Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza fight: Jai Opetaia backs Tszyu to bludgeon Mendoza on the Gold Coast
Australia’s world champion Jai Opetaia has backed Tim Tszyu to bludgeon Brian Mendoza, declaring his fellow Aussie is on another level to the American dangerman.
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Australia’s world champion Jai Opetaia has declared Tim Tszyu will bludgeon American dangerman Brian Mendoza on his way to becoming the king of the boxing world.
Opetaia is fresh from his world-title demolition of Jordan Thompson in England a fortnight ago and he believes Tszyu will launch a similar seek-and-destroy mission in Sunday’s showdown with Mendoza at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
Opetaia has a dream to unify the cruiserweight division and the Gold Coast-based powerhouse believes it is only a matter of time before Tszyu claims all the belts at super welterweight - starting with a mauling of Mendoza.
“Tim will be too good for Mendoza,” said Opetaia, who retained his IBF world-title with a savage fourth-round stoppage of Thompson at Wembley.
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“I will be watching and supporting. I am backing Tim Tszyu all the way.
“I always love to see Aussies win but I genuinely believe Tim has the ability to unify the division.
“Mendoza is a heavy hitter and a good fighter, but Tim will find the holes he has to and find the mistakes to beat him.
“It’s my dream to win all the belts in my division and I believe Tim will do the same.”
Mendoza (22-2, 16KO) shapes as the toughest test of Tszyu’s career after a stunning boilover of Sebastian Fundora in April to claim the interim WBC world title.
That put ‘The Bullet’ on a collision course with Tszyu (23-0, 17KO), but Opetaia says the unbeaten Sydneysider will deliver the bullet to Mendoza’s unification dreams on Sunday.
“The way I look at Tim, he’s exactly like me,” Opetaia said.
“We were born and raised in this sport. The baton has been passed down to us.
“It’s in our blood. It’s all we have known since kids and that is powerful stuff.
“Mendoza is a very good fighter. He is dangerous and it’s a hard fight, but when you get to Tim’s level, every fight is going to be hard and it’s the way to earn respect on the international level.
“Tim’s boxing IQ is special. He has a great eye and he is strong and sharp. He has really been hurting people lately so he has the total package really.
“I believe he will rise to the occasion once again and do what he has to do to overwhelm Mendoza because that’s what champions do and Tim is a true champion.”
Tszyu views the Mendoza blockbuster as his farewell fight on Australian soil and victory over the American will be the gateway to $10 million mega bouts in Las Vegas.
Opetaia stunned the English audience with his world-class skill and he has no doubt Tszyu will be a smash hit with American fight fans.
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“I am proud to be flying the Aussie flag very proudly on this international level and Tim is there with me,” Opetaia said.
“When I went to the UK for my world-title fight, the whole card was full of emerging British fighters and seeing that made me more hungry to get that sort of stuff over here for our fighters.
“We are opening so many doors for young Australian fighters.”
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