Savage attack on Tim Tszyu after brutal beatdown of Brian Mendoza
Tim Tszyu was basking in another destructive victory when he was blindsided by an attack that left boxing fans stunned.
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Tim Tsyzu has been given an ice-cold reality check by American boxing great Shawn Porter in the wake of his latest world title triumph.
Tszyu put on another show while putting a beatdown on Brian Mendoza - winning by unanimous decision in his first defence of the WBO super welterweight belt on the Gold Coast despite the distraction of his sister at ringside.
Tszyu is clearly in career-best form, having also defeated Tony Harrison in a statement performance in March before knocking out Carlos Ocampo in a minute in June.
He made it three wins in 2023 by dominating Mendoza - and was labelled a “bully” by Porter as he landed heavy shot after heavy shot in the later rounds.
Porter, who was flown to Australia to be part of the broadcast crew as a colour commentator, was impressed with Tszyu’s composure after interviewing him post-fight.
“People always say never change ... he just seems to be calm, cool and collected all the time. Even after a big win,” Porter said.
“He fought lights out. I felt like outside of one round it was a shutout. Even with that, he’s still humble. Not too overly excited - and still looking forward to what the future has for him.”
But then came the cold water.
Asked by host Megan Barnard if Tszyu was ready to fight the likes of pound-for-pound greats Terence Crawford and “Canelo” Alvarez, Porter didn’t pull any punches.
“That Tim Tszyu does not beat Terence Crawford. He needs more defence and a little more footwork. Those are intangibles you’ve just got to have against Terence Crawford,” Porter said.
“And he’s not on Canelo’s radar, so we don’t really need to talk about that fight. But (with Canelo fighting) at 168 (pounds) ... if Tim goes up to 168 he’s going to lack the power and strength needed to fend off a Canelo for 12 consecutive rounds.
“But outside of that though, you guys have got a real champion here.”
Tszyu confirmed Sunday’s fight with Mendoza was his last in Australia for the foreseeable future as he eyes a unifying 154-pound bout with Jermell Charlo.
Charlo was soundly beaten by Alvaraz after stepping up two divisions to fight the Mexican superstar.
“If you don’t want fights like those (against Alvarez and Crawford) you’re in the wrong sport,” Tsyzu said.
“So of course, I’d grab them with both ands (if offered the chance).”
The unbeaten Aussie is making no secret of his plans to have his next fight in Las Vegas.
His powerful display against Mendoza will further place him on the radar of the US market.
But Porter can’t see him climbing all the way to the summit of world boxing.
4.35 — Tszyu defends belt in emphatic style
Tszyu was at his clinical best as he took care of business in the final rounds.
The fight was very nearly over in the 10th round — but Mendoza showed he has a chin made of steel, keeping his feet as he wore a barrage of power shots.
Shawn Porter was providing colour commentary and kept saying: “He’s a bully, he’s a bully.”
Tim Tszyu retains the WBO junior middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Brian Mendoza, scores reading as 117-111, 116-112 & 116-111.#TszyuMendoza
— ð’Ÿð’¾ð’¶ð“‡ð’¾ð‘œð“ˆ (@DiariosJournals) October 15, 2023
pic.twitter.com/kCw7AyrRzX
The judges awarded Tszyu the win via a unanimous decision of 116-111, 117-111, 116-112.
Tszyu immediately called out Jermell Charlo after the win.
“Charlo where you at? Where you at buddy,” Tszyu said.
When asked how he thinks Charlo would respond to his win, Tszyu said: “In his delusional head, he’s probably saying he’d beat me. Come and get it.”
3.45pm - Tszyu vs Mendoza round by round updates
For the first time in his career, Tim Tszyu walked to the ring as a legitimate world champion — with a legitimate world title belt being carried behind him.
Mendoza was made to walk out first and stood in the ring as the crowd went bananas for the local hero.
Round 1 — Respect shown by both fighters. A very close opening round that could have gone to either fighter. Tszyu landed the best shot of the round in the final 10 seconds and it likely gives him the round.
