Tim Tszyu v Brian Mendoza for Interim WBO, WBC super welterweight titles.
By Gary Todd
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 28 Aug 2023
With Jermell Charlo deciding to jump up in weight to face the high flying megastar, Saul Canelo Alvarez in a history making undisputed v undisputed battle of champions, it’s left the super welterweight division with a turbulent foreseeable future.
Charlo’s grasp at greatness also opens the door for the highest ranked fighters in the division, to fight each other for their chance for glory and realising their own dreams of becoming a world champion.
Since his debut in December 2016, Tim Tszyu (23-0, 17KOs) has been taking care of business in the ring, and in a process of elimination, he has cleaned out everyone in his path to be ranked as the number one contender with the WBO.
Tszyu was recognised as the Interim junior middleweight champion with his devastating stoppage wins of Tony Harrison and Carlos Ocampo.
At 29, Brian Mendoza (22-2, 16KOs) started boxing at the age of 20 years old and although he was winning well and racking up an impressive knockout record, he wasn’t getting much love from the networks or the media. It seemed Mendoza would be destined to be fighting on undercards across America, particularly after losing twice on points in low key non title fights. The man known as ‘La Bala’ never stopped believing in himself and in November, 2022, he was thrown to the lion that was Jeison Rosario and no one gave him a hope, not even a punchers chance, or a prayer.
In that fight, the former world champion from the Dominican Republic was caught with a superb uppercut from Mendoza in the 5th round, knocking Rosario out to resurrect his career. Next up was the highly regarded, 6’5 southpaw power puncher, Sebastian Fundora, and once again, Mendoza was meant to fall.
In that fight, it seemed Mendoza might succumb to the size and power of Fundora, but he kept punching and kept coming forward, leaning into Fundora’s chest, making him tire, before catching him with a hard left hook, which instantly relieved Fundora of his senses, followed up by an overhand right, left hook combination to stop him in the 7th round. This win catapulted Mendoza to the number one spot in the WBC, and he became the interim champion.
Greatness awaits for both fighters in what will be their toughest challenge to date.
Mendoza (known as La Bala- ‘the bullet’ in English) is a smooth boxer that can punch with speed and he carries power in either hand and Tszyu (known as ‘the soul taker‘) is a calculated sharp shooting aggressive fighter that breaks his opponents down to then knock them out.
There’s not much separating them, with age, height, and their reach are almost the same, and both have similar records with 33 knockouts shared.
It’s champion against champion, puncher v puncher, and for each, winning is everything and it doesn’t get much better than that.
Gary Todd has been involved in all aspects in the sport of boxing for 30 years . He is an acclaimed international author with his books. Check out his latest book, ‘ Annie’s Boy’ online or at garytodd.org.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Gary Todd.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Nuñez vs Navarrete: Knuckle Up for a Certified Banger
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 28 Feb 2026‘There's no way I'm going to lose’ -- Holly McMath looks to make a statement in high-stakes trilogy fight
Sat, 28 Feb 2026WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER AND FINAL WORDS FOR NAVARRETE VS. NUNEZ
Sat, 28 Feb 2026WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS: PIERCE VS. PARRA
Sat, 28 Feb 2026Former US President Obama will donate Ali gloves to his presidential library
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 28 Feb 2026Almacen Brothers Make Weight, Ready for Battle in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 27 Feb 2026Four United States Women's Boxers Shine Bright on Day Four of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
Fri, 27 Feb 2026Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 27 Feb 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Vazquez vs. Machuca’ at College Park Center in the University of Texas
Fri, 27 Feb 2026Ethan Matthew Gabriel tops Boscolympics 2026 Grade School chess meet
Fri, 27 Feb 2026Boxing Legend & Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Fri, 27 Feb 2026IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade - Arca outwits GM Pa Iniyan in Round 6 of the Manny Pacquiao International Open chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 26 Feb 2026San Francisco Boxing Leaders Bring It Back: FIGHT NIGHT AT ROCCAPULCO
Thu, 26 Feb 2026Alyssa Mendoza, Salim Ellis-Bey and Kelvin Watts Secure Wins on Day Three of 2026 Strandja Boxing Tournament
Thu, 26 Feb 2026Herlan Gomez faces Dekang Wang for WBA Asia Superbamtam Title Today in Kunming, China
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 26 Feb 2026