The winner of the world title fight between WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu 23-0 (17) and challenger Brian ‘La Bala’ Mendoza 22-2 (16) will be elevated from good to great in the eyes of one former world champion.
American Mendoza, 29, has travelled to Australia to face the 28-year-old Tszyu in his home country at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Australia on Sunday afternoon local time.
Retired former welterweight champion turned pundit Shawn Porter sees this as an evenly matched fight where the victor will go on to greatness.
“What happens when you put in good with good? You get to see who’s great, and I think that’s what’s happening with Brian Mendoza,” Porter said to Australian pay-per-view provider Main Event on their YouTube channel.
Tszyu has been down twice in his pro career, both time in the opening round. Wade Ryan was the first to deck him in rugged battle in 2017 in what was Tszyu’s seventh fight. In March last year American Olympian Terrell Gausha scored a flash knockdown in the first too.
Showtime’s Brian Custer questioned whether Tszyu can survive the sustained pressure of Mendoza.
“Can Mendoza withstand the Tszyu pressure? On the other side of it, I don’t know if Tim Tszyu has been hit by somebody as hard as Brian Mendoza,” Custer said.
“Obviously, it was a flash kind of thing with Terrell Gausha and then he overwhelmed him, but what about a guy like Mendoza who can hit really hard? We’ll find out what kind of chin Tim Tszyu has.
“Brian Mendoza, I don’t know if he’s told you guys in Australia. He always says it over here. ‘I’m the boogeyman at 154.’ That’s his moniker. So that’s why I love this fight, I can’t wait to see it.”
Mendoza is riding high on a string of three knockouts, including victories over former unified 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario 23-4-1 (17) and top contender Sebastian Fundora 20-1-1 (13) in his past two bouts.
“His knockouts are spectacular and highlight real knockouts, which makes him a very dangerous fighter,” said ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. “Once again, I can’t wait to introduce the fighters, sit down and watch it unfold.”
ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna is expecting fireworks from the opening bell.
“I think it’s going to be an explosive fight and it’s going to give Tim an opportunity to shine and to prove what he’s capable of doing against a fighter who’s been in against one of the other top contenders in not only Fundora but before that, Jeison Rosario who’s also battled for a title,” Osuna said.
Will Tszyu prove that he’s the best, or will he be exposed by Mendoza?
“So it is a dangerous fight for Tim Tszyu to have and once again, he’s stepping up and taking on the toughest opponents that are available at the time.
“So it’s going to be a great fight, it’s going to be a great atmosphere again. I’m honoured to be on my way there to be part of it.”
