Tim Tszyu expects ‘illiterate’ Jermell Charlo to keep running after Brian Mendoza title defence

Tim Tszyu may be focussed on his world title defence against Brian Mendoza, but he still managed to fire some shots at Jermell Charlo after his ‘scared performance’ against Canelo Álvarez.

An impressive performance against Brian Mendoza on October 15 will see Jermell Charlo ducking Tim Tszyu again.

That’s Tszyu’s view, as the newly crowned WBO super-welterweight world champion puts the finishing touches on his training camp ahead of his world title showdown with Mendoza on the Gold Coast.

Charlo, who was stripped of the WBO title the moment he stepped into the ring against Canelo Alvarez last weekend, put in a lacklustre performance against the Mexican superstar, losing a one-sided decision.

The winner of Tszyu’s clash with Mendoza will be gunning for a shot at Charlo, but Tszyu thinks the American – who has already pulled out of two fights with him – might not show up.

“It depends on the victory and how I fight. If you put on a crazy performance, sometimes they start running,” Tszyu said at one of his last training sessions in Sydney before he heads to the Gold Coast.

Tszyu thinks a dominant performance against Mendoza could scare Charlo off for good. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Despite being elevated from interim to full WBO world champion on Sunday when Charlo fought Canelo, Tszyu says he won’t feel like a real world champion until he defends it against Mendoza.

“I feel like I want to earn it,” he said. “It’s official, I guess, in the eyes of the books, but it hasn’t made me feel any different.

“You dream of becoming a world champion, but I’m still the same. Nothing’s changed whatsoever.”

Tszyu says that’s the difference between himself and Charlo, who barely fired a shot against Canelo.

“He calls himself the lion, but that wasn’t a lion’s performance, it was a scared performance,” Tszyu said. “It’s just heart. That’s my opinion.

“I’ve never seen him as a savage. I see world champions, some of them are savages, just going beast mode, but I’ve never seen that in Charlo.”

Tszyu gets his hands wrapped ahead of one of his last training sessions in Sydney. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Despite preparing for the biggest fight of his life last week, Charlo was still thinking about Tszyu, calling him out and deliberately mispronouncing his last name.

“There’s history behind us, but I’ve never said anything to him to trigger him,” Tszyu said.

“I think he’s just illiterate, and he can’t speak properly. You can make him try and say that word (Tszyu), but he can’t say it, the poor bloke.”

All the talk won’t mean anything unless he gets past Mendoza next weekend though, with Tszyu calling the American the toughest challenge of his career so far.

Mendoza has a well-earned reputation as a king-slayer, after underdog wins over Jeison Rosario and Sebastian Fundora in the last 11 months.

A confident Mendoza landed in Sydney on Wednesday morning promising to upset Tszyu’s world title plans, but the Aussie left an ominous warning for the American.

“Everyone can be confident, but it all changes when you get punched in the face,” he said.

“It all changes when you’re put in with someone who’s a different breed, and I know I am.”

TSZYU BETTER BELIEVE IT: MENDOZA PLOTS UPSET OF HOMETOWN STAR

Brian Mendoza didn’t travel to the other side of the world just to become another victim on Tim Tszyu’s resume.

‘La Bala’ is coming for it all.

Mendoza touched down in Sydney on Wednesday morning, 11 days ahead of his WBO super-welterweight world title bout with Tszyu on the Gold Coast.

Fresh off back-to-back upset wins over Jeison Rosario and Sebastian Fundora, Mendoza wasted no time in promising another one of his signature underdog victories over the Aussie superstar.

“This fight ends with, ‘And new WBO super-welterweight world champion, Brian ‘La Bala’ Mendoza’,” the 29-year-old told Code Sports just minutes after landing.

“I’ve been dreaming about this fight from as soon as they mentioned it was happening.

“But I’m also a big fan of boxing, I watch the sport and I study the sport, so I’ve been watching Tim Tszyu’s fights since before we were even going to fight.”

Mendoza was a $7 outsider when he knocked out Rosario in November, and a $9 underdog when he stopped Fundora in April.

Tim Tszyu is taking on outsider Brian Mendoza on the Gold Coast. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images)

The odds are a little closer this time around, but the American is keeping that same energy ahead of his fight with Tszyu.

“I’m relishing this role, I’m thriving on it,” Mendoza said. “I fully plan on being here and pulling off another upset, because I want those big fights.

“I want big shots, I’m chasing greatness. I’m a warrior and I’ve already been in there with the best of them.

“I want legacy and I want to do something meaningful with my career.”

Mendoza and Tszyu’s camps had both hoped their bout would be a unification fight with the Australian’s WBO title and the American’s WBC belt on the line.

Tszyu was elevated from interim to full champion when the WBO stripped Jermell Charlo as soon as his fight with Canelo Alvarez last weekend began.

The WBC didn’t make the same ruling regarding Mendoza, who holds the sanctioning body’s interim title, with ‘La Bala’ being forced to vacate his WBC belt.

“I spoke with (WBC president) Mauricio Sulaiman, they’re like family and I went to see them in Mexico,” Mendoza said. “They understand that I can’t pass up an opportunity to fight for the full WBO world title.

Brian Mendoza was rank outsider in his past two victories and is planning on making it three in a row against Tim Tszyu. Picture: No Limit/Gregg Porteous

“It just means I’m going to keep adding to the collection this way.”

If he pulls off another upset victory against Tszyu, Mendoza is adamant on setting up a fight with Charlo next year.

And he wasn’t impressed with what he saw from the Texan against Canelo on the weekend.

“It was a little lacklustre, I expected more output and more volume from Charlo,” he said after Charlo lost a one-sided decision to the Mexican superstar.

“It definitely didn’t live up to the hype, so of course I want that fight, I want everything.

“After this, the sky’s the limit. After this one, there’s no stopping me.

“I’m going to get the full WBO title, then there’s no one else above me, I’m one of the top dogs in the division.

“I don’t duck anyone, I’ll literally fight anyone in the division and I’ve just travelled all the way around the world to fight a guy in his hometown who’s a superstar in his country.

“I’m ready to go, I’m up for the challenge.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu expects ‘illiterate’ Jermell Charlo to keep running after Brian Mendoza title defence