Fight day has arrived as Tim Tszyu defends his WBO super welterweight world title for the first time against Brian Mendoza at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
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Boxing: Tszyu vs Mendoza SUN 15th OCT 12PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
7-FOOT FREAK PUMMELED BY RIVAL
Long, who stood a staggering 216cm tall and held a 229cm reach, seemed rather reluctant to engage with Vousiutu.
Instead, he was more interested with the theatrics as he pranced around the ring and played up to the crowd in a pair of sneakers that left boxing legend Shawn Porter baffled on commentary.
“It’s a joke,” Porter said.
In fact, Long had landed just eight punches in total after two rounds of action while Voisutu had 30.
Vousiutu eventually secured a knockown midway through the third as he landed a barrage of punches that left Long on the floor, but he got to his feet in time to beat the referee’s count.
However there was nothing Long could do in the fourth and final round when Vousiutu landed a thudding left hook that left the American dangling over the ropes.
Although he got to his feet in time, Long was on wobbly legs and gave the referee no choice but to wave off the fight as Vousiutu secured the sixth win of his career.
FENECH PROTEGE EMERGES VICTORIOUS IN BRUTAL BATTLE
The undercard delivered yet another scintillating bout as Hassan Hamdan emerged the victor in the grudge match over Danvers Cuschieri via unanimous decision.
There was plenty of bad blood going into the fight, but it was largely between Jeff Fenech and Ben Savva, the trainers of Hamdan and Cuschieri respectively.
Although Savva expected Hamdan to jab and move from the get-go, both fighters decided to explode out of the gates in an entertaining opening round.
The electric pace continued in the second round as the duo enjoyed their moments, but it was Hamdan who grew into the fight more than his bitter rival as Fenech continued to bark orders at his fighter.
Cuschieri was eventually busted open just above his left eye midway through the eight-round war.
With Hamdan in the ascendancy, Cuschieri was forced to push the pace in the latter rounds but it ultimately was not enough, as the former won on the scorecards (79-73, 78-74 and 77-75).
The war of words didn’t end there though, as Hamdan pointed to Savva and said: “He’s done, you’re next.”
RUSSIAN STAR’S TSZYU THREAT BACKFIRES AS UNDERDOG DAZZLES
Wade Ryan has brought Sergei Vorobev’s hype train to a grinding halt thanks to a gritty unanmious decision win.
Much had been made about Vorobev’s credentials having amassed millions of views on social media and even got the better of Nikita Tszyu in a sparring session, so much so that he declared he “will break” Tszyu if they fought.
But it was Ryan who looked a class above for the entire fight, dodging Vorobev’s big right hook with ease.
The man from Gunnedah also tore into the Russian with several stinging uppercuts that snapped his head back and busted him open above the eye as well as his nose.
Although Vorobev ramped up the intensity in the 10th and final round having been instructed by his coach Tony Del Vecchio he needed a knockout for a win, Ryan refused to wilt.
As soon as the final bell rang, Ryan was elated having produced one of the best performances of his career to deliver an upset with the judges awarding it 91-99 and 92-98 twice in his favour.
Despite the fight evidently in Ryan’s favour, Vorobev briefly appeared baffled at the decision.
Interestingly enough, Ryan prepared for Vorobev by sparring Dylan Biggs, the man who will face the younger Tszyu on November 22 in Newcastle.
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MORE TSZYU VS MENDOZA NEWS
START TIME: What time does Tim Tszyu v Brian Mendoza start?
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know about Tszyu vs Mendoza
‘WHY NOT?’: TSZYU IN TALKS WITH NRL FOR VEGAS EXTRAVAGANZA AS HIT LIST REVEALED
Australian boxing superstar Tim Tszyu is “100 per cent down” to kick off the NRL’s festivities in Las Vegas with a fight against one of the biggest names in the sport.
The NRL is headed to Sin City for the opening round of the 2024 season with the Sea Eagles taking on the Rabbitohs and the Roosters facing the Broncos at Allegiant Stadium.
But Tszyu could be the perfect appetiser in a bumper week for Australian sport stars in Vegas.
According to News Corp, Tszyu’s promoters No Limit are locked in talks with the NRL for ‘The Soul Taker’ to lock horns with a boxing superstar in February.
It comes after Fox Sports Nick Walshaw revealed No Limit are targeting either Jermell Charlo, Errol Spence or Terence Crawford as Tszyu’s opponent should he get past Brian Mendoza in his first world title defence.
Aside from being part in what could be one of the biggest weeks in Australian sport, Tszyu is rubbing his hands at the prospect of landing his first fight in the “Mecca of boxing.”
“I’m 100 per cent down for that,” Tszyu told News Corp.
“My full focus is getting through Mendoza first, then everyone can get excited about what is on the horizon. There will be plenty of Aussies over there supporting their teams already, so why not? The stars always come out for the big fights and big events, too, so it makes sense. It’s an all-Aussie takeover.
“It’s only the big fights from here on for me now.
“Everyone knows the names I want. That’s why I’ve been telling my promoters we’ve got to head to the Mecca of boxing – Las Vegas.”
‘I feel incredible!’ Mendoza primed | 03:57
WHEN IS THE TIM TSZYU VS BRIAN MENDOZA FIGHT AND WHAT TIME WILL IT START?
Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza boxing pay-per-view is on Sunday, October 15 with doors opening at 9am local time (AEST).
The preliminary fights will begin on Fox Sports Channel 507 at 9.30am AEST local time in Queensland (10.30am AEDT).
The pay-per-view main card is scheduled to start at 11am AEST (12pm AEDT).
Timing isn’t an exact science in boxing. While the Main Event is expected to start 1:15pm AEST/2:15pm AEDT, depending on the length of earlier bouts, we reckon Tszyu and Mendoza will enter the ring in the afternoon anytime from 3pm AEDT.
HOW TO STREAM AND WATCH THE TIM TSZYU VS BRIAN MENDOZA FIGHT
Tszyu vs. Mendoza is a pay-per-view fight, which costs $59.95 to watch on Foxtel’s Main Event or stream via Kayo Sports.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Tim Tszyu
Record: 23-0 (17 KO’s)
Age: 28
Titles: WBO super welterweight
Brian Mendoza
Record: 22-2 (16 KO’s)
Age: 29
Height: 178cm
Reach: 178cm
Titles: Interim WBC super welterweight
FULL FIGHT CARD
Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza for the WBO super welterweight title
Sam Goodman vs. Miguel Flores; 125lbs catchweight
Nathaniel May vs. Jackson Jon England; super featherweight
Shanell Dargan vs. Amber Amelia; super bantamweight
Toese Vousiutu def Julius Lloyd Long via TKO in Round 4
Hassan Hamdan def Danvers Cuschieri via UD (79-73, 78-74, 77-75)
Sergei Vorobev def by Wade Ryan via UD (91-99, 92-98 x 2)
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