Round 2 — Tim Tszyu gets combinations going. The Aussie begins to find his rhythm and comes forward behind his excellent jabs.
Round 3 — Tim Tszyu likely takes a 3-0 lead into the fourth round after landing some power punches to his opponent’s body in the third round. American boxing commentator Teddy Atlas wrote on Twitter: “Tszyu looks good, very calm, relaxed with good vision, looking for right spots to place shots”.
Round 4 — The most explosive round of the fight with both fighters landing a number of powerful hooks.
Round 5 — Tszyu puts his foot on the accelerator and begins to get his jabs through the gloves of his opponent. It was Tszyu’s best round of the fight.
“He’s taken some damage,” Main Event’s Ben Damon said.
“Brian Mendoza is in strife. He’s been marked up badly. Straight on the nose. There’s swelling and damage on both sides of the face.
“Tszyu, when he needed to, just went to another level.”
Round 6 — Brian Mendoza is the more active of the two fighters and has likely got on the scoreboard.
Round 7 — Mendoza rocked. Tim Tszyu lands his best uppercut of the fight, bringing the crowd to its feet.
Tszyu punches his opponent onto the ropes, but can’t finish the job.
Round 8 — Mendoza begins to look for the power shots and wears several to his face as a result. However, Mendova gives as good as he gets with some bombs of his own.
Round 9 — Another round where Tszyu shows his class to out-punch his rival.
Round 10 — After landing a powerful hook over his opponent’s guard, Tszyu goes in for the kill and Mendoza is saved by the bell. An ugly head clash briefly slowed Tszyu’s momentum, but commentators, including American legend Shawn Porter, can’t believe Mendoza is still standing.
Round 11 — Mendoza is going out on his shield. The Mexican-American has worn a barrage of shots and it appeared possible that his corner was going to stop the fight for him
“Tim Tszyu is breaking Mendoza to pieces,” Main Event’s Ben Damon says on TV.
3.15pm - Sam Goodman impresses in ‘whitewash’ victory
Aussie Sam Goodman has pulled off the biggest win of his career with a dominant, unanimous decision win over Miguel Flores.
The 25-year-old was looked perfectly comfortable taking on the class of an opponent who has previously contended for a world title.
Aussie boxing icon Jeff Fenech said it was a “whitewash” and said none of Flores’ recent opponents had been able to break him down like Goodman did on Sunday.
Sam Goodman lands a clean straight right in between Flores’ punches. #GoodmanFlorespic.twitter.com/JBmP4xBy0d
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) October 15, 2023
“None of them have been able to do what he (Goodman) has,” Fenech said on Main Event.
The judges mostly saw it that way too — and the scorecards showed Goodman won the fight (118-107, 120-105 x 2).
Goodman controlled the early rounds with his jab, but also took some heavy shots to his body.
The Aussie was already well ahead when he knocked Flores down to the ground in the seventh round — and went even further ahead when Flores was penalised a point for a series of low-blows.
Goodman paid tribute to his opponent after the fight.
“I thought I had him out of there multiple times,” he said.
“And every time momentum just got a little bit staggered. He has that Mexican fighting spirit.”
1.45pm - ‘F***ing idiot’ huge drama on Tszyu card
Aussie legend Jeff Fenech has been involved in another heated incident in the ring after his rivalry with a rival camp threatened to explode.
Fenech and Ben Savva came face to face in the ring after Hass Hamdan won an absolute war via a unanimous decision against Danvers Cuschieri on the undercard.
The result was quickly overshadowed as Fenech and Savva — who have both spoken publicly about their mutual dislike — almost came to blows.
“We are all being humble, congratulating them, then Jeff, as he does, for no apparent reason, started mouthing off at me,” Savva said of the post-fight altercation. “He came over and just started being aggressive.
“He’s a f***ing idiot. He’s an absolute moron. Australian boxing knows it.”
The pair first fell out when Fenech took issue with criticism Savva gave him about his training of Brock Jarvis several years ago.
