Tim Tszyu made a first defence of his WBO super welterweight title after being upgraded to full champion, as he took a points win against Brian Mendoza at Gold Coast Convention Centre in Queensland, Australia.
Tszyu (24-0, KO17) had been waiting for a meeting with Jermell Charlo that had failed to materialise, and after a spell as interim champion, he was upgraded after Charlo took on an assignment against Saul โCaneloโ Alvarez. Mendoza (22-3, KO16) was coming off a superb knockout wins against Jeison Rosario and Sebastian Fundora.
The first half of the contest was tough to score, as both men had success in short bursts, and taking turns to assert themselves. Australian Tszyu began to take over though after the halfway mark, with a pair of lefts getting Mendozaโs attention in round seven, and an uppercut rocked the American towards the end of the frame. After an eighth where the pair exchanged, Tszyu landed some massive power shots in round nine, and Mendoza was saved by the bell in the tenth as Tszyu backed him up towards the ropes. Mendoza still showed the effects as the penultimate round began, and Tszyu sensed his opportunity, walking down his man and firing several big blows, with Mendoza once again surviving the round, but bloodied and bruised. The doctor was forced to inspect, but Mendoza bravely made the final bell.
Two scores of 116-112, and a third at 117-111 ensured a successful first notch on the belt for the home fighter. America now surely beckons for Tszyu.
Tim Tszyu retains the WBO junior middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Brian Mendoza, scores reading as 117-111, 116-112 & 116-111.#TszyuMendoza
pic.twitter.com/kCw7AyrRzX— ๐๐พ๐ถ๐๐พ๐๐ (@DiariosJournals) October 15, 2023
On the undercard, Sam Goodman (16-0, KO7) protected his number one ranking with the IBF and WBO in the featherweight division, as he took a points win over the experienced Miguel Flores (25-5-1, KO12). Goodman came through on the cards by two scores of 120-105, and a third at 118-107, after dropping Flores with a body shot during the contest, and the Mexican also had two points deducted for low blows.
Sam Goodman dropped Flores in the 8th round en route to an impressive UD win ๐ฅ#GoodmanFlores #TszyuMendoza pic.twitter.com/UimnK7gc4K
— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) October 15, 2023
Wade Ryan (22-11, KO8) upset Sergei Vorobev (19-2, KO13), taking the vacant IBF Pan Pacific and WBO Oriental super welterweight titles with a wide points win. Two scores of 98-92, and a third at 99-91 confirmed a dominant victory.
Jackson Jon England (15-2, KO8) claimed the vacant IBF Australasian super featherweight title, shading a split decision against Nathaniel May (22-4, KO13).
In eight rounders, Hassan Hamdan (7-0, KO1) outscored Danvers Cuschieri (3-2, KO2) at welterweight, and Shanell Dargan (3-1-2, KO0) did the same to pick up the vacant Australian super bantamweight title against Amber Amelia (3-2, KO1).
Toese Vousiutu (6-1, KO6) returned to winning ways, taking a fourth and final round stoppage in his heavyweight clash with Julius Lloyd Long (18-27-1, KO14).
