Errol Spence Jr was defeated by Tim Tszyu by unanimous decision in the main event at Afterpay Arena in Sydney. All three judges scored the bout for Tszyu, 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111, handing the Australian a clear points victory.
The fight marked Spence's return after a multi-year layoff following a 2023 loss to Terence Crawford. Tszyu imposed early pressure, landed a hard jab and a heavy right hand to the body, and finished many rounds with accurate right crosses that repeatedly snapped Spence's head back.
Spence showed grit and had moments of success, including body work and counters, but the ring rust was apparent. He frequently retreated under Tszyu's forward work and absorbed consistent countering. The Australian boxed with patience and clean technique while also bullying Spence in several middle rounds.
After the decision, Spence offered praise to his opponent and signalled the end of his professional career. He told ringside interviewers he would "go home with my family" and later said "For sure," when asked if the defeat marked his retirement, thanking God that he left boxing "with my faculties in tact" and his family by his side.
Financials Reactions And Card Context
Industry reporting ahead of the fight placed the event purse at about $15 million. Multiple outlets suggested Spence would take the larger guaranteed share, reflecting his status as the bigger commercial draw. Early public estimates had placed Tszyu's guarantee between $3 million and $5 million and Spence's guarantee in the eight-figure range, according to those reports.
Spence's manager, Adrian Clark, publicly dismissed a $2.5 million figure as too low and indicated Spence's real guarantee was "well into eight figures," as reported in pre-fight coverage. Those purse figures remain industry estimates until boxing commissions file official payouts.
Tszyu called the result the biggest win of his career and said "100 per cent" when asked if that assessment was accurate. He added that beating a "legend like Errol Spence" tops vying for a world title, and this fight was his first under trainer Jeff Fenech.
The event also featured notable undercard action. Ahmad Reda earned a unanimous decision over Paul Fleming in the co-main, and several other Australian fighters recorded stoppages and wins on the Sydney card, as reported in live updates from the venue.
