Tag: Tim Tszyu

Tim Tszyu pounds his way to one-sided victory over Brian Mendoza

Tim Tszyu pounded his way to a one-sided victory over Brian Mendoza on Sunday in Australia.

Tim Tszyu now feels like a true champion. And bigger things lie ahead.

The Australian star, who recently was upgraded to full WBO 154-pound titleholder, defeated challenger Brian Mendoza by a unanimous decision in his first defense Sunday in Broadbeach, Australia.

The scores were 117-111 (nine rounds to three), 116-111 and 116-112.

Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) had said beforehand that he was approaching the fight as if it were for the vacant title because he hadn’t won it in the ring.

And he fought with the passion of a man seeking his first major belt.

Mendoza (22-3, 16 KOs) was a problem in the first half of the fight, during which the hard-punching American – coming off knockouts of Jeison Rosario and Sebastian Fundora – arguably outworked the champion.

However, Tszyu, took firm control of the fight from the seventh round on. He played the role of the power puncher, landing heavy blow after heavy blow — including a number of punishing uppercuts — to pull away from Mendoza on the scorecards.

Mendoza demonstrated impressive resilience – a lesser opponent wouldn’t have survived – but he had neither the skill set nor the firepower to withstand Tszyu’s attack.

According to CompuBox, Tszyu outlanded Mendoza 120 (of 406) to 93 (of 433) overall and 98 (of 258) to 71 (of 225) in power punches.

Tszyu has now beaten in succession Terrell Gausha, Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza, a run that has lifted him to the top of the junior middleweight division.

However, he told many outlets before the Mendoza fight that he won’t be satisfied until he beats the longtime 154-pound king: Jermell Charlo, who chose to fight Canelo Alvarez instead of Tszyu and lost a one-sided decision on Sept. 30.

Charlo said after his setback that he planned to back down to 154, which could set up one of the most-compelling matchups in the sport.

“Charlo, where you at?” Tszyu said after his victory. “Where you at buddy? In his delusional head, he’ll probably think he is going to beat me. Come get it.”

Tim Tszyu pounds his way to one-sided victory over Brian Mendoza

Tim Tszyu pounded his way to a one-sided victory over Brian Mendoza on Sunday in Australia.

Tim Tszyu now feels like a true champion. And bigger things lie ahead.

The Australian star, who recently was upgraded to full WBO 154-pound titleholder, defeated challenger Brian Mendoza by a unanimous decision in his first defense Sunday in Broadbeach, Australia.

The scores were 117-111 (nine rounds to three), 116-111 and 116-112.

Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) had said beforehand that he was approaching the fight as if it were for the vacant title because he hadn’t won it in the ring.

And he fought with the passion of a man seeking his first major belt.

Mendoza (22-3, 16 KOs) was a problem in the first half of the fight, during which the hard-punching American – coming off knockouts of Jeison Rosario and Sebastian Fundora – arguably outworked the champion.

However, Tszyu, took firm control of the fight from the seventh round on. He played the role of the power puncher, landing heavy blow after heavy blow — including a number of punishing uppercuts — to pull away from Mendoza on the scorecards.

Mendoza demonstrated impressive resilience – a lesser opponent wouldn’t have survived – but he had neither the skill set nor the firepower to withstand Tszyu’s attack.

According to CompuBox, Tszyu outlanded Mendoza 120 (of 406) to 93 (of 433) overall and 98 (of 258) to 71 (of 225) in power punches.

Tszyu has now beaten in succession Terrell Gausha, Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza, a run that has lifted him to the top of the junior middleweight division.

However, he told many outlets before the Mendoza fight that he won’t be satisfied until he beats the longtime 154-pound king: Jermell Charlo, who chose to fight Canelo Alvarez instead of Tszyu and lost a one-sided decision on Sept. 30.

Charlo said after his setback that he planned to back down to 154, which could set up one of the most-compelling matchups in the sport.

“Charlo, where you at?” Tszyu said after his victory. “Where you at buddy? In his delusional head, he’ll probably think he is going to beat me. Come get it.”

Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza: Date, time, how to watch, background

Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Tim Tszyu, recently upgraded to the full WBO 154-pound champion, will make his first defense against Brian Mendoza in Australia.

