Tim Tszyu v Brian Mendoza: Australian star’s $30m boxing hitlist includes Terence Crawford

Tim Tszyu faces the toughest test of his career on Sunday when he faces Brian Mendoza. But Tszyu has drawn-up a hit list of big-name targets in his quest for world domination.

WEEKEND TELEGRAPH - 6.10.23 MUST NOT PUBLISH BEFORE CLEARING WITH WEEKEND PIC EDITOR - Aussie boxer Tim Tszyu at Rockdale today. Tim boxes next weekend for the world title. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Tim Tszyu has released his hit list of big-name scalps as Australia’s latest world champion looks to bring down boxing’s greatest stars in a mission set to deliver a $30 million pay day.

Tszyu has formally announced the Big Four rivals he is gunning for ahead of Sunday’s super welterweight world-title blockbuster with Brian Mendoza at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

American dangerman Mendoza is first on the list and if he disposes of the interim WBC world champion, it will be the precursor to Tszyu (23-0, 17KO) hunting down superstars Errol Spence, Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez.

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Tim Tszyu has a Big Four hit list in the wake of his first-round knockout of Carlos Ocampo.

This masthead can reveal Tszyu‘s promoters No Limit have had preliminary talks with the Spence and Crawford camps and victory over Mendoza (22-2, 16KO) will be Tszyu’s ticket to the biggest fights in Las Vegas.

Tszyu believes his Mendoza showdown will represent his last fight in Australia for some time if he succeeds in his four-fight masterplan to join Jeff Fenech and his father Kostya as the nation‘s greatest boxers.

One of Tszyu‘s earliest pay days as a pro was a meagre $7000, but fights against Spence, Crawford and Canelo would each be worth in the vicinity of $10 million and more — potentially making the 28-year-old Australia’s richest ever pugilist.

‘Bud’ Crawford is unbeaten in 40 fights and regarded as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, while Mexican legend Canelo, 33, has a remarkable record, losing just twice in 64 career bouts.

No Limit boss George Rose confirmed Tszyu’s ambitious fight schedule to rule the world — but the crucial first step is mauling Mendoza on Sunday.

Tszyu is keen for a crack at Terence Crawford (left) and Errol Spence (right).

“Brian Mendoza. Errol Spence. Terence Crawford. Canelo Alvarez. That’s what’s next for Tim Tszyu,“ Rose said.

“Tim got a real dangerous challenge on his hands in Mendoza. He’s easily the top of the division alongside Tim and his knockout power is vicious.

“If Tim can get through his toughest test to date in Mendoza, then it’s only the biggest and best fights for him after that.

“There are no bigger fights in boxing than taking down not one, not two but three of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world in back-to-back fights.”

Intriguingly, one name that doesn’t appear on the hit list is Jermell Charlo, the unified super welterweight king who was once Tszyu’s primary target.

The duo were first supposed to fight back in January, only for Charlo to suffer a broken hand that delayed the bout, opening the door for Tszyu to claim the interim WBO world title with his defeat of Tony Harrison in March.

Mexican legend Canelo Alvarez destroyed Tszyu’s bitter rival Jermell Charlo.

Tszyu was hoping for a crack at Charlo a fortnight ago, but the ‘Iron Man’ dropped a bombshell by opting to jump two weight classes to fight Canelo in a move that saw the Sydneysider officially crowned the WBO world champion.

Now Charlo is down the pecking order for Tszyu, with the American‘s comprehensive loss to Canelo convincing the ‘Soul Taker’ not to waste his time when he could be chasing more historic bouts.

“Charlo had his chance and he ran. He literally ran,“ Rose said.

“He ran from fighting Tim for the undisputed title and then he ran around the ring all the way to the bank against Canelo.

“Tim is the most active fighter in the world right now and isn’t going to sit around and wait for Charlo to decide if and when he’s going to come back to the division.

Aussie legend Jeff Horn lost to Crawford in their world-title clash in 2018.

“Of course we want him to become the undisputed champion of the world, but when the guy who has the other belts has one fight every one or two years, it’s not good business.”

Tszyu says he has no fear of fighting Canelo at super middleweight and welcomed welterweight wizards Spence (28-1) and Crawford (40-0) stepping up one division.

“If they (Spence and Crawford) want to come up, the boogeyman is waiting,” Tszyu said.

“I wanted the name Charlo, but it doesn’t look like it’s going that way.

“If I fight Canelo (at super middleweight) and I’m confident I’m going to win, I ain’t going back down to 154 (pounds, super welterweight). That’s facts.

“There’s some good things happening.

“I want to be mentioned with the No.1 pound-for-pound fighters, that’s the level I am aiming for.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu v Brian Mendoza: Australian star’s $30m boxing hitlist includes Terence Crawford