![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Yep, truly, right there in the ring.<\/p>\n
Which isn\u2019t something the American superstar has ever experienced before.<\/p>\n
Nor something he really wanted to share.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, yeah, I already talked to him,\u201d Spence said of Tszyu, and while fronting a post fight press conference that had suddenly doubled as his shock farewell from the sport.<\/p>\n
Seated up on a small stage deep inside the bowels of Afterpay Arena, and with some 20 family members, including his children, in the room, Spence confirmed those words he gave to Tszyu would be his last great act in a boxing ring.<\/p>\n
A truth he revealed while sat shirtless, and wearing black pants, with much of his face already hidden behind giant sunglasses.<\/p>\n
Which was itself testament to the damage Tszyu had just done.<\/p>\n
And over the next 15 minutes as Spence chatted, he would give the Australian his flowers too.<\/p>\n
But first, everyone wanted to know what was said between the pair.<\/p>\n
\u201cTim asked me about some stuff he needed to work on and we talked,\u201d the American continued. \u201cBut there\u2019s no need to tell social media \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Tim Tszyu of Australia wins by unanimous decision over Errol Spence Jr of The United States during the Middleweight bout between Errol Spence Jr and Tim Tszyuat Afterpay Arena on July 26, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Asked by Fox Sports Australia if Tszyu was the first opponent who had ever asked him for advice immediately after competing and the former welterweight king grinned and said, yeah, he was.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that shows his different type of personality,\u201d the man dubbed \u2018The Truth\u2019 continued. \u201cAsking \u2018hey, what do I need to work on? Do I need to work on this, and that?\u2019. Picking points like that, it shows a guy who is trying to improve. Trying to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n
And for good reason too.<\/p>\n
Understanding that immediately after upsetting Spence, and retiring Spence, in what now stands as the greatest performance of Tszyu\u2019s career, he then went and announced how plenty more was coming.<\/p>\n
‘This could be it’ Tszyu’s honest reveal | 08:26<\/p>\n
Which is why after speaking with Spence inside the ring, Tszyu then did the same with Main Event commentator Ben Damon \u2013 and immediately called out WBA middleweight king Erislandy Lara.<\/p>\n
Later backstage, Tszyu also spoke of being absolutely up for a showdown with Jermell Charlo, or even twin brother Jermall \u2013 who was yanked from this card over visa dramas.<\/p>\n
And just on that, Spence had advice too.<\/p>\n
\u201cLara is super tricky,\u201d he warned of Tszyu going straight into a title fight. \u201cHe\u2019s certainly an older go but he\u2019s a grade A calibre opponent.\u201d<\/p>\n
But on Charlo, Spence said it would not only be a good fight, but a 50\/50 one.<\/p>\n
Errol Spence Jr of The United States and Tim Tszyu of Australia speak after Middleweight bout at Afterpay Arena on July 26, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Then when it was his own turn to speak with media afterwards, Tszyu was far more forthcoming when asked what was said by Spence.<\/p>\n
Same as the Aussie also spoke candidly about being woken at four o\u2019clock on fight morning by two words … \u2018Oh, f***\u2019.<\/p>\n
But first, the Spence conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I spoke to him,\u201d Tszyu revealed of the chat which occurred shortly after his emphatic win. \u201cHe\u2019s a legend of the game and I asked him \u2018what is one tip that you would give?\u2019 \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
And credit to Spence, he gave it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said \u2018stay patient\u2019,\u201d Tszyu revealed. \u201cHe said \u2018when you\u2019re not rushing in you\u2019re very dangerous. When you wait you\u2019re a very good counter puncher and you\u2019ve got fast hands. Very reactive\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think that\u2019s how I won the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
“For sure”: Spence retires after loss? | 04:58<\/p>\n
Then soon after, Tszyu revealed that early morning dilemma.<\/p>\n
\u201cI woke up at 4am and was \u2018oh, f***,\u2019\u201d he grinned.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mind was racing with all this stuff like \u2018what am I going to do if I lose?\u2019 \u2026 that\u2019s the stuff that goes through your head. Things like \u2018do I really want this? Do I want these 4am feelings?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet the real truth? Tszyu wondered if Spence was about to retire him.<\/p>\n
Coming into the fight, Tszyu had vowed to end Spence\u2019s career.<\/p>\n
But now that it was official we asked him afterwards, how do you feel?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t personal,\u201d he stressed of the call, before then adding the kicker that best explained that four o\u2019clock wake up: \u201cHe either does it to me or I do it to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
So as for Charlo next?<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, 100 per cent,\u201d Tszyu said. \u201cI do want to rest, but I do want to kick arse again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wonderfully, Tszyu also explained how Spence had landed punches several times near his backside.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe kept hitting me here, to the butt,\u201d he grinned. \u201cSo I\u2019m pretty sore in the butt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Errol Spence Jr of The United States and Tim Tszyu of Australia compete during the Middleweight bout between Errol Spence Jr and Tim Tszyuat Afterpay Arena on July 26, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Spence, meanwhile, also revealed Tszyu to be a fighter who had made those 12 rounds of Sunday\u2019s blockbuster feel longer than at any other time in his likely Hall of Fame career.<\/p>\n
