Errol Spence Jr., former world welterweight champion, officially announced his retirement from boxing immediately following his unanimous decision loss to Tim Tszyu on July 25, 2026, at the Afterpay Arena in Sydney, Australia. At 36 years old and returning after a three-year hiatus, Spence acknowledged he had reached the peak of his career and expressed a desire to focus on his family life moving forward. His retirement was premeditated, with his trainer Ronnie Shields revealing Spence had decided before the fight that a loss would signal the end of his professional journey.

The fight itself ended with Tszyu winning decisively on the judges’ scorecards, which read 118-110, 117-111, and 117-111, indicating a clear victory, though some observers scored it a bit closer. Tszyu, now boasting a 28-3 record, secured a significant milestone by defeating Spence, a top-tier competitor with a 28-2 record. This victory marked a high point in Tszyu’s career as he declared his plan to continue competing in the middleweight division instead of welterweight.

Spence leaves behind a remarkable boxing legacy that includes a six-year reign as welterweight champion, notable wins over fighters like Shawn Porter, Kell Brook, and Mikey Garcia, and a career that spanned since 2012. Despite recent losses, including a 2023 TKO defeat to Terence Crawford after which Spence revealed he had undergone cataract surgery, he managed to close out his career on his own terms with dignity and without regret. His decision to exit the sport reflected a thoughtful and composed approach rare in combat sports retirements.

Looking ahead, Tim Tszyu aims to build on his momentum as he transitions fully into the middleweight class, embracing the new division as his primary focus. The event also featured other bouts, including wins by Ahmad Reda, Callum Peters, and Paulo Aokuso. Spence’s retirement, announced so promptly after the fight, represents the end of an era and leaves a lasting impression of respect and accomplishment in the boxing community.