After subjecting him to only the second defeat of his glittering boxing career, a triumphant Tim Tszyu did something no opponent of Errol Spence Jr had ever done before - ask for advice.
The humbling moment came seconds after Tszyu (27-3, 18 KOs) belted the legendary Texan southpaw (28-2, 22 KOs) into retirement by prevailing in a gruelling 12-round duel at Sydney's Afterpay Arena on Sunday.
The victory by unanimous verdict (118-110, 117-111, 117-111) over the future Hall of Famer has propelled Tszyu - newly nicknamed "The Phoenix" - back into possible world title contention after three devastating losses which had brought naysayers swarming.
But, having barely risen higher, the Australian former WBO world champion still found it within himself to show humility towards the giant of boxing he had just slayed.
"He asked me about stuff he needed to work on and things like that," Spence told reporters after his defeat.
"It shows a different type of personality, somebody who's like 'hey, what do I need to work on? I need to work on this, that, just sticking points'.
"It shows a guy who's trying to improve and trying to get better."
None of Spence's 29 other opponents - 28 of them losers - had asked for tips after a fight, the 36-year-old revealed.
For his part, Tszyu said the former unified world champion had offered measures of praise and critique.
"He (Spence) goes 'stay patient ... when you're not rushing in, you're very dangerous'," Tszyu relayed.
"'When you wait, you're a very good counter-puncher and you've got very, very fast hands'."
The hometown hero agreed with his vanquished foe's analysis.
"I think that's what made me win the fight," Tszyu said.
Spence announced he would hang up the gloves immediately after the blockbuster, saying - of all his career achievements - he was most proud of being able to bow out of the ring in one piece and at the right time.
"I'm most proud of keeping my faculties and having enough money in the bank even before this to go out, retire, and still live the same life that I'm living now 10, 15, 20 years from now," he said.
"I'm in a sport where a lot of boxers, Hall of Fame or not, retired broke.
"Boxers are very good at having pride and ego ... they just want to keep going and keep going and keep going.
"As of tonight, y'all won't see me again in the ring."
