Brian Mendoza warns Tim Tszyu he will take his world title home to America

Brian Mendoza is eyeing another boilover in Sunday’s world title fight against Tim Tszyu. The Australian has been warned to brace for a monster of a man who will give him his toughest test yet.

American giant-killer Brian Mendoza says the pain of defeat has taken him to a “darker place” that Tim Tszyu is about to confront in Sunday’s world-title blockbuster.

Mendoza (22-2, 16KO) revealed he was on the verge of retirement just two years following a loss to Jesus Ramos that had the hard-hitter from New Mexico considering walking away from boxing and going into the workforce.

The gulf between Tszyu and Mendoza was laid bare in March 2022.

While Tszyu was the main event in his American debut against Terrell Gausha in Minneapolis, Mendoza accepted a ‘swing bout’ on the same card against 38-year-old journeyman Benjamin Whitaker in a bid to save his career.

Boxing: Tszyu vs Mendoza SUN 15th OCT 12PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports

Brian Mendoza has savage power for a super welterweight. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Mendoza disposed of Whitaker before producing back-to-back boilovers against Jeison Rosario and Sebastian Fundora in the past 11 months in a stunning resurgence that now puts him on a collision course with Tszyu.

Tszyu will start a raging $1.17 favourite to retain his WBO super welterweight world title at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, but heavy $5.90 underdog Mendoza says the unbeaten Sydneysider is pampered by a perfect 23-0 record.

“I never want to hit that low again,” Mendoza said.

“The fuel I felt that day in my swing bout ... I fought right after Tszyu.

“People were leaving (the venue), taking stuff down.

“My career was on the line that day. My attitude was if I lost that fight to Whitaker, I would have possibly retired, because I’m not just going to be on ‘swing bouts’ (emergency fights not guaranteed to happen on a card).

“I knew I belonged at a higher level than that.

“I am a world champion in my heart and I know it.

“That’s the fuel you see each and every fight.

Mendoza says he is taking Tim Tszyu’s world title back to America.

“In a championship fight, there‘s ebbs and flows. It won’t be domination the whole time. There’s ups and downs, so if Tszyu has his moments, I will battle through them because mentally I have been in a darker place than him.

“We both want to swing at each other already. As much as I see the fire in him, I don‘t see the fire at the level that I have.”

In the lead-up to the Tszyu bout, Mendoza has stopped in for training sessions at the Burleigh gym owned by Fidel Tukel, who manages Australia’s light-heavyweight rising star Paulo Aokuso.

Tukel was shocked at Mendoza’s size and warned Tszyu to brace for some pain in the ring.

“Mendoza walked into my gym and he is deadset huge,” Tukel said.

“He took off his shirt tensing and he was the size of a light heavyweight.

“He has the power to stop Tszyu at any time.

“Brian was banging the shit ouf of the bag, it was moving off the centrepoints, it was flying all the way back. His jabs will hurt.

“When you look at his body, he is like a bodybuilder, he is totally ripped and so fresh. He made weight so easily and was dancing in the ring. He has come prepared.

“There is no one Tim has ever fought who is at this level. When you look at some of Tim’s past opponents, none of them have Mendoza’s power.

“Tim is a very good fighter and he should be able to adapt, but seeing what I saw in my gym and the size of him, he is a huge boy.

Mendoza is in form riding a three-fight winning streak.

“This is Tszyu’s toughest test by a mile.

“This kid doesn’t go backwards, if Tim goes forward he will meet him. He comes to fight.”

Mendoza believes Tszyu is under-estimating him.

“Listening to him in certain interviews, he is respectful, but he is overlooking me,” he said.

“He is talking about Canelo this and Charlo that (eyeing future fights).

“While he has some respect for me, all they see is a power puncher and I keep telling people I am more than a power puncher.

“In boxing, one little attribute doesn’t scare anybody at the higher level. People under-estimate my ring IQ.

“I want the tough fights like this. The big fights is where the glory is at and I am chasing greatness.

“I’ll be going home with Tim Tszyu’s belt.”

Originally published as Brian Mendoza warns Tim Tszyu he will take his world title home to America