Tszyu declares world title fight his last in Australia

Tim Tszyu sent a terrifying message to his American competitor and announced that his world title match against Brian Mendoza would be his final contest in Australia. In his first outing since becoming the official junior middleweight champion last month, Tszyu (23-0, 17KOs) will defend his title at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre on Sunday.

After resurrecting his career with stunning knockout victories over Jeison Rosario and the highly regarded Sebastian Fundora, Mendoza (22-2, 16KOs) is confident in shattering the unbeaten 29-year-old’s bubble.

It’s a very risky battle for Tim, according to boxing veteran Jeff Fenech, who stated this on Thursday night. He must perform at his peak.

Steely-eyed Tszyu is not having it and declares that his opponent from New Mexico, a big puncher, has “a black heart right now” and is prepared to crush him.

“He battled Fundora [in Carson, California], but this is a whole different atmosphere than Carson. After an open training session at Pacific Square Shopping Centre, he declared, “You’re entering enemy territory entirely. The entire group is Australian. I feel like I’m protecting the territory. He won’t be coming to take the land, I guarantee it.

Tszyu initially won the WBO interim championship by brutally stopping American Tony Harrison in the ninth round in Sydney in March. In June, he successfully defended the title on the Gold Coast by knocking out Mexican Carlos Ocampo in the first round.

Just 22 days after being assaulted by a friend’s Pit Bull Terrier, which required surgery and 26 stitches in his right hand, he defeated Ocampo. Tszyu has healed completely and is prepared to compete against Mendoza.

I’m to blame, not him. He remarked, I can’t wait to show you the advancement I’m making.

“Last time, there was a dog bite, which caused a minor issue. I was fortunate to finish it in 70 (seconds). You’ll notice a more, er, calculated performance this time. Twenty-one of his previous 22 professional fights have occurred in Australia, with his lone foreign victory coming in March 2022 in Minneapolis against Terrell Gausha.

He recently came from a rigorous training camp in Las Vegas, but he yearns for the boxing capital, and he claims his fighting career beyond Sunday will be in the United States. “I know this is the last hurrah in Australia,” Tszyu stated. “This is it.”

Hi, I'm Rachel, a lifestyle and sports writer. With a keen eye for trends and a passion for sports, my articles cover a wide range of lifestyle topics and provide up-to-date sport news. Additionally, I specialize in writing captivating biographies for athletes, showcasing their journeys, achievements, and personal stories. Through my writing, I aim to inspire readers to lead a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle while staying informed about the latest happenings in the world of sports.