By Ian S Palmer
Unbeaten Tim Tszyu of Australia will be putting his new WBO Junior Middleweight Title on the line against Brian Mendoza of Albuquerque, New Mexico this Saturday, October 14th (October 15th in Australia). The 12-rounder takes place in Broadbeach, Australia and can be seen live in America on Showtime. Tzsyu last fought in June when he stopped Carlos Ocampo in the first round. He halted former world champion Tony Harrison in the ninth round three months earlier to capture the interim title and was elevated to full champion when Jermell Charlo was stripped of the belt when he recently fought Canelo Alvarez. Mendoza last boxed in April when he was well behind on all three scorecards but scored a sensational knockout over Sebastian Fundora in the seventh round for the WBC Interim Junior Middleweight Title.
The Tszyu name is well known in boxing as Tim is the son of former world champion Kostya Tszyu and the 28-year-old climbs into the ring with a perfect mark of 23-0 with 17 Ko’s. He stands just under 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 72-inch and possesses better-than-average power with an impressive current knockout ratio of 73.9 per cent but has gone the distance in two of his last four fights.
He’s boxed 117 rounds since making his pro debut in 2016 following a good amateur career and has also captured the interim WBA Oceania, WBO Asia Pacific, WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental, IBF Australasian, Commonwealth, WBO Global, and Australian Super Welterweight Titles since turning pro. Tszyu’s first step up in class came in August, 2020 when he stopped former world champion Jeff Horn in the seventh round.
Tszyu has also faced legitimate contenders in Terrell Gausha and Takeshi Inoue as they both fought for world titles in the past and also has wins over the likes of Dennis Hogan, Wade Ryan, Jack Brubaker, Ruben Webster, Larry Siwu, Denton Vassell, Joel Camilleri and the late Dwight Ritchie. He’s taking a step in the right direction again here as he isn’t taking on an easy opponent in Mendoza. He was originally supposed to face former undisputed champion Jermell Charlo in January, but Charlo broke his hand and the fight was called off and Tszyu now is fighting for the third time this year.
Mendoza is 29 years old and fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He’s boxed 89 rounds since making his pro debut in 2014 following his amateur career. He makes the ring walk with a record of 22-2 with 16 Ko’s with his two defeats coming in his last six bouts. He dropped an eight-round split decision to Larry Gomez in 2019 and a 10-round unanimous decision to Jesus Alejandro Ramos in September, 2021.
At 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 70-inch reach, Mendoza gives up two inches in reach to Tszyu but is 1.5-inches taller. As far as power goes, Mendoza also has plenty of it as 72.7 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage including his last three . None of his first 16 opponents entered the ring with a winning record though but the last eight have. His biggest wins have been over Fundora, Jeison Rosario and Thomas LaManna and will be taking another step up in class this weekend against Tszyu.
Prediction…
Tszyu isn’t quite at the same level as his famous his father but is getting there as he possesses plenty of power and speed in his fists. Mendoza equals him in power and this could be a rock’em sock’em battle for as long as it lasts. This certainly isn’t an easy fight for Tszyu but as long as he remains aggressive against Mendoza and lets his hands fly to the head and body he should eventually wear Mendoza down. I’m expecting Tzsyu to earn a victory in another hard-fought battle at home but needs to be wary of Mendoza’s power at all times.
