Errol Spence Jr. hung up the gloves for good on Saturday night in Sydney, announcing his retirement from boxing immediately after a hard-fought unanimous decision loss to Tim Tszyu at a sold-out Afterpay Arena. The 36-year-old Texan, one of the finest American fighters of his generation, confirmed in the ring that he will not fight again after only the second defeat of a storied professional career. For Tszyu, it was the biggest win of his career - a resurrection that puts the Australian firmly back in the world-title picture at middleweight.
A Fight That Delivered From the Opening Bell
Tszyu came out aggressively in the first round, snapping Spence's head back with clean right hands that announced he was not intimidated by the occasion. But Spence, despite a three-year layoff since his 2023 defeat to Terence Crawford, showed flashes of the brilliance that made him a unified welterweight champion. Through the first half of the fight, he was the busier man, investing heavily in body work and at times doubling Tszyu's output. The American's timing was off in spots - understandable after jumping two weight divisions to meet Tszyu at middleweight - but his class was evident.
The tide turned in the seventh round. Tszyu began timing Spence's right hand coming back, landing it flush and with increasing frequency. The Australian came close to putting Spence down for only the third time in his professional career as his combination punching found its rhythm. Spence answered with a big left hand in the 10th and, urged on by trainer Ronnie Shields who told him bluntly he was not doing enough, emptied himself into a defiant 11th round. But Tszyu controlled the final frame, punctuating the night with a right hand that sent Spence stumbling back into the corner pad. The scorecards read 118-110, 117-111, and 117-111 - all in favor of the hometown fighter.
A Legacy That Transcends the Record
Spence retires with a record of 28-2 with 22 knockouts, having held three of the four major welterweight belts simultaneously at his peak. His wins over Kell Brook, Shawn Porter, and Yordenis Ugas cemented his place among the elite American fighters of the modern era. But his legacy extends far beyond the ring. Spence survived a horrific car crash in 2019 in which he was thrown from his vehicle, yet returned to the sport and continued competing at the highest level. His journey from the amateur ranks - where he compiled a 135-12 record - to the pinnacle of professional boxing is a testament to relentless determination.
"I've got my faculties intact. My money is good, it's working for itself. Everything's good," Spence said in the ring after the fight. "I've got a beautiful family. I thank God that I'm gracious enough to leave this sport with my faculties intact and my family still by my side. I asked a lot of questions of myself. Now it's time to go home with my family and start a new life." Crawford, recently retired as the sport's pound-for-pound king, watched from ringside as his old rival gave everything one final time.
Tszyu Rises From the Ashes
For Tim Tszyu, this victory represents a career resurrection. The former WBO super welterweight champion entered the fight rebranded as "the Phoenix" - and for good reason. After three consecutive world-title defeats in America - twice to Sebastian Fundora and once to Bakhram Murtazaliev - his career hung in the balance. A fourth loss would have been catastrophic. But under new trainer Jeff Fenech, the legendary Australian Hall of Famer, Tszyu found a new gear.
"I had sleepless nights, what am I gonna feel like facing a legend like that?" the 31-year-old admitted afterward. "I understand why he's one of the greats. Beating a great like Errol Spence tops any world title for me. The Tszyu legacy is continuing. I told you so."
The win preserved a family streak that now stretches 31 years. Tszyu is 26-0 in Australia, matching the perfect home records of his Hall of Fame father Kostya and younger brother Nikita for a combined 56-0 on home soil. Now at 28-3, Tszyu confirmed middleweight is his new home and named WBA champion Erislandy Lara as a possible next opponent.
What's Next for Both Men
Spence's retirement closes a professional career spanning nearly 14 years and closes the book on one of the most compelling American boxing stories of the 2010s. He leaves the sport on his own terms with his health intact - something too few fighters can say. For Tszyu, the path forward is bright. With Crawford's presence in the building a reminder that another big American night is possible, and a world-title shot back on the table, the Australian is suddenly one of the most intriguing names in the middleweight division. The Spence era is over - but the Phoenix is just getting started.
Lauren Mitchell
Lauren Mitchell covers sports with a focus on roster movement, coaching trends, player development, and the bigger storylines behind each matchup.