The Truth's Final Bell: Errol Spence Jr. Retires After Unanimous Decision Loss to Tim Tszyu

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For nearly a decade, Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. was the absolute gold standard of the welterweight division—a relentless, body-crunching force who systematically dismantled world champions. But on Sunday in Sydney, Australia, boxing’s father time and a three-year layoff finally closed the curtain on one of the most decorated American fighters of his generation.

Following a unanimous decision loss to Australian star Tim Tszyu at Afterpay Arena, the 36-year-old Spence officially announced his retirement from professional boxing inside the ring.

                   THE FINAL SCORECARDS (Sydney, Australia)
   ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
   │ Tim Tszyu def. Errol Spence Jr. via Unanimous Decision          │
   ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
   │ • Judge 1: 118–110                                              │
   │ • Judge 2: 117–111                                              │
   │ • Judge 3: 117–111                                              │
   └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

When asked directly if this was the end of his 14-year professional career, Spence left zero ambiguity:

“Yeah, for sure, man. I got my faculties intact. My money is good and working for itself,” Spence said to a respectful Australian crowd. “Everything is good, man. I 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.”

The Final Chapter: Spence vs. Tszyu

Stepping into the ring for the first time since his devastating 2023 loss to Terence Crawford, Spence jumped up two weight classes to 160 pounds (middleweight) under the guidance of veteran trainer Ronnie Shields.

The early rounds showed glimpses of old greatness. Spence invested heavily to the body and outworked Tszyu through the first half of the fight. However, as the bout crossed into the seventh round, the long layoff and weight gain began to take their toll.

Tszyu repeatedly caught Spence with sharp, straight right hands. By the championship rounds, Tszyu’s timing and freshness dominated the action, driving Spence back into the turnbuckle in the 12th round to secure a clear decision victory.

What Happened to “The Truth”?

To understand the end of Errol Spence’s career is to understand a boxer who fought as many battles outside the ring as he did inside it. At his peak between 2017 and 2022, Spence was an unstoppable pressure fighter who collected three of the four major 147-pound belts (IBF, WBC, WBA) with signature victories over Kell Brook, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia, and Yordenis Ugas.

However, a series of career-altering events systematically chipped away at his physical prime:

The 2019 Ferrari Crash: Just weeks after unifying titles against Shawn Porter in 2019, Spence miraculously survived a high-speed rollover crash in Dallas. While he escaped without broken bones, the severe facial trauma and physical toll undeniably cost him a layer of his peak athleticism.
Retinal Injuries & Layoffs: In 2021, a torn retina scrubbed a mega-fight against Manny Pacquiao. Extended periods of inactivity became the norm, limiting Spence to just three fights over his final four years in the sport.
The Crawford Beatdown: In July 2023, Spence suffered his first career loss—a 9th-round stoppage at the hands of Terence Crawford. The sustained punishment in that unification bout left deep mental and physical wear that proved impossible to reverse three years later.

                 ERROL SPENCE JR. CAREER TIMELINE
  
Wins IBF Title (KOs Kell Brook in Sheffield)
Unifies WBC Title (Outpoints Shawn Porter) ➔ Near-Fatal Car Crash
Unifies WBA Title (TKO9 over Yordenis Ugas)
Suffers 1st Loss vs. Terence Crawford
Loses to Tim Tszyu in Middleweight Return ➔ Announces Retirement

Legacy and Life After Boxing

Errol Spence Jr. retires with a professional record of 28 wins (22 KOs) and 2 losses.

While his final two outings did not yield victory, Spence exits the sport on his own terms—financially secure, clear-headed, and widely regarded as one of the best welterweights of his era. In a sport notorious for fighters hanging on far too long, Spence’s decision to walk away with his health intact is perhaps his most impressive win of all.