Did Errol Spence Jr. Retire?

Errol Spence Jr. (born March 3, 1990), nicknamed "The Truth," is an American professional boxer and former unified welterweight world champion. Born in Long Island, New York, to a Jamaican father and African-American mother, Spence grew up primarily in Desoto, Texas, where he discovered boxing at age 15 under his father's tutelage.

Spence's amateur career was exceptional, amassing a 135-12 record with notable achievements including three consecutive U.S. National welterweight championships (2009-2011), the 2009 Golden Gloves welterweight title, and quarterfinal appearances at both the 2011 World Championships and 2012 London Olympics, where he represented the United States.

Turning professional shortly after the Olympics, Spence made his debut on November 9, 2012, defeating Jonathan Garcia by third-round knockout. His early career featured 15 consecutive wins, 12 by knockout, establishing him as one of boxing's most promising prospects. In 2015, he was named ESPN Prospect of the Year after impressive victories over Samuel Vargas, Phil Lo Greco, and Chris van Heerden.

Spence claimed his first world title on May 27, 2017, stopping Kell Brook in the 11th round to win the IBF welterweight championship in Sheffield, England. He successfully defended the title against Lamont Peterson (8th round RTD) and Carlos Ocampo (1st round KO) before dominating Mikey Garcia in March 2019, landing 345 punches to Garcia's 75 in a unanimous decision victory that generated 360,000 PPV buys.

In September 2019, Spence unified the welterweight division by defeating Shawn Porter via split decision to add the WBC title, generating 350,000 PPV buys. However, just weeks later, on October 10, 2019, Spence was involved in a life-threatening single-vehicle accident in Dallas. His Ferrari 488 Spider flipped multiple times at high speed, ejecting him without a seatbelt. He sustained facial lacerations but no broken bones, was charged with DWI, and received probation.

Despite the severe accident, Spence returned to the ring in December 2020, defeating Danny Garcia by unanimous decision to retain his unified titles. In 2021, he was forced to withdraw from a scheduled fight with Manny Pacquiao due to a retinal tear in his left eye. He returned in April 2022 to stop Yordenis Ugás in the 10th round, adding the WBA (Super) welterweight title to become a three-belt unified champion.

Spence's reign as unified champion ended on July 29, 2023, when he lost to Terence Crawford by 9th round TKO in an undisputed welterweight bout. The fight generated 700,000 PPV buys and $59 million in revenue, but Crawford's speed, precision, and power overwhelmed Spence throughout the contest. Spence has not fought since this loss.

In 2025, Spence resumed training for a potential comeback, splitting from long-time trainer Derrick James due to compensation disagreements. He is eyeing a move to the super welterweight division, with negotiations for potential fights against Sebastian Fundora or Jermell Charlo in 2026. Despite his absence from the ring, Spence remains one of the most accomplished welterweights of his era, with a professional record of 28-1 (22 KOs) and career earnings exceeding $100 million from major PPV events.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Errol Spence Jr.?
Errol Spence Jr. was born on March 3, 1990, making him 36 years old as of 2026. He will turn 37 on March 3, 2027.

What is Errol Spence Jr.'s boxing record?
Errol Spence Jr. has a professional boxing record of 28 wins and 1 loss, with 22 victories coming by way of knockout or technical knockout. His only loss came against Terence Crawford on July 29, 2023, when he was stopped in the 9th round. Spence has boxed a total of 151 professional rounds.

Has Errol Spence Jr. retired?
No, Errol Spence Jr. has not officially retired. However, he has not fought since losing to Terence Crawford in July 2023. In 2025, he resumed training and is eyeing a potential comeback at super welterweight, with talks of fights in 2026 against Sebastian Fundora or Jermell Charlo. He split from his trainer Derrick James in 2025 but remains committed to returning to the ring.

What happened to Errol Spence Jr. in the car crash?
On October 10, 2019, Errol Spence Jr. was involved in a severe single-vehicle accident in Dallas, Texas. His Ferrari 488 Spider was traveling at high speed when it veered left over the center median, flipped multiple times, and ejected Spence, who was not wearing a seatbelt. He sustained facial lacerations but no broken bones. Earlier that night, he had been drinking alcohol. He was charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) and received probation. Spence was hospitalized in intensive care but was released six days later.

What titles did Errol Spence Jr. hold?
Errol Spence Jr. held multiple world welterweight titles during his career. He won the IBF welterweight title in May 2017 by defeating Kell Brook. He added the WBC welterweight title in September 2019 by defeating Shawn Porter. In April 2022, he added the WBA (Super) welterweight title by defeating Yordenis Ugás, making him a three-belt unified champion. He lost all three titles to Terence Crawford in July 2023.

Why did Errol Spence Jr. split from his trainer?
Errol Spence Jr. split from his long-time trainer Derrick James in August 2025 due to a disagreement concerning compensation. The split came as Spence was preparing for a potential comeback fight. Despite the separation, Spence has continued training and is working toward a return to the ring in 2026.