TIM TSZYU (23-0, 17 KOs) VS.
BRIAN MENDOZA (22-2, 16 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 14 (Oct. 15 in Australia)
  • Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
  • At stake: Tszyu’s WBO title
  • Odds: Tszyu 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Sam Goodman vs. Miguel Flores, junior featherweights; Nathaniel May vs. Jackson Jon England, junior lightweights; Sergei Vorobev vs. Wade Ryan, junior middleweights
  • Prediction: Tszyu KO 10
  • Background: Tszyu was supposed to have challenged then-undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo but ended up being upgraded from the WBO “interim” to full titleholder when Charlo fought Canelo Alvarez instead. The 28-year-old from Sydney has turned in a series of quality performances, including a decision over Terrell Gausha and knockouts of Tony Harrison and Carlos Ocampo in his last three fights. The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu wasn’t gratified when he was upgraded, saying he wanted to win the title in the ring. He sees this fight more as a battle for the vacant title than a defense. Mendoza is one of the hotter boxers in the world. The 29-year-old from Albuquerque delivered back-to-back knockouts of former beltholder Jeison Rosario in November and top contender Sebastian Fundora in April. He has won three in a row since losing to Jesus Ramos in 2021.

[lawrence-related id=39255,37854,37848,37841,36678,36653,36648,36644]

Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza: Date, time, how to watch, background

Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Tim Tszyu, recently upgraded to the full WBO 154-pound champion, will make his first defense against Brian Mendoza in Australia.

TIM TSZYU (23-0, 17 KOs) VS.
BRIAN MENDOZA (22-2, 16 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 14 (Oct. 15 in Australia)
  • Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
  • At stake: Tszyu’s WBO title
  • Odds: Tszyu 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Sam Goodman vs. Miguel Flores, junior featherweights; Nathaniel May vs. Jackson Jon England, junior lightweights; Sergei Vorobev vs. Wade Ryan, junior middleweights
  • Prediction: Tszyu KO 10
  • Background: Tszyu was supposed to have challenged then-undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo but ended up being upgraded from the WBO “interim” to full titleholder when Charlo fought Canelo Alvarez instead. The 28-year-old from Sydney has turned in a series of quality performances, including a decision over Terrell Gausha and knockouts of Tony Harrison and Carlos Ocampo in his last three fights. The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu wasn’t gratified when he was upgraded, saying he wanted to win the title in the ring. He sees this fight more as a battle for the vacant title than a defense. Mendoza is one of the hotter boxers in the world. The 29-year-old from Albuquerque delivered back-to-back knockouts of former beltholder Jeison Rosario in November and top contender Sebastian Fundora in April. He has won three in a row since losing to Jesus Ramos in 2021.

[lawrence-related id=39255,37854,37848,37841,36678,36653,36648,36644]

How do Tim and Kostya Tszyu compare at same point of careers?

How do Tim and Kostya Tszyu compare at same point of careers?

Tim Tszyu will always have a high standard to live up to.

The 28-year-old Australian junior middleweight is the son of Kostya Tszyu, the dynamic former two-time junior welterweight champion who was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 2011.

The younger Tszyu has a long way to go to catch up with dad but he has begun to make his own mark. That includes being upgraded by the WBO from “interim” to full 154-pound titleholder recently, his first major belt.

He will make his first defense against Brian Mendoza on Sunday afternoon in Broadbeach, Australia (Saturday night in the U.S) on Showtime.

But how do father and son compare at the same age? Have a look.

Kostya Tszyu (pictured here fighting Hugo Pineda) had a Hall of Fame career. Brendan Esposito / AFP via Getty Images.

Tim Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) is undefeated. When Kostya Tszyu (31-2, 25 KOs) turned 28 in September 1997, he had just suffered his first of two career losses. Vince Phillips stopped him in 10 rounds in May 1997 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

That’s the only edge the younger Tszyu has over his father at 28.

Tim Tszyu has some impressive victories, including a unanimous decision over Terrell Gausha and a ninth-round stoppage of slick Tony Harrison that made him a top junior middleweight. However, Kostya Tszyu had already reigned as champion for two years by the time he lost to Phillips, with four successful defenses.

And his resume was strong, with victories over Juan Laporte, Livingstone Bramble, Hector Lopez, Jake Rodriguez (to win his first belt), Roger Mayweather and other proven opponents.

So, yes, dad was farther along than junior at the same juncture.

Tim Tszyu is just getting started, though. He’s in his prime and poised to do great things. If he gets past the hard-punching Mendoza (22-2, 16 KOs), he could end up facing the man he has chased for a year and a half, fellow titleholder Jermell Charlo.

And Charlo seems particularly vulnerable after his disappointing performance against 168-pound champ Canelo Alvarez, who easily outpointed the highly regarded Texan on Sept. 30.

If Tszyu gets that fight and wins it convincingly, he almost certainly will emulate his father by climbing onto pound-for-pound lists. (Will there have been a better father-son combination in terms of accomplishments?)

