Why some think Errol Spence is done in boxing ahead of his comeback fight in the sport of boxing ahead of his Tim Tszyu fight.
Terence Crawford pinged him and bust him up easy over three and a half years ago now.
Before that Spence was nearly minced up in a car crash as well.
Now he’s getting back in there with Tim Tszyu — a fighter up to the mark and active in the sport at a high level in recent times.
20 Facts: Why Errol Spence Might Be Done at High-Level Boxing
- Age factor: Spence will be 36 by July 26, 2026, past typical prime years for welterweights/junior middleweights.
- 3.5-year layoff: Last fought July 29, 2023 vs Crawford. Longest inactivity of his career.
- Crawford TKO loss: Stopped in 9 rounds, knocked down 3 times, took heavy punishment.
- October 2019 car crash: Flipped Ferrari, ejected, hospitalized with facial lacerations and broken teeth.
- Second car crash: January 2021, no major injuries reported but added to wear and tear concerns.
- Detached retina: Had eye surgery in August 2021, forced out of Pacquiao fight.
- Vision issues: Retina detachment can cause depth perception and reaction time problems in boxing.
- Weight cut damage: Cut from ∼170 lbs to 147 for years, draining body and brain repeatedly.
- Last 3 fights showed decline: Barely got past Ugas, then dominated by Crawford.
- Spence said 147 was “killing me”: Admitted post-Crawford that making welterweight was too hard.
- Only 1 fight in 4 years: Beat Ugas April 2022, lost to Crawford July 2023, then 3 years off.
- Timing/Reflex loss: Ring rust at 36 is worse than at 26 — speed goes first after layoffs.
- Chin durability questions: Never stopped before Crawford, but took clean shots he used to slip.
- Tszyu is top-tier, not a tune-up: 31, active, high-volume pressure fighter with power.
- 154 is new weight: Never fought at junior middleweight pro. Unknown how body holds power there.
- Historical precedent: Fighters with long layoffs + bad KO losses rarely return to elite level.
- Training camp secrecy: PBC/Spence releasing little footage, unlike his prime years.
- Motivation questions: Made $25M+ vs Crawford. Financial need to fight diminished.
- Cumulative damage: 29 pro fights, 135 amateur bouts, 2 crashes, retina surgery = high mileage.
- Opponent risk profile: Tszyu is young, hungry, and stylistically bad for rusty boxers who start slow.
Overall, it is a big gamble for Spence and his team.
Here’s more info on our early Errol Spence Tim Tszyu breakdown ahead of the bout this summer.