And part of that, of course, the Texan attributed to his three years out of the sport.<\/p>\n
But part, he also gave to Tszyu.<\/p>\n
Quizzed on the fight, he continued: \u201cIt wasn\u2019t the way I hoped it would go. It was a tough fight. A long fight. I was able to go 12 rounds and finish the fight, but it didn\u2019t go the way I wanted so much respect to Tim Tszyu.\u201d<\/p>\n
Was the Sydneysider better than you expected?<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Spence replied, \u201che was what I expected.\u201d<\/p>\n
And as for what he did well?<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was timing real well,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd my timing was off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blame that on your three years out?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be,\u201d Spence shrugged. \u201cBut I\u2019m not going to use that as an excuse. Tim did his thing tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
After initially announcing his retirement in the ring on Sunday afternoon, Spence then doubled down backstage while also paying a compliment to Tszyu.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no reason to fight [on],\u201d he said. \u201cI asked a lot of questions of myself tonight. And going 12 rounds, and realising how long those 12 rounds were \u2026 [laughs] it\u2019s time to hang \u2018em up.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwelve rounds isn\u2019t usually that long, but it was long tonight. It\u2019s time to hang them up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reda v Fleming Full Fight Highlights | 08:45<\/p>\n
In his own interview, Tszyu also heaped praise on the role of his new coach, Australian Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, his energy, his corner advice \u2026 he\u2019s an unbelievable coach,\u201d Tszyu said. \u201cHe\u2019s a big, big leader. I felt very comfortable with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it would take a couple of fights to adapt. But honestly, after two weeks together it started flowing. I\u2019m blessed to partner with a legend like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s like Wayne Bennett.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd from previous fights I felt a big change. And to have two famous surnames of Aussie boxing colliding against a legend of the sport, and we got the job done.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd when everyone doubted us. We weren\u2019t supposed to win. Weren\u2019t the favourite. But I put my back against the wall \u2026 it\u2019s a big eff you to a lot of people.\u201d<\/p>\n
And on having former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold in his room on fight night, Tszyu continued: \u201cHe said something special. He said the reason you feel like this is it\u2019s your night.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why you feel something different.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Spence was asked at which point he knew things weren\u2019t going as planned, the fighter continued: \u201cS***, I dunno\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first three rounds felt OK. I wasn\u2019t nervous or anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut s***, as a fighter I don\u2019t remember 12 rounds feeling like that. That\u2019s how I know it\u2019s time to hang them up.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t be out [of boxing] that long, come back and think you can fight 12 rounds against the calibre of opponent like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peters v Actis: Full Fight Highlights | 08:34<\/p>\n
Still, Spence explained why he was proud to come back for one last time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came back because we\u2019re in an era now where people are scared to fail,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in an era where everything is on social media, being recorded, so people are scared to step out and do stuff because it\u2019s going to get posted and people laugh at you.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut those same people who laugh and make funny jokes on social media and stuff have never really done anything with their life.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I\u2019m sure some people will have something to say. And I\u2019m sure they wouldn\u2019t have the guts to do what I did \u2013 to come back and fight a quality opponent like Tim Tszyu in his own backyard and go 12 rounds and put on a great show.<\/p>\n
And as for what he is most proud of?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m most proud of keeping my faculties and having enough money in the bank, even before this, to retire and keep living like I am now for now for 10, 20 years \u2026 I\u2019ll still be OK,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m most proud of. I\u2019m in a sport where a lot of boxers, Hall of Famers or not, retire broke. And after this, even if I didn\u2019t have this fight, I would\u2019ve been OK.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You want to know the first thing Tim Tszyu did after retiring Errol Spence Jnr? He asked him…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":824734,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[64,63,802,85],"class_list":["post-824733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-boxing","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-boxing","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=824733"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824733\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/824734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=824733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=824733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=824733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}