Asked where he is mentally entering the fight, Spence said the lengthy layoff allowed him to recover from years of wear and tear.

“Just training to the best of my ability. Training, focusing on listening to my coach and just getting back down to the basics and what got me here,” Spence told the media.

“I didn’t really rest my body after all the little injuries or accidents that I had, I didn’t rest my body. This was the first time I got to rest my body for about three years, so it was good. I enjoyed it a lot.”

The 36-year-old also praised the early stages of his partnership with Shields after spending his entire professional career under James.

“The chemistry’s been good. Just been working on different stuff like hand placement, same ol’ stuff, using the jab, combination, stepping off. So, the chemistry’s been great. I like him a lot, and it shows why he’s a great trainer, legendary.”

Whether the extended absence has restored Spence physically will become one of the biggest questions surrounding his comeback. Before stepping away, he had endured a demanding run that included title fights against Shawn Porter, Yordenis Ugas, and Crawford, while also overcoming the aftermath of his 2019 high-speed Ferrari crash and a detached retina that sidelined him in 2021.

Spence will attempt to answer those questions when he meets Tszyu in a 158-pound catchweight bout on July 25, with the Australian looking to hand the former champion a second straight defeat.