A FORTNIGHT after the world’s No.1 154lbs fighter was taught a lesson up at super-middleweight, Tim Tszyu and Brian Mendoza meet to decide the better of the relaxation.
Jermell Charlo is the world champion at the weight however hopped up two divisions to face Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in a money-spinning Las Vegas conflict final month.
Charlo was soundly crushed by the greater, higher man on the night time however he claims he’ll be again down to light-middleweight, or super-welter in new cash, due to some ‘unfinished business’ he wants to deal with.
Much of that can rely on what occurs on Sunday at the Gold Coast Convention Center in Broadbeach, Australia when Tszyu and Mendoza meet in a battle of the No.1 and No.2 ranked fighters at the weight.
It will be Tszyu’s third combat of 2023 already following spectacular stoppage wins over each Tony Harrison and Carlos Ocampo, the second of which lasted simply 77 seconds at the identical area he’ll meet Mendoza.
Those wins added to his burgeoning fame as certainly one of boxing’s most deadly finishers which matches a way to clarify his nickname ‘The Soul Taker’. But Mendoza, off the again of two inside the distance wins of his personal, over Jeison Rosario and Sebastien Fundora respectively, will be supremely assured of placing a pin in the complete factor down beneath and actually heading residence with at least his soul intact.
Indeed this can be the 29-year-old Las Vegas resident’s first combat exterior the United States and how he handles the journey, time distinction and every part else that comes with it’d be an element on this combat. The crowd may too.
“He has power in both hands and has shown he thrives off being that underdog, so I doubt coming to Australia will bother him,” Tszyu stated. “But don’t expect a single person to be cheering for him.”
“I’m expecting a war and I’m expecting Mendoza to test me more than any other fighter.”
Tim Tszyu (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Mendoza, who arrived in Australia early final week, has emerged as one thing of a puncher and seven of his final eight victories have all come earlier than the remaining bell and all however a type of have been wrapped up inside 5 rounds.
But the Fundora combat, which lasted seven, was his first 12-rounder so Tszyu is the way more skilled in that sense, having had 4 of them and going the full distance twice.
This one, nonetheless, doesn’t appear like it would require any judges given the two kinds and the degree of punching energy at play right here. It has all the elements of a real barnburner given Tszyu’s all-action pressure-fighting model whereas Mendoza will be trying to catch him on the manner in. Tszyu is a heavy favorite with the bookmakers nevertheless it’s a better combat than the worth suggests.
Even so, a late stoppage victory for Tszyu, which is able to transfer him to 24-0 (18) is the choose right here. Then him towards Charlo turns into certainly one of the most intriguing fights in the sport.
Tszyu-Mendoza is the foremost occasion of a seven-fight card promoted by No Limit Boxing, proven on Fox in Australia and Showtime in the US. At the time of writing there isn’t any UK broadcaster.
There is, in fact, Australian curiosity in each combat with the choose of the undercard coming at featherweight the place undefeated New South Wales rising star Sam Goodman, 15-0 (7), faces Texas-based Miguel Flores in his first combat since drawing with Abner Mares in September 2022.
Goodman, in the meantime, has been lively this yr with two large wins over TJ Doheny and, particularly, Ra’eese Aleem. A well-schooled boxer with sensible judgement of distance, he’s ranked No.6 in the world at super-bantamweight however this combat has been made at feather. Expect him to win clearly on factors.
Aside from these two 12-rounders, there are additionally two all-Aussie 10-rounders with Nathaniel May and Jackson Jon England assembly at super-featherweight whereas Sergei Vorobov faces Wade Ryan at light-middle.
Earlier, Shanell Dargan and Amber Amelia will conflict in an eight-twos encounter whereas the undefeated Hassan Hamdan takes on Danvers Cuschieri in an eight-round Sydney derby.
THE VERDICT: The foremost occasion has all the elements of a combat of the yr contender
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