m really excited now – I cannot wait for this fight.”
Spark was happy with the praise but added that compliments don’t win fights.
“You try and block all that stuff out,” Spark said. “I don’t want to get too caught up in the media and who said what because at the end of the day, I’m the one in there who has to throw the punches and take the punches. We block all that out and keep the job in mind.”
Spark said he is planning on using his purse to put a deposit down on a house.
“It’s everything to me mate, this is huge,” he said. “This is all I’ve ever dreamt about. I’ve had an inkling I’d fight Tim and it’s maybe fate that this has fallen into place. This would set my family financially; this would set myself up in the boxing world.
“It’s about the legacy I want to leave on the sport, I’m doing this for something to leave behind, for something fans can talk about for years after I’m retired, they can talk about Stephen Spark and that he never shied away from a fight.”
The 26-year-old Tszyu from Sydney warned Spark that he is no Brubaker.
“Look, it’s good to have dreams, it’s good to have belief, it’s good to have vision,” Tszyu said.
“But once we get in the ring, all that disappears. You get into my territory, you get into my zone, you get into my cage, and there’s only thing that happens: the hope, the soul, and everything gets taken away and I’m in control.”