After the fight, Fenech could be seen shouting and gesturing across the ring at Savva and then marched towards him after a few more words were exchanged.
Luckily, several officials and security staff stepped in quickly.
12pm - Forgotten man stuns boxing
Aussie Wade Ryan has pulled off a big upset win over Russian Sergei Vorobev.
Ryan, who was dubbed the “Gun from Gunnedah” by Aussie boxing great Billy Dibb on the Main Event broadcast, dominated the middle rounds and left Vorobev chasing a knockout win in the final two rounds.
Despite being told by his cornerman that he needed a knockout to win the fight, Vorobev appeared surprised when the judges awarded the fight to Ryan (99-91, 98-92 x2).
After watching the action, Aussie boxing icon Barry Michael said on Main Event it may end up being the best card in the history of Australian boxing.
11.15am - Tszyu open to NRL-Vegas plan
Tim Tszyu’s management are reportedly in conversations with the NRL to partner up for a Las Vegas blockbuster in February.
The opening round of the 2024 season will kick off in Vegas and it could be the perfect opportunity for Tszyu to defend his world title overseas — should he get passed Mendoza.
“I’m 100 per cent down for that,” Tszyu told News Corp.
“My full focus is getting through Mendoza first, then everyone can get excited about what is on the horizon. There will be plenty of Aussies over there supporting their teams already, so why not? The stars always come out for the big fights and big events, too, so it makes sense. It’s an all-Aussie takeover.
“It’s only the big fights from here on for me now.
“Everyone knows the names I want. That’s why I’ve been telling my promoters we’ve got to head to the Mecca of boxing – Las Vegas.”
10am - Tszyu takes down dad’s posters
Tim Tszyu has opened up on his complex relationship with his father Kostya as he prepares to contest another fight with his old man on the other side of the world.
Tszyu has a complex relationship with his dad, who hasn’t been ringside at one of his son’s fights for several years and now watches Tim’s fights via FaceTime.
His mother Natalia and grandfather Boris remain a strong presence in Tim’s life after Kostya left his wife and kids to start a second family in Russia over a decade ago.
Tszyu has previously spoken about how his dad was “never there for us” during his childhood as he prepared to uproot the family and moved to Russia.
Tim is clearly proud of his dad’s achievements and the work ethic he instilled in him, proudly showing off a shrine to Kostya’s boxing career in his childhood home.
“I guess dad’s success set an example for us — where we wanted to be and what we wanted to do,” Tim told Sporting News.
“It’s everything to have grandpa’s support. He’s never missed any of my fights, even in the amateurs.
“I just need people that are true to themself and people that are loyal to me and I’m loyal to them.”
Tszyu has also taken another step to separate himself from his famous father by taking down promotional posters of Kostya’s legendary fights and relegating a handful of them to one section of the family’s gym.
The modest brick-walled gym in the Sydney suburb of Rockdale is set to be renamed the Tszyu Boxing Academy and is now adorned with Tim and his brother Nikita’s fight posters.
How to stream and watch the Tim Tszyu vs Brian Mendoza fight
Tszyu vs. Mendoza is a pay-per-view fight, which costs $59.95 to watch on Foxtel’s Main Event or stream via Kayo Sports.
Tale of the tape
Tim Tszyu
Record: 23-0 (17 KO's)
Age: 28
Titles: WBO super welterweight
Brian Mendoza
Record: 22-2 (16 KO's)
Age: 29
Height: 178cm
Reach: 178cm
Titles: Interim WBC super welterweight
FULL FIGHT CARD
Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza for the WBO super welterweight title
Sam Goodman vs. Miguel Flores; 125lbs catchweight
Nathaniel May vs. Jackson Jon England; super featherweight
Shanell Dargan vs. Amber Amelia; super bantamweight
Toese Vousiutu vs. Julius Lloyd Long; heavyweight
Hassan Hamdan vs. Danvers Cuschieri; welterweight
Sergei Vorobev vs. Wade Ryan; super welterweight
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