And Tim Tszyu can look to dad for inspiration post-28th birthday.

Kostya Tszyu recorded some of his most important victories following the loss to Phillips. He beat in succession Ismael Chaves, Rafael Ruelas and Diosbelys Hurtado to set up a title fight with champion Miguel Angel Gonzalez, whom Tszyu stopped in 10 rounds.

He later defeated Julio Cesar Chavez, Sharmba Mitchell (twice), Zab Judah, Ben Tackie and Jesse James Leija before finally getting stopped by a prime Ricky Hatton in 2005 and retiring.

Tim Tszyu could join his father in the Hall of Fame if he embarks on a run like that in the next few years.

Of course, Tszyu isn’t thinking about what might lie ahead. He must defeat Mendoza before he can even begin to think about following the lead of a fighter as great as his father.

“I’m focusing right now on Mendoza,” he told Boxing Junkie. “I haven’t really thought too much about the future.”

[lawrence-related id=39255,37841,37753]

How do Tim and Kostya Tszyu compare at same point of careers?

How do Tim and Kostya Tszyu compare at same point of careers?

Tim Tszyu will always have a high standard to live up to.

The 28-year-old Australian junior middleweight is the son of Kostya Tszyu, the dynamic former two-time junior welterweight champion who was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 2011.

The younger Tszyu has a long way to go to catch up with dad but he has begun to make his own mark. That includes being upgraded by the WBO from “interim” to full 154-pound titleholder recently, his first major belt.

He will make his first defense against Brian Mendoza on Sunday afternoon in Broadbeach, Australia (Saturday night in the U.S) on Showtime.

But how do father and son compare at the same age? Have a look.

Kostya Tszyu (pictured here fighting Hugo Pineda) had a Hall of Fame career. Brendan Esposito / AFP via Getty Images.

Tim Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) is undefeated. When Kostya Tszyu (31-2, 25 KOs) turned 28 in September 1997, he had just suffered his first of two career losses. Vince Phillips stopped him in 10 rounds in May 1997 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

That’s the only edge the younger Tszyu has over his father at 28.

Tim Tszyu has some impressive victories, including a unanimous decision over Terrell Gausha and a ninth-round stoppage of slick Tony Harrison that made him a top junior middleweight. However, Kostya Tszyu had already reigned as champion for two years by the time he lost to Phillips, with four successful defenses.

And his resume was strong, with victories over Juan Laporte, Livingstone Bramble, Hector Lopez, Jake Rodriguez (to win his first belt), Roger Mayweather and other proven opponents.

So, yes, dad was farther along than junior at the same juncture.

Tim Tszyu is just getting started, though. He’s in his prime and poised to do great things. If he gets past the hard-punching Mendoza (22-2, 16 KOs), he could end up facing the man he has chased for a year and a half, fellow titleholder Jermell Charlo.

And Charlo seems particularly vulnerable after his disappointing performance against 168-pound champ Canelo Alvarez, who easily outpointed the highly regarded Texan on Sept. 30.

If Tszyu gets that fight and wins it convincingly, he almost certainly will emulate his father by climbing onto pound-for-pound lists. (Will there have been a better father-son combination in terms of accomplishments?)

And Tim Tszyu can look to dad for inspiration post-28th birthday.

Kostya Tszyu recorded some of his most important victories following the loss to Phillips. He beat in succession Ismael Chaves, Rafael Ruelas and Diosbelys Hurtado to set up a title fight with champion Miguel Angel Gonzalez, whom Tszyu stopped in 10 rounds.

He later defeated Julio Cesar Chavez, Sharmba Mitchell (twice), Zab Judah, Ben Tackie and Jesse James Leija before finally getting stopped by a prime Ricky Hatton in 2005 and retiring.

Tim Tszyu could join his father in the Hall of Fame if he embarks on a run like that in the next few years.

Of course, Tszyu isn’t thinking about what might lie ahead. He must defeat Mendoza before he can even begin to think about following the lead of a fighter as great as his father.

“I’m focusing right now on Mendoza,” he told Boxing Junkie. “I haven’t really thought too much about the future.”

[lawrence-related id=39255,37841,37753]

Fight Week: New champ Tim Tszyu to make first defense vs. Brian Mendoza

Fight Week: New 154-pound titleholder Tim Tszyu is scheduled to make the first defense of his belt against Brian Mendoza on Saturday.

FIGHT WEEK

Tim Tszyu, recently upgraded to the full WBO 154-pound champion, will make his first defense against Brian Mendoza in Australia.

