Tim Tszyu vs Brian Mendoza: Aussie champion's frightening two-word message for rival
Tim Tszyu had a frightening message for Brian Mendoza ahead of their Gold Coast showdown.
Asked by Main Event commentator Ben Damon if he had a message for spectators ahead of his super-welterweight bout with the American, the Australian boxing champion uttered two words.
"Don't blink," the 28-year-old said with a sinister grin.
LIVE COVERAGE: Tim Tszyu vs Brian Mendoza title fight
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Tszyu will be out to retain his WBO super-welterweight belt when he squares off with Mendoza on Sunday, taking on the WBC interim super-welterweight champion.
He says this will be his final fight in Australia before he heads overseas in a bid to become the undisputed super-welterweight champion, with a possible bout against American superstar Jermell Charlo looming.
Tim Tszyu speaking ahead of his fight against Brian Mendoza. Zain Mohammed/No Limit Boxing
But Tszyu insisted he was entirely zoned in on Mendoza.
"I'm in the present moment right now, I'm focused on what really matters and Brian Mendoza, I'm not thinking about that other bloke," Tszyu said.
"He [Mendoza] is a good guy, I'm not into all that booing and all that stuff, but I think when fight night comes he'll definitely feel the hostile crowd of the 'Tszyu land'."
"I'm not here to do comparisons [between punching power]. He's got a couple of really nice highlight KOs and I hope to put one of them on him on Sunday."
When is Tszyu vs Mendoza?
Date: Sunday, October 15
Time: Doors to open at 9am (AEST), preliminary fights to start at 9.30am, Tszyu to face Mendoza in the early afternoon.
Where will Tszyu vs Mendoza take place?
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Tim Tszyu celebrates victory over Tony Harrison in March. Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
Tszyu vs Mendoza fight card
Tim Tszyu vs Brian Mendoza (WBO super-welterweight title, 12 rounds)
Sam Goodman vs Miguel Flores (125lb catchweight, 12 rounds)
Nathaniel May vs Jackson England (vacant IBF Australasian super-featherweight title, 10 rounds)
Shanell Dargan vs Amber Amelia (vacant Australian super-bantamweight title, six rounds)
Toese Vousiutu vs Julius Long (heavyweight, four rounds)
Hassan Hamdan vs Danvers Cuschieri (super lightweight, eight rounds)
Sergei Vorobev vs Wade Ryan (vacant IBF Pab Pacific super-welterweight title, 10 rounds)
How to watch
Preliminaries: Fox Sports, channel 507 from 9.30am (AEST)
Pay-per-view: Main Event, through Fox Sports or Kayo Sports, from 11am (AEST)
How to get tickets
Tickets can be purchased here.
Tim Tszyu (left) and Brian Mendoza. Zain Mohammed/No Limit Boxing
Tszyu's career record, bio
Age: 28
Height: 174 centimetres
Reach: 183 centimetres
Record: 23-0-0
KOs: 17
Mendoza's career record, bio
Age: 29
Height: 178 centimetres
Reach: 178 centimetres
Record: 22-2-0
KOs: 16
Tszyu vs Mendoza odds
Tszyu win $1.20, draw $17, Mendoza win $5.25 (correct as of Friday, 3pm)
