UFC 330: Makhachev v Machado Garry | SUN 16 AUGUST 11AM AEST | UFC Welterweight Champion Islam Makhachev will return to the octagon for another tittle defence, where he takes on Ian Machado Garry in Philadelphia. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n After judges returned scorecards of 118-110, 117-111 and 117-111, Spence confirmed it would be the final fight of his celebrated career.<\/p>\n If there was one theme that dominated the American reaction, it was Spence\u2019s balance early in the fight.<\/p>\n \u201cIt never looked like Errol had his legs under him,\u201d said Paulie Malignaggi.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe looked shaky on his legs. Like giraffe legs.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he would throw that back hand he would fall in \u2013 so much sometimes that his back leg would come off the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n Former world champ Chris Algieri, who went five rounds with Spence in 2016, echoed those sentiments.<\/p>\n Having experienced the American\u2019s pressure firsthand, Algieri said Sunday\u2019s version looked nothing like The Big Fish he knew.<\/p>\n SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 26: 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 \u201cHis legs looked like they were cast in iron,\u201d Algierri said on the Inside Boxing podcast.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe could not move his legs. He had no balance at any point during the fight. There was no in and out, just heavy-footed.\u201d<\/p>\n Top trainer and analyst Stephen \u201cBreadman\u201d Edwards also noted Spence\u2019s footwork. <\/p>\n \u201cI noticed he didn\u2019t have the same snap on his punches, and that comes from your legs,\u201d he told MillCity Boxing.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt comes from your explosiveness\u2026 If your legs are not the same, your power will not be the same. Try and hit the heavy bag on one foot.\u201d<\/p>\n Long-time boxing reporter Sean Zittel went a step further, arguing Sunday\u2019s performance was simply the continuation of a decline he\u2019s been seeing for years.<\/p>\n Zittel said Spence\u2019s balance had been going downhill since his 2022 victory over Yordenis Ugas.<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth is that his balance was off from the Ugas fight,\u201d Zittel said on his YouTube channel. <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cErrol Spence\u2019s peak was around the Lamont Peterson fight, and the Mikey Garcia fight was his peak \u2013 and I think he got progressively worse every fight since then.\u201d<\/p>\n Errol Spence and Tim TszyuSource: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n Yet while few disputed Tszyu deserved the biggest win of his career, not everyone agreed with the judges\u2019 margins. <\/p>\n Veteran boxing writer Dan Rafael had Spence ahead after seven rounds and later argued the official scorecards were wider than he had the fight, despite agreeing Tszyu was the rightful winner. <\/p>\n The Ring mag\u2019s Dougie Fischer also saw a tighter contest than the judges, while boxing writer Matthew Aguilar had it tighter with Tszyu winning 115-113.<\/p>\n While much of the post fight chat has centred on Spence\u2019s decline, the American verdict on \u2018The Phoenix\u2019 himself was a bit more restrained.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a question mark about Tim being a boss in the ring,\u201d said Malignaggi.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought we saw a little bit more of that (confidence) in tonight\u2019s fight.<\/p>\n \u201cIt still isn\u2019t a Tim who looked perfect or looked at his best when he beat Tony Harrison or Gausha.<\/p>\n \u201cBut at least it was a step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Algieri agreed.<\/p>\n \u201cI was not overly impressed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he could have stepped on the gas a lot more. I think there was more he could have done.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did look explosive. He did look physically strong. <\/p>\n \u201cBut still gun-shy.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember Tim coming up, I was a big fan. He was a seek and destroy guy. He was on you and he carried up his attack\u2026 <\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t seen that guy in years.\u201d<\/p>\n The former world champ believes the next step under Jeff Fenech is obvious \u2013 increase the work rate. <\/p>\n And that\u2019s something the Marrickville Mauler knows all about.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Fenech is going to tell him that we need to work more,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need you to be busier.<\/p>\n \u201cFenech was chewing his ass out every round \u2013 and I get it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhenever he let his hands go, Errol was floundering.<\/p>\n \u201cHe just didn\u2019t do enough.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/p>\n \u2018Like Wayne Bennett\u2019: Tszyu hails impact of master coaches as US great\u2019s classy final act reveal<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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