TIM TSZYU (23-0, 17 KOs) VS.
BRIAN MENDOZA (22-2, 16 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 14 (Oct. 15 in Australia)
  • Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
  • At stake: Tszyu’s WBO title
  • Odds: Tszyu 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Sam Goodman vs. Miguel Flores, junior featherweights; Nathaniel May vs. Jackson Jon England, junior lightweights; Sergei Vorobev vs. Wade Ryan, junior middleweights
  • Prediction: Tszyu KO 10
  • Background: Tszyu was supposed to have challenged then-undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo but ended up being upgraded from the WBO “interim” to full titleholder when Charlo fought Canelo Alvarez instead. The 28-year-old from Sydney has turned in a series of quality performances, including a decision over Terrell Gausha and knockouts of Tony Harrison and Carlos Ocampo in his last three fights. The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu wasn’t gratified when he was upgraded, saying he wanted to win the title in the ring. He sees this fight more as a battle for the vacant title than a defense. Mendoza is one of the hotter boxers in the world. The 29-year-old from Albuquerque delivered back-to-back knockouts of former beltholder Jeison Rosario in November and top contender Sebastian Fundora in April. He has won three in a row since losing to Jesus Ramos in 2021.

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

  • Femke Hermans vs. Mary Spencer, rematch, junior middleweights (for vacant IBF title), Montreal (ESPN+)

SATURDAY

  • KSI vs. Tommy Fury, cruiserweights, Manchester, England (pay-per-view)
  • Vincenzo Gualtieri vs. Janibek Alimkhanuly, middleweights (for Gualtieri’s IBF and Alimkhanuly’s WBO titles), Rosenberg, Texas (ESPN, ESPN+)

[lawrence-related id=39255,37854,37848,37841,36678,36653,36648,36644]

Fight Week: New champ Tim Tszyu to make first defense vs. Brian Mendoza

Fight Week: New 154-pound titleholder Tim Tszyu is scheduled to make the first defense of his belt against Brian Mendoza on Saturday.

FIGHT WEEK

Tim Tszyu, recently upgraded to the full WBO 154-pound champion, will make his first defense against Brian Mendoza in Australia.

TIM TSZYU (23-0, 17 KOs) VS.
BRIAN MENDOZA (22-2, 16 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 14 (Oct. 15 in Australia)
  • Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: Showtime
  • Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
  • At stake: Tszyu’s WBO title
  • Odds: Tszyu 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Sam Goodman vs. Miguel Flores, junior featherweights; Nathaniel May vs. Jackson Jon England, junior lightweights; Sergei Vorobev vs. Wade Ryan, junior middleweights
  • Prediction: Tszyu KO 10
  • Background: Tszyu was supposed to have challenged then-undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo but ended up being upgraded from the WBO “interim” to full titleholder when Charlo fought Canelo Alvarez instead. The 28-year-old from Sydney has turned in a series of quality performances, including a decision over Terrell Gausha and knockouts of Tony Harrison and Carlos Ocampo in his last three fights. The son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu wasn’t gratified when he was upgraded, saying he wanted to win the title in the ring. He sees this fight more as a battle for the vacant title than a defense. Mendoza is one of the hotter boxers in the world. The 29-year-old from Albuquerque delivered back-to-back knockouts of former beltholder Jeison Rosario in November and top contender Sebastian Fundora in April. He has won three in a row since losing to Jesus Ramos in 2021.

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

  • Femke Hermans vs. Mary Spencer, rematch, junior middleweights (for vacant IBF title), Montreal (ESPN+)

SATURDAY

  • KSI vs. Tommy Fury, cruiserweights, Manchester, England (pay-per-view)
  • Vincenzo Gualtieri vs. Janibek Alimkhanuly, middleweights (for Gualtieri’s IBF and Alimkhanuly’s WBO titles), Rosenberg, Texas (ESPN, ESPN+)

[lawrence-related id=39255,37854,37848,37841,36678,36653,36648,36644]

Tim Tszyu on Jermell Charlo’s performance against Canelo Alvarez: ‘Just there to survive’

Tim Tszyu on Jermell Charlo’s performance against Canelo Alvarez this past Saturday: ‘I think he was there just there to survive.”

Tim Tszyu was supposed to have fought Jermell Charlo before the 154-pound king made the decision to move up two divisions to challenge Canelo Alvarez last Saturday. And Tszyu still wants that fight, which he believes would leave no doubt about who is the best junior middleweight.

The newly upgraded WBO champ doesn’t think much of Charlo at the moment, though.

