Interim WBC super-welterweight world champion Brian Mendoza [22-2] is confident that his run in big fights continues as he continues his preparations to face current WBO interim, soon-to-be full world champion Tim Tszyu [23-0] on October 15 in Australia.
Tsyu will be elevated to full WBO world champion status on September 30 as the WBO will remove their respective WBO world title from current undisputed super-welterweight champion Jermell Charlo as soon as the opening bell rings in his upcoming bout with Canelo Alvarez.
Mendoza surprised the oddsmakers with an upset knockout victory over Sebastian Fundora in April, claiming the WBC interim title with a seventh-round stoppage in Carson, California.
In the previous contest to Fundora, Mendoza also upset the odds by defeating former unified world champion Jeison Rosario courtesy of a fifth-round knockout in November last year.
Mendoza, trained by renowned trainer Ismael Salas, looks forward to travelling to Tszyu’s native Australia and feels it is his time to become a real world champion.
“I am very excited to go to Australia to fight for the WBO belt. It’s always been a dream of mine to be a real world champion, travelling all over to win new belts and defend them as well. I feel like everything has fallen into place for me, and nothing can stop me from bringing that new belt home,” said Mendoza when speaking to boxingscene.com.
Tszyu is understandably a significant favourite leading into the contest against Mendoza considering his run of destructive wins, and so far has stoppage wins over former world champion Tony Harrison and Carlos Ocampo so far in 2023.
However, Mendoza remains confident in his ability and believes that his style and tenacity will bring something to the ring that his unbeaten opponent has yet to see so far in his career.
“I think he’s a good fighter, and it’s going to be a tough fight, but I feel like I bring a few things to the table that he hasn’t seen before, and that will make the difference come fight night for me to come out victorious” finalised Mendoza.
