Tim Tszyu Upsets Errol Spence Jr. by Unanimous Decision in Sydney
Australian star Tim Tszyu outworked former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. over 12 rounds in Sydney, prompting Spence's retirement from boxing. Here's how the fight unfolded.
A Homecoming Win for Tim Tszyu
Tim Tszyu delivered the biggest win of his career in front of his own countrymen, outworking former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. over 12 rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory in Sunday's middleweight headliner at Afterpay Arena in Sydney, Australia.
All three judges sided decisively with the Australian star, scoring the bout 118-110 and 117-111 twice. The result improved Tszyu's professional record to 28-3 with 18 knockouts, while Spence dropped to 28-2 with 22 knockouts in what turned out to be the final fight of his career.
How the Fight Played Out
Spence, fighting for the first time since a lopsided 2023 loss to Terence Crawford, started the contest well, using his southpaw jab and left hand to compete evenly with Tszyu through the opening rounds. But as the fight wore on, the effects of a roughly three-year layoff became increasingly apparent.
Tszyu gradually seized control behind relentless forward pressure and a sharp right hand that found its target again and again, dominating the middle rounds with straight rights, hooks, and uppercuts that kept Spence on the defensive. The American briefly rallied in the 11th round, landing clean body work and left hands that won him the round on some scorecards, but Tszyu closed the show emphatically in the 12th and final round, battering Spence with right hands as the bout wound down.
By the time the final bell rang, the outcome felt like a formality to those watching ringside — even if the judges' wide scorecards drew some criticism as overly one-sided given how competitive several of the middle rounds actually were.
Spence Announces His Retirement in the Ring
In one of the night's most emotional moments, the 36-year-old Spence used his post-fight interview to announce he was walking away from the sport for good. Spence said he was thankful to be leaving boxing with his health and finances intact and his family still by his side, framing the decision as the right one for his life going forward.
It's a quiet ending for a fighter widely regarded as one of the great welterweights of his generation, whose career will now be remembered for signature wins as much as for a decorated run at 147 pounds that included unified world title reigns.
What's Next for Tszyu
For Tszyu, the win instantly reshapes his career outlook. Speaking after the fight, he called it the biggest win of his career, adding that toppling a legend like Spence meant more to him than any title belt could. He also made clear he isn't done chasing championship gold, saying he'd love the opportunity to fight for a world title next.
The victory continues a strong rebound for the Australian, who had struggled through a difficult stretch of three losses in four fights before bouncing back with consecutive unanimous decision wins over Anthony Velazquez and Denis Nurja. Fighting for the first time under new trainer Jeff Fenech, Tszyu also improved to a perfect 27-0 in fights held on Australian soil.
Full Card Results From Sydney
The Spence-Tszyu headliner topped a stacked card at Afterpay Arena:
- Tim Tszyu def. Errol Spence Jr. by unanimous decision (118-110, 117-111, 117-111)
- Ahmad Reda def. Paul Fleming by unanimous decision (99-91, 97-93, 96-94)
- Paulo Aokuso def. Luis Antonio Tejeda by 10th-round knockout, winning the vacant IBF Pan Pacific light heavyweight title
- Callum Peters def. Ivan Ricardo Actis by seventh-round TKO
- Tina Rahimi def. Sacha Ryan Dryden by unanimous decision, in a successful pro debut for the former Olympian
- Brandon Grach def. Ike Pluto by unanimous decision
The Bottom Line
Tm Tszyu's win over Errol Spence Jr. does more than pad his record — it puts him firmly back in the chiampionship conversation at a new weight class, while closing the book on Spence's Hall of Fame-caliber career. For a fighter who not long ago looked to be sliding out of world title contention, Sunday's performance in front of a hometown Sydney crowd was as complete a statement as Tszyu could have made.
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