Tim Tszyu sends Errol Spence into retirement with unanimous decision victory in Sydney

Tim Tszyu added the biggest name yet to his CV and kicked off a career resurgence with a spectacular boxing performance on the way to a unanimous decision victory over Errol Spence.

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In doing so, the Aussie appeared to send Spence into retirement, after the Texan former unified welterweight champion ended a three-year layoff to make his ring return in Sydney.

Having shared the spoils through the first half of the bout, the former WBO super welterweight world champion came home with a wet sail, taking control of the centre of the ring and repeatedly scoring with power punches to Spence’s head.

Spence had some bright moments of his own and piled up the body work but Tszyu was sharp enough to handle anything the 36-year-old southpaw threw his way.

A right hand which sent Spence back into the corner buckle in the 12th round punctuated the Sydneysider’s performance.

All three judges scored it for Tszyu by a comfortable margin (117-111 x2, 118-110).

“160 is my new division,” Tszyu said in the ring after the bout.

“This was one hell of a show.

“I thought the Tony Harrison win was good but… let’s go party!”

Tszyu admitted he’d doubted his ability to mix it with a fighter of Spence’s calibre, paying tribute to his new trainer, legendary Australian boxer Jeff Fenech.

“I had sleepless nights — what am I gonna feel like facing a legend like that?” the 31-year-old said.

“I understand why he’s one of the greats.

“Two greats I’m trying to replicate —  Kostya Tszyu and Jeff Fenech. 

“If I can get half as great as them, I’ll be a great man.”

Tszyu named WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara as a potential future opponent, but said he was just as happy to add legends like Spence to his resume.

“Beating a great like Errol Spence tops any world title for me,” he added

“The Tszyu legacy is continuing. I told you so.”

As for Spence, he appeared to confirm he wouldn’t be seen in a boxing ring again, leaving with a record of 28-2.

“It was a good showing by Tim,” Spence said post-fight

“I asked a lot of questions of myself. Now it’s time to go home with my family and start a new life.

“I’ve got my faculties in tact.

“It’s been a great journey for myself but it’s time to be home with my family and live that family life.”

Ahmad Reda emerged victorious in a domestic showdown with Paul Fleming in the chief support, which was elevated to that position after Stephen Fulton missed weight for his bout with Liam Wilson, which itself had been promoted after Jermall Charlo failed to get a visa ahead of his fight with Koen Mazoudier.

Reda, who moved to 9-0, showed plenty of skill in cutting off the ring and busting up the wily veteran of 32 professional fights, seeing him come away with a points win.

Earlier, Callum Peters improved to 8-0 as a professional with another relentless display, eventually proving too much for Argentina’s Ivan Actis in the seventh round.

The Actis corner could have some justification in protesting what they believed was an early stoppage but the bout was only going to end one way.

Kicking off the main card, Paulo Aokuso recorded a spectacular knockout on Luis Antonio Tejeda in the tenth round.

Aokuso was tested through the middle rounds but found a second wind before drilling the Dominican with a straight left which sent him crashing to the canvas and out for the count.

Here’s how it all went down:

Errol Spence vs. Tim Tszyu updates, highlights

Tim Tszyu claims hard-fought win over Errol Spence

(117-111 x2, 118-110)

Round 12: Final round. Here we go. Tszyu moves his opponent around with a right hand to the body. It’s currently the Aussie on the stalk, despite the urgency required from Spence. Tszyu lands one of his best shots of the fight as he drives a right hand right through his guard and sends him back into the corner. The crowd rises to their feet to cheer the local boy home over the final seconds.

SN unofficial scorecard: 117-111 Tszyu

Round 11: Into the championship rounds and Spence may need a stoppage, depending how the judges are seeing it. But it’s Tszyu who enjoys a bright moment early, teeing off with a combination. Spence is struggling to find the clean shot he’s after and Tszyu is quick to fire back when he misses. Spence does get a left hand through on the end of a combo but Tszyu gets straight back on the front foot. Another Tszyu round for us.

