Tszyu Spence result: Tim wins decision as Errol says he is done
Tim Tszyu won a unanimous decision in Sydney, and Errol Spence Jr said after the fight that his boxing career is likely over.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The Tszyu Spence result landed hard in Sydney: Tim Tszyu beat Errol Spence Jr by unanimous decision at Afterpay Arena, then watched the American former unified welterweight champion signal that he is finished with boxing.
ESPN reported that the judges scored the 12-round middleweight bout 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111 for Tszyu, the former WBO junior middleweight titleholder. The fight was Spence’s first since his defeat to Terence Crawford three years earlier.
Spence, 36, had returned for one night after a long spell away from the ring. According to ESPN, that comeback appears to have become his final fight as well.
Did Errol Spence Jr retire after the Tim Tszyu fight?
Asked by Main Event’s Ben Damon whether his career had reached “the end of the road,” Spence said, “I think yeah, for sure.” He added that he was leaving with his “faculties intact,” his finances in order and his family by his side.
ESPN described Spence as having moments of success when he attacked Tszyu’s body, but said he could not sustain pressure across the fight and seemed tired in the later rounds.
Tszyu, fighting before his home crowd, grew stronger as the bout wore on. ESPN reported that he kept moving forward and repeatedly hunted Spence’s chin, with each clean right hand drawing a loud response from the Sydney crowd.
After the win, Tszyu said he had lost sleep before facing Spence and praised him as one of boxing’s greats. He also made clear that he wants another championship opportunity, saying a title fight is his target.
Tszyu said beating Spence ranked above winning a world title, according to ESPN.
What does the win mean for Tim Tszyu?
The victory gives Tszyu his third straight win as he works his way back from setbacks against Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev. ESPN reported that Tszyu had lost to Fundora twice, along with the defeat to Murtazaliev.
The main event also gave the Sydney card the finish it needed after two major undercard fights fell apart.
ESPN reported that Jermell Charlo had been scheduled to fight Koen Mazoudier, but Charlo was denied an Australian visa earlier in the month. Stephen Fulton Jr was due to face Liam Wilson in a world title eliminator, but ESPN said Fulton missed weight by 6.5 pounds.
On the earlier card, Australia’s Paulo Aokuso knocked out Luis Antonio Tejeda of the Dominican Republic in the 10th round to win the vacant IBF Pan Pacific light heavyweight title, according to ESPN.
Australian middleweight Callum Peters stopped Argentina’s Ivan Ricardo Actis in the seventh round. Ahmad Reda also defeated Paul Fleming in an all-Australian lightweight bout that ESPN said was elevated to co-main event status after the undercard changes.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.