One of the most avoided fighters in boxing returns to Showtime on Saturday night live from the Gold Coast Convention Center in Queensland, Australia. WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) faces Brian Mendoza (22-2, 16 KOs) in a fight that isn’t going to be easy for the 28-year-old Tszyu. Will we see another Tszyu destruction, or will Mendoza pull out his second upset victory this year?
TIM TSZYU’S POWER IS REAL, AND MENDOZA WILL FIND OUT QUICKLY
🎥 @Tim_Tszyu lookin’ SHARP a week out from defending his WBO Super-Welterweight World Title against Brian Mendoza. #TszyuMendoza #TimTszyu #Boxing #CaneloCharlo pic.twitter.com/A6BlYMEAhQ
— Jai Marcus McAllister™️ (@JaiMcAllisterx) October 4, 2023
Although some fight fans may be uncertain about what Tszyu brings to the junior middleweight division, one thing is for sure, and that is he has punching power. It’s the type of power that, when it lands, can quickly change the flow of the fight, leading to a Tszyu victory. Tony Harrison found out quickly, which maybe spooked Charlo when he watched from the Showtime Studios. Whatever it was, Charlo went from wanting to fight Tszyu at any time to now only wanting the big names, which he doesn’t consider Tszyu to be one. Tszyu is only getting better and stronger as he approaches his physical peak, which, going back to Saturday’s opponent, spells trouble for Mendoza.
Tszyu will not waste any time, smother Mendoza, and make it into a firefight. That could be a mistake for Tszyu as Mendoza has some pop in his punches, but Tszyu is the type of fighter who feels he can win, even if it means throwing caution into the wind. The left hook to Mendoza’s body will start a domino effect of punches, eventually leading to a stoppage or knockout.
DOES BRIAN MENDOZA HAVE ANOTHER SPECTACULAR UPOSET KNOCKOUT VICTORY IN HIM?
👀 Brian 'La Bala' Mendoza ya está en Australia 🇦🇺
— ESPN KnockOut (@ESPNKnockOut) October 10, 2023
Y este sábado enfrentará allí al invicto local Tim Tszyu por el Mundial 👑 WBO del peso superwélter 🔥 EN VIVO 🔥 por #ESPNKnockOut
🎥 @NoLimit_Boxing #TszyuMendoza pic.twitter.com/ZMKDqxZsug
The 29-year-old Mendoza was quietly making his way up the ranks, and even after a unanimous decision loss to Jesus Ramos Jr. in 2021, he didn’t allow that to get the best of him, so he kept taking on the biggest challenges. After beating Benjamin Whitaker in March 2022, he stopped former unified junior middleweight champion Jeison Rosario later that year, which led to him getting the Sebastian Fundora fight. The Fundora knockout in April this year still gets a ton of plays on social media and earned him Saturday’s opportunity against Tszyu.
For Mendoza to win this fight, he must be outside mid-range and use his legs to escape the charging Tszyu. These are all things that aren’t in Mendoza’s DNA, so he will have to go with what he knows and hope he catches Tszyu with a big shot before getting caught with one. Given Mendoza’s style, he will likely have to punch with Tszyu, which is a risky game plan.
TIM TSZYU VS. BRIAN MENDOZA PREDICTION
Although Mendoza dramatically defeated Fundora, Tszyu is much more technically sound and will give Mendoza a ton of problems throughout the fight, especially with his pressure. Look for that pressure to suffocate Mendoza and lead to another Tszyu knockout or stoppage by the sixth round.
TIM TSZYU VS. BRIAN MENDOZA BETTING ODDS
Per BetOnline.ag, Tim Tszyu is the favorite at -800 (Over 9 ½ rounds -105), and Brian Mendoza is the underdog at +500 (Under 9 ½ rounds -125).
Tim Tszyu: TKO/KO -180; Decision +210
Draw: +1800
Brian Mendoza: TKO/KO +900; Decision +1100
Round Group Betting
Brian Mendoza by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 1 to 3 +6600
Brian Mendoza by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 4 to 6 +3300
Brian Mendoza by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 7 to 9 +2500
Brian Mendoza by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 10 to 12 +3300
Championship mentality. Championship calibre.#ozboxing #boxing #TszyuMendoza pic.twitter.com/PfWDicA7c9
— Aus-Boxing.com (@ausboxing) September 15, 2023
Tim Tszyu by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 1 to 3 +900
Tim Tszyu by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 4 to 6 +400
Tim Tszyu by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 7 to 9 +250
Tim Tszyu by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 10 to 12 +400
TIM TSZYU VS. BRIAN MENDOZA FIGHT DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, October 14
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 12:00 a.m. ET / 9:00 p.m. PT
These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
Tim Tszyu reacts to Canelo vs Charlo decision.
— No Limit Boxing (@NoLimit_Boxing) October 3, 2023
"Charlo just went in there to survive..He's Scared"https://t.co/3cOBajB6ET#CaneloCharlo #TszyuMendoza
WHAT CHANNEL/STREAM IS TIM TSZYU VS. BRIAN MENDOZA?
- U.S.: Showtime
- UK: TBD
TIM TSZYU VS. BRIAN MENDOZA FIGHT CARD
- Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza; For Tszyu's WBO light middleweight title
- Sam Goodman vs. Miguel Flores; Featherweight
- Nathaniel May vs. Jackson Jon England; For the vacant IBF Australasian super-featherweight title
- Sergei Vorobev vs. Wade Ryan; Light middleweight
- Shanell Dargan vs. Amber Amelia; Super bantamweight
- Hassan Hamdan vs. Danvers Cuschieri; Welterweight
- Toese Vousiutu vs. Julius Long; Heavyweight
