Tszyu Claims Career-Defining Victory Over Spence
Tim Tszyu delivered the biggest win of his career by unanimous decision over Errol Spence Jr at a sold-out Afterpay Arena in Sydney, with the three judges scoring the middleweight contest 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111 in the Australian’s favour. The 31-year-old, fighting for the first time under new trainer Jeff Fenech and rebranded as “the Phoenix,” snapped Spence’s head back with clean right hands in the opening round before the American’s class showed through the first half. Spence, who had not fought since his 2023 defeat to Terence Crawford and jumped two divisions after three years away, invested heavily to the body and at times doubled Tszyu’s output, though his balance never looked fully trustworthy following the long layoff.
Spence Bows Out After Illustrious Career
Errol Spence Jr confirmed his retirement in the ring after only the second defeat of his professional career, closing a 14-year journey that followed a 135-12 amateur record and survived a near-fatal car crash along the way. The 36-year-old Texan, a former unified welterweight champion with victories over Kell Brook, Shawn Porter and Yordenis Ugas, told the crowd he has his faculties intact, his money working for itself and a beautiful family by his side. Crawford, recently retired as the sport’s pound-for-pound king, watched from ringside as his old rival gave everything one final time before Spence emptied himself into a defiant 11th round after trainer Ronnie Shields told him bluntly he was not doing enough.
The pattern turned decisively in the seventh when Spence simply could not time the right hand coming back at him, and Tszyu began landing it flush and often, coming close to putting the American down for only the third time in his career. Tszyu dominated the final round in keeping with most of the second half, punctuating the night with a right hand that sent Spence stumbling back into the corner pad. The victory preserved a remarkable family streak stretching 31 years, with Tszyu now 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.
Tszyu admitted afterwards he was relieved to pick up the victory and considers it the highlight of his career so far, topping any world title achievement. The 28-3 middleweight named WBA champion Erislandy Lara as a possible next opponent with Crawford’s presence in the building a reminder that another big American night and another world-title shot are suddenly back on the table. “Beating a great like Errol Spence tops any world title for me,” Tszyu said. “The Tszyu legacy is continuing. I told you so.”