SN unofficial scorecard: 107-102 Tszyu

Round 10: The pair trade in tight and Tszyu appears to be the one getting the better of the exchanges. A long left hand snaps Tszyu’s head pack to remind him that Spence is still a threat. The Texan seems buoyed by his brief moment of success. Tszyu pops Spence’s head back with a straight shot. Close round. Maybe Tszyu just?

SN unofficial scorecard: 97-93 Tszyu

Round 9: Spence whiffs on a wild right hook and Tszyu chases him but can’t land the power shot he was looking for. The trade hard punches into each other’s guard. Tszyu thuds a right hook into Spence’s head. Tszyu finishes on the front foot to bank another round in our books.

SN unofficial scorecard: 87-84 Tszyu

Round 8: Tszyu goes to work at close range but Spence responds with a series of sharp lefts. Spence gets a final warning for low blows. Tszyu is feeling it now and firing off some combinations. Another tight one and a better round for Spence but Tszyu gets it on ring control for us.

SN unofficial scorecard: 77-75 Tszyu

Round 7: Halfway through the 12 rounds and we’ve got it even so far. Spence popping single shots off the back foot with Tszyu now stalking, having taken control of the centre of the ring. Tszyu getting busier now and mixing up the offence. Spence ducks and weaves away from some powerful hooks. A right hand gets the partisan Sydney crowd excited. Tszyu finds the target with a right hand in the corner. Another good round for the Aussie.

Read more Full card results as Tim Tszyu defeats Errol Spence, sends ‘The Truth’ into retirement

SN unofficial scorecard: 67-66 Tszyu

Round 6: Tszyu pounds Spence’s head with a pair of hooks. Spence is piling up the body work. Tszyu has some success in close, driving a right hook into his man’s dome. Referee Will Soulos warns Spence about going low. Spence head snaps back after a right hand. Tszyu boxing well this round. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 57-57

Round 5: Spence comes out aggressively and scores with some sharp punches. Tszyu is pushing forward but not punching with a whole lot of volume, giving Spence the chances to land shots as he enters range. They trade hooks to the body. Tszyu lands a right upstairs. Another tight round, could go either way but we edge it for Spence.

SN unofficial scorecard: 48-47 Spence

Round 4: Tszyu getting active with the lead hand and hunting the body with his right. A right hook gets through for Spence. A left upstairs rocks Tszyu but then he fires back with a right hand of his own. This one feels like it’s on a knife edge right now. More straight right hands from Tszyu which send Spence back. Strong round from the Sydneysider.

SN unofficial scorecard: 38-38

Round 3: Tszyu more aggressive here, just misses an uppercut. They battle for centre ring. Spence appears comfortable enough in a phonebooth fight at the moment. Spence continues to pop shots off Tszyu’s high guard. The local is pressing forward and lands a pair of right hands down the pipe. Close round but Tszyu perhaps left his run too late.

SN unofficial scorecard: 29-28 Spence

Round 2: Spence back on the offensive early in the second. Tszyu putting plenty into the shots he throws, although he is the less busy of the pair. A sharp combo bounces off Tszyu’s guard. A left hand on the end of a 1-2 drills Tszyu’s head. Nice bounce-back round from the American.

SN unofficial scorecard: 19-19

Round 1: Spence opens up with jabs, keeping Tszyu at bay. The Aussie can’t find a way inside through the opening stages. A straight right scores for Tszyu. Spence unloads on a wide left hand. Spence is wobbled by a Tszyu right hand but then Spence lands a clean shot as he goes after him. Action-packed opening round. Has to go to Tszyu for that big right hand that hurt Spence.

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Tszyu

2:17 p.m.: With both fighters now in the ring, there’s nothing left to do but fight. Follow along with our unofficial scorecard.

2:14 p.m.: Spence makes his walk now, with Archie Roach’s tribute to the Stolen Generation «Took The Children Away» fulfilling the Texan’s promise to honour Indigenous Australians.

