Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza news: Mario Barrios tips Mendoza to power past Tszyu

He grew up in Texas watching Kostya Tszyu, but this world champion has a dire warning for Tim ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Brian Mendoza.

A world champion who grew up idolising Kostya Tszyu and imitating Jeff Fenech has warned Australian fans that Brian Mendoza is primed for an earth-shattering upset win over Tim Tszyu this weekend.

Current interim WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios, who is fresh off a dominant win over Yordenis Ugas on the Canelo Alvarez vs Jermell Charlo undercard two weeks ago, flew into the Gold Coast on Thursday in support of his mate and sparring partner Mendoza.

The 28-year-old knows more about Mendoza than anyone, and believes his power will be too much.

“It ends with Brian’s hand being raised,” Barrios told this masthead. “I don’t know how he’s going to do it, I don’t know how the fight will play out, but I know from training with him over the last few months that he’s more than ready.

“There’s a lot that people probably don’t expect from Brian. He’s a very intelligent fighter, he has good movement and he has power in both hands.”

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

Mario Barrios (L) won the WBC interim world title against Yordenis Ugas two weeks ago. Picture: Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Barrios has known Mendoza for years, and the pair trained together for their respective fights in Las Vegas.

Another of his best mates, Miguel Flores, is also on the card, fighting rising star Sam Goodman in the co-main event.

“We were both getting ready for our fights together in Las Vegas for the last few months,” he said. “I told Brian a few months back that if I fought before him, I’ll fly all the way over here to watch.

“And Miguel as well, he’s a really good friend of mine. I’ve known Miguel since I turned pro, he’s from Houston, I’m from San Antonio, which is only about four hours away.”

Tim Tszyu is primed to defend his WBO super welterweight world title. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Mendoza is taking inspiration from Barrios’ performance against former world champion Ugas as he prepares for the biggest bout of his life.

“He’s one of my best friends, he’s just won a world title, and it was a perfect performance, it blew us all away,” Mendoza said. “I’m super excited, he’s one of my best friends, but for him to have just won a world title and he could go anywhere in the world, but he decided to come to Australia to see me fight.

“He could have been anywhere, so it means the world to me, it’s a massive boost for me.”

Although he’s backing his mate, Barrios has enormous respect for Tszyu, and like Mendoza, grew up watching Kostya’s fights.

“I think Tim Tszyu’s a phenomenal fighter,” he said. “He’s one of the rare cases where he really is living up to his father’s hype.

“I was a big Kostya Tszyu fan when I was younger, but he’s just as dangerous and just as great of a fighter. There’s a reason he’s a champion and a reason why him and Brian are having this fight.”

Mendoza and Barrios were both big fans of Kostya Tzsyu (L). Picture: Chris Farina/Corbis/Getty Images

Barrios’ connection to Australian boxing goes even deeper than that, with the Texan revealing he used to model his training regimen of Jeff Fenech videos.

“He had these videos I always used to watch – like workout videos,” he said.

“It was Jeff Fenech talking about how to achieve speed and power, and it was six different workouts, 30 seconds each with three pound dumbbells.

“So I was doing those videos since I was like seven or eight years old, I was always putting those videos on.”

There was a nice moment on Thursday evening when Barrios ran into Fenech, got a photo and told him about his backstory.

“It’s crazy, I’ve just had the opportunity to meet him,” he said. “Since I was a kid, it was those videos I was watching for years and years.

“I was too young (to watch his fights) but I remember looking them up when I got a little older, so it’s just crazy.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza news: Mario Barrios tips Mendoza to power past Tszyu