5 hours ago
4
Tim Tszyu has restored his global reputation with a rousing victory over the US great Errol Spence Jr in the pair’s middleweight blockbuster in Sydney.
Rebranded as “the Phoenix”, Australia’s former WBO world champion rose again in front of a raucous sellout crowd at Afterpay Arena on Sunday to rocket back to prominence.
Boxing’s recently retired pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford was in the house as Tszyu set up another big money fight in the US – and potentially another world-title crack.
Tszyu (28-3, 18KOs) had entered the boom-or-bust bout with Spence knowing his career was on the line following three crushing world-title losses in America to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev.
But the 31-year-old lived up to his pre-fight promise to take it to Spence, a generational talent and former unified welterweight champion of the world.
In a torrid 12-round battle, Spence threw more punches, but it was the hometown hero who landed the most telling blows to earn a unanimous points decision.
“I want to win a world title, but beating a great like Errol Spence beats any world title for me,” the victor said after earning the judges’ decisions 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111.
“It was one hell of a show and I understand why he’s one of the greats. Let’s go party.”
Tszyu’s triumph was also his first since appointing the legendary Jeff Fenech as trainer and preserved his family’s incredible 31-year unbeaten record in Australia.
The Sydney slayer has now won all 26 of his fights on home soil, with his Hall of Fame father Kostya (18-0) and younger brother Nikita (12-0) also unbeaten in Australia for an incredible 56-0 tally.
“Sydney, Australia, the Tszyu legacy is continuing,” Tszyu said.
“I told you so.”
For Spence, it is the end of the road after the Texan announced his immediate retirement following only the second defeat of is own Hall of Fame career.
Many questioned whether the 35-year-old would be the same fighter after his crushing 2023 loss to Crawford, which came four years after the southpaw was involved in an horrific car accident and ejected at speed from his Ferrari.
But the veteran played his part in one last epic contest.
after newsletter promotion
“I asked a lot of questions for myself, now it’s time to go home with my family and start a new life,” Spence said.
“It’s been a great time for myself, but it’s time to be with my family and live that family life.
“I’ve got my faculties intact. Everything’s good, man. I’ve got a beautiful family.”
Spence was the busier fighter early, but Tszyu snatched the opening round after landing a big overhand right to his opponent’s head late on.
The American landed a heavy straight left in the second and continued peppering Tszyu with his signature jab in round three.
Tszyu hit back to take round four with a lovely combination and then a right uppercut to place Spence on notice.
Spence, though, was relentless, throwing twice as many punches to Tszyu.
The hometown hero needed to find something - and did. Tszyu landed another huge blow to his rival’s head as tensions rose.
Spence had only ever been dropped twice in his illustrious career, both times in his loss to Crawford, but Tszyu almost put the Texan on the canvas again with yet another thunderous right in round seven.
Not surprising after a helter-skelter encounter, the two warriors began to tire yet both continued searching for the winning knockout that never came.