2:11 p.m.: Tszyu makes his walk to the ring, flanked by trainer Jeff Fenech and former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, among others. Eminem’s «Lose Yourself» is the musical accompaniment, which makes way for 50 Cent’s «Straight To The Bank».

2:03 p.m.: The undercard is in the books. Spence and Tszyu will be making their ring walks shortly.

Ahmad Reda overcomes Paul Fleming test

(99-91, 97-3, 96-94)

All wrapped up in the chief support and it’s a clear unanimous decision victory for Reda, handing Fleming just the second loss of his 32-fight professional career. Reda was calm and composed throughout the fight as he stalked the elusive veteran. Reda moves to 9-0.

1:33 p.m.: Five rounds in the books in the chief support and it’s Reda on top thus far. Fleming continues to showboat and urge his younger opponent on, but Reda outlanding him.

Callum Peters stops a game Ivan Actis

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That’s it! As the Peters offensive assault continued, referee Will Soulos steps in early in the seventh. Actis never went down and was fighting back, seeing him protest the stoppage, but it was becoming increasingly one-sided.

12:42 p.m.: Four rounds into Peters vs. Actis and the Argentinian fighter is in big trouble. Peters’ onslaught is only just ramping up and he’s already busted up.

Paulo Aokuso puts Luis Antonio Tejeda to sleep in the 10th

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WOW! After 27 minutes, Aokuso comes out and flatlines Tejeda in the opening exchanges of the final round. A straight left hand cracked the chin of the to-that-point extremely durable Dominican. Tejeda’s head slammed into the mat and he lay motionless for several minutes. An incredible finish to a fight which saw Aokuso tested on several occasions.

11:51 a.m.: Seven rounds in the books and this fight has changed complexion. Despite scoring a flash knockdown in the fifth round, Aokuso looks to be in some trouble. Tejeda’s relentless pressure has taken a toll and the Aussie is struggling with the pace. Aokuso continues to land single shots on the counter but Tejeda has all the momentum, unleashing combinations when he has his man backed against the ropes.

11:36 a.m.: Three rounds down in the main card opener and it’s largely going to plan for Sydney’s Aokuso, who is picking off Tejeda as the Dominican fighter closes the distance. Tejeda showing a strong chin thus far.

Tina Rahimi’s pro debut a winning one

(40-36 x2, 39-37)

Former Olympian Tina Rahimi kicked off her time in the professional ranks with a unanimous decision victory over Sacha Ryan-Dryden to round out the preliminary card.

The Sydneysider was too slick for Ryan-Dryden, showcasing her superior boxing skills, both at range and on the inside.

Brandon Grach defeats Ike From Pluto in late notice opener

(49-45 x2, 48-46)

In a fight which was added less than 24 hours to go after two bouts fell off the card, Grach and Pluto got the day off to an entertaining start.

A right hand at close range earned Grach a knockdown in the fourth round but Pluto came back strongly in the fifth, teeing off on his tiring opponent to get the fans who arrived early on their feet.

Errol Spence vs. Tim Tszyu full fight card and results

• Tim Tszyu def. Errol Spence via UD12 (117-111 x2, 118-110); Middleweight
• Ahmad Reda def. Paul Fleming via UD10 (99-91, 97-3, 96-94); Lightweight
• Callum Peters def. Ivan Actis via TKO7; Middleweight
• Paulo Aokuso def. Luis Antonio Tejeda via KO10; Light heavyweight
• Tina Rahimi def. Sacha Ryan Dryden via UD4 (40-36 x2, 39-37); Super bantamweight
• Brandon Grach def. Ike From Pluto via UD5 (49-45 x2, 48-46); Heavyweight

How to watch Spence vs. Tszyu

In Australia:

Fans in Australia can purchase the pay-per-view fro $69.95 through Kayo or Foxtel’s Main Event.

Click here to watch Spence vs. Tszyu on Kayo

In the U.S.:

In America, the action will be streamed live on Prime Video and DAZN.

Global:

For those fans everywhere else, Spence vs. Tszyu will also be live streamed on DAZN.

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Click here to watch Spence vs. Tszyu on DAZN