Tim Tszyu Ready To Let Fists Do Talking Against Brian Mendoza

By Sean Jones: WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu let challenger Brian Mendoza know today that their fight won’t go the distance on Saturday night in Australia.

Tszyu (23-0, 17 KOs) appeared agitated by the questions from the moderator during his ‘Face Off with Brian Mendoza’ today on FOX Sports Australia.

Tim was an unhappy camper, and didn’t matter what the moderator asked him; he seemed annoyed as if he didn’t want to be there. Tszyu looked like he needed something to wake him up.

The poor moderator was trying his best to pull answers out of the less-than-forthcoming Tszyu, who was 100% mentally disengaged from the promotional event. Tszyu repeatedly said, “I couldn’t care less,” when asked for his reaction to things.

It’s unclear whether Tszyu realizes that he’s supposed to be helping to promote his essential fight, as the idea is to bring in viewers in Australia and the U.S.

The way that Tszyu held back was troubling. There’s not a lot of buzz about this fight, so Tszyu needs to be a little more forthcoming for his media events if he wants to get fans interested.

Mendoza is a clever fighter who is looking to set traps like he did against Sebastian Fundora last April, and he could pull off the upset if Tszyu gets careless.

The punching power that Mendoza possesses makes him a huge threat to Tszyu, and he’s going to have to be ready at all times on Saturday, or else he could wind up in the same boat at Fundora, getting knocked out.

Tim Tszyu: “I don’t worry, I don’t care. We have a similar mindset. We’re similar in certain ways but couldn’t care less,” said Tim to FOX Sports Australia.

Brian Mendoza: “It’s just the satisfaction of all the work that was put in. To turn everything around, to turn my career around,” said Mendoza about his win over Sebastian Fundora. “I had to dig myself out of a hole. It’s different.

“I made it to about like 18-0, undefeated, but that feeling of falling and then digging yourself out of that hole when everybody quits on you, and your circle becomes even smaller and everything. I’ve always been a small-circle type of guy, but it’s true that a lot of people become non-believers after that.

“It was just a culmination of working hard, killing myself in the gym, sacrificing every day, suffering every day, and all for the goal to accomplish that victory. What you saw was a culmination of that, and that was that emotion.

“No, and same thing. I’m at the point where I’m enjoying this role,” said Mendoza about being the underdog. I relish it because it’s like I said, the victories are that much sweeter. So we’re going, and it doesn’t matter, man.

“I’m honestly still, even after a victory like this, I’d probably still be the underdog because I want bigger and bigger, bigger fights. I’m not out here asking for tune-ups or hand-me fights or anything like that. I want the biggest and best. So whether I’m underdog or not, it doesn’t make a difference. I’m in there for victory.”

Tszyu: “I couldn’t care less,” said Tim when asked if he has any nonbelievers. “I’m sorry for the short answers. I couldn’t care less. Doing what I do is making statements.  I’m just nice and relaxed this time around.

“I’m enjoying every moment. I’m excited about this opportunity to fight Mendoza and be able to take someone out like that; it’s going to be a big honor. Because we’re the two top dogs in a division, simple. I don’t think anything.

“I’m just going to go out there and perform the best I can, and I’ll let my fists do the talking. I’m not going to say predictions and what I’m going to do. This is boxing.”

Mendoza: “I definitely plan on landing some big shots. Whether he goes down or not, like I said, I’m ready for 12 rounds or 15 if I had to. I’m ready for anything. It’s War, and what I can definitely predict is my hand raised at the end of the night. That’s all I can say.”

Tszyu: “We won’t need 15.”

Mendoza: “I feel like there’s already been an understanding. Everybody wants us to be talking all this stuff and everything, but I feel like we’re both ready for war, and that’s what it’s going to be: an all-out war. I’m trying to get a new belt [WBO] to go home with.”

Tszyu: “Only in a photo.”

Mendoza: “We’ll see.”

Tszyu: “Staring competition, eh? I’m not into that. I don’t feel like it’s a dominance or power type thing. I respect it.”

Mendoza: “I wish it were fight night tonight.

Tszyu: “I don’t want to say too many good things about him. I didn’t come to say too many good things about you anyway. I don’t want to say too many bad things, either.

“I’m not a disrespectful guy. I’m in the zone, I’m ready to hurt, and that’s it. It’s simple. I just want to get it on. I’m sick of talking about it. I just want to literally get in there and start smacking each other out.”

Mendoza:  “Absolutely. I hate to say it, but I agree. I know you’re trying to pull these questions out to get us going, but I think there’s an understanding here that I’m going to be in there to take his head off and the same thing that he’s going to be looking for.

“Neither of us plays games, and that’s why we don’t talk outside of much. I’m not a big trash-talker. One thing I take pride in, especially in these last few performances, is that my performances do the talking for me, and October 15th here in Australia will be no different.”

Tszyu: “I’m always in my heart I’m going to feel like a hunter, no matter what. The mentality that I have in this camp has always been to live in the present moment and be the hunter. This [the promotional Face-Off event with Brian Mendoza] means nothing.  It’s this guy that I want, not that.”