Tszyu, who faces Brian Mendoza on Oct. 14 in Australia (Showtime) watched the Alvarez-Charlo fight with the rest of us. And he wasn’t impressed with the effort of Charlo, who wasn’t competitive and lost a one-sided decision.

“I think he was just there to survive, honestly,” Tszyu told Boxing Junkie. “He looked like a scared boy, in my opinion. Canelo pressed it, did what he had to do. He sort of annihilated him every round. What surprised me is that [Charlo] really didn’t put up much of a game.

“When I was watching Spence-Crawford, Spence went out on his shield. Even though things weren’t working, he was trying to win, trying to figure it out. He went out on his shield the way a fighter should. Charlo was there just to survive, to say he accomplished 12 rounds with Canelo. That’s what he wanted.”

Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) was upgraded by the WBO from “interim” to full champion — his first major title — when the Alvarez-Charlo opening bell sounded.

When he was asked what that meant to him, he paused and then gave a straight forward answer: He won’t feel as if he’s a true champion until he beats Mendoza (22-2, 16 KOs). And he won’t be completely satisfied until he takes down Charlo, who still holds three of the four major 154-pound titles.

Charlo has been dismissive of a potential fight with Tszyu, although he didn’t rule it out when he was asked about the possibility after his loss. However, he appears to be focused on luring 147-pound champion Terence Crawford into the ring, which Tszyu dismissed as Charlo “chasing money.”

Tszyu remains hopeful that he’ll meet Charlo, though.

“I don’t think Charlo has as many options as he thinks,” Tszyu said. “There aren’t too many people out there. Once we finish this fight, I think it does make sense.”

In a perfect world Tszyu would’ve beaten Charlo to win his first world title, not claiming it outside the ring. And he’s as confident as ever that he’d win that fight.

“A hundred percent,” he said. “That’s the guy I’ve been chasing for a year and half now. Even if no world titles are involved, that’s the name I wanted. … I saw it from a long time ago that he’s vulnerable. I never saw that competitive edge in him. That showed [on Saturday].”

Tim Tszyu on Jermell Charlo’s performance against Canelo Alvarez: ‘Just there to survive’

Tim Tszyu on Jermell Charlo’s performance against Canelo Alvarez this past Saturday: ‘I think he was there just there to survive.”

Tim Tszyu was supposed to have fought Jermell Charlo before the 154-pound king made the decision to move up two divisions to challenge Canelo Alvarez last Saturday. And Tszyu still wants that fight, which he believes would leave no doubt about who is the best junior middleweight.

The newly upgraded WBO champ doesn’t think much of Charlo at the moment, though.

Tszyu, who faces Brian Mendoza on Oct. 14 in Australia (Showtime) watched the Alvarez-Charlo fight with the rest of us. And he wasn’t impressed with the effort of Charlo, who wasn’t competitive and lost a one-sided decision.

“I think he was just there to survive, honestly,” Tszyu told Boxing Junkie. “He looked like a scared boy, in my opinion. Canelo pressed it, did what he had to do. He sort of annihilated him every round. What surprised me is that [Charlo] really didn’t put up much of a game.

“When I was watching Spence-Crawford, Spence went out on his shield. Even though things weren’t working, he was trying to win, trying to figure it out. He went out on his shield the way a fighter should. Charlo was there just to survive, to say he accomplished 12 rounds with Canelo. That’s what he wanted.”

Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) was upgraded by the WBO from “interim” to full champion — his first major title — when the Alvarez-Charlo opening bell sounded.

When he was asked what that meant to him, he paused and then gave a straight forward answer: He won’t feel as if he’s a true champion until he beats Mendoza (22-2, 16 KOs). And he won’t be completely satisfied until he takes down Charlo, who still holds three of the four major 154-pound titles.

Charlo has been dismissive of a potential fight with Tszyu, although he didn’t rule it out when he was asked about the possibility after his loss. However, he appears to be focused on luring 147-pound champion Terence Crawford into the ring, which Tszyu dismissed as Charlo “chasing money.”

Tszyu remains hopeful that he’ll meet Charlo, though.

“I don’t think Charlo has as many options as he thinks,” Tszyu said. “There aren’t too many people out there. Once we finish this fight, I think it does make sense.”

In a perfect world Tszyu would’ve beaten Charlo to win his first world title, not claiming it outside the ring. And he’s as confident as ever that he’d win that fight.

“A hundred percent,” he said. “That’s the guy I’ve been chasing for a year and half now. Even if no world titles are involved, that’s the name I wanted. … I saw it from a long time ago that he’s vulnerable. I never saw that competitive edge in him. That showed [on Saturday].”