Errol Spence Jr announces retirement after Tim Tszyu claims biggest career win in Sydney

Errol Spence Jr has announced his retirement from boxing after Tim Tszyu claimed the biggest win of his career by unanimous decision in their middleweight blockbuster in Sydney.

The 36-year-old Texan, one of the finest American fighters of his generation, confirmed in the ring at a sold-out Afterpay Arena that he will not fight again after only the second defeat of his career.

Spence had not fought since his 2023 defeat to Terence Crawford and jumped two divisions to meet Tszyu at middleweight after three years away. Crawford, recently retired as the sport's pound-for-pound king, watched from ringside as his old rival gave everything one final time.

As for Tszyu, the former WBO super welterweight champion arrived rebranded as "the Phoenix" and knowing his career could not absorb another setback after three world-title defeats in America, twice to Sebastian Fundora and once to Bakhram Murtazaliev. This was his first fight under new trainer Jeff Fenech, and it will live long in both men's memories.

Tszyu snapped Spence's head back with clean right hands inside the opening round, but the American's class showed early. He was the busier man through the first half, investing heavily to the body and at times doubling Tszyu's output, even if his balance never looked fully trustworthy following the long layoff.

The pattern turned in the seventh. 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.

Spence found a big left in the 10th and, told bluntly by trainer Ronnie Shields that he was not doing enough, emptied himself into a defiant 11th.

Tszyu dominated the last in keeping with most of the fight, though, punctuating the night with a right hand that sent Spence stumbling back into the corner pad and the three cards reflected his second-half control, scoring the contest 118-110 117-111 117-111 in the home favourite's favour.

Tszyu admitted afterwards that he was relieved to pick up the victory and considers it the highlight of his career so far.

"I had sleepless nights, what am I gonna feel like facing a legend like that?" the 31-year-old admitted afterwards. "I understand why he's one of the greats.

"Two greats I'm trying to replicate, Kostya Tszyu and Jeff Fenech. If I can get half as great as them, I'll be a great man.

"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.

Tszyu, now 28-3, confirmed middleweight is his new home and 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.

The Sydney crowd applauded Spence as he confirmed his decision, closing a professional career of almost 14 years that followed a 135-12 amateur record and one that survived a near-fatal car crash along the way.

"I've got my faculties intact. My money is good, it's working for itself. Everything's good," he said. "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."

He retires at 28-2 with 22 knockouts, a former unified champion whose wins over Kell Brook, Shawn Porter and Yordenis Ugas collected three of the four major belts at welterweight.