Why did Errol Spence stop fighting and retire from boxing all together tonight after the Tim Tszyu defeat?
The American former world champion retired tonight in boxing after suffering a UD points defeat in Australia in their 160 pounds catchweight.
Here is why we believe Spence called time on his boxing career tonight — all things considering:
Physical Decline – The Body Broke Down
- The 2019 Ferrari crash caused lasting damage – facial scars, tooth loss, and lingering neck/back issues.
- Required cataract surgery on his left eye in 2022, a direct result of the crash.
- At 36, he lost his signature physical attributes: hand speed, footwork, and upper-body movement.
- Looked visibly slower and heavier against Tszyu – legs were gone, couldn’t cut off the ring.
- Lacked the stamina to sustain pressure over 12 rounds; faded badly in the second half.
Technical Exposure – Crawford Broke the Blueprint
- Crawford exposed a fundamental flaw: Spence could not handle elite switch-hitting and lateral movement.
- The 2023 TKO loss was not a bad night – it was a systematic dismantling that showed his style had a ceiling.
- His jab, once his best weapon, was neutralized by speed and timing.
- Defensive holes (dropping his left hand, squaring up) were exploited and never fully fixed.
The Layoff – Three Years of Rust
- From Crawford (July 2023) to Tszyu (July 2026) – nearly 36 months inactive.
- At his age, that layoff is catastrophic; reflexes, timing, and ring sharpness do not return.
- Fought only twice in the last 4.5 years (Ugás in 2022, Crawford in 2023, Tszyu in 2026).
- Could not justify a tune-up fight at his career stage – went straight into a dangerous opponent and paid the price.
Tszyu Loss – The Final Proof
- Lost every round on two cards (117-111) and most on the third (118-110).
- Landed fewer punches, threw less, and was outworked by a younger, hungrier fighter.
- Could not hurt Tszyu with anything – his power, once a major factor, was gone.
- Was outboxed, not just out-fought – Tszyu beat him at his own game of pressure and body work.
- No controversial decisions, no excuses – just a clear, definitive points loss.
Competitive Reality – No Path Back to the Top
- Welterweight division had moved on – younger, faster fighters like Tszyu, Boots Ennis, and Jaron Ennis were rising.
- A rematch with Crawford was unrealistic; Crawford had moved up and beaten him soundly.
- No clear route to another title shot without 2-3 comeback wins – which his body could not handle.
- Risk of further damage outweighed any potential reward or legacy gain.
Financial Security – Nothing Left to Prove
- Made career-high purses against Crawford and Tszyu.
- Had earned enough to retire comfortably – no financial pressure to continue.
- Legacy already secure as a former unified champion and top-20 American welterweight.
- Fighting on would only risk tarnishing his reputation with more losses.
The Bottom Line
- Not good enough anymore – plain and simple.
- His physical tools eroded, his technical flaws were exposed, and the layoff finished him.
- Tszyu wasn’t a bad matchup – Spence was just a faded version of his former self.
- Retirement was the only logical move for a fighter who could no longer compete at the elite level.
Here was the Errol Spence retirement speech in the ring right after he lost tonight in boxing results tonight.
Here is a brief look back at the Errol Spence Jr career in boxing.
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