‘Why not?’: Tszyu in talks for mega-fight to kick off NRL in Vegas festivities — LIVE

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.

Boxing: Tszyu vs Mendoza SUN 15th OCT 12PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports

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.

The report claims 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.

Boxing: Tszyu vs Mendoza SUN 15th OCT 12PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports

“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.”

REVEALED: HOW TIM’S TITLE RIVAL BEAT UP HIS DAD 30 YEARS AGO

Ismael Salas will never forget the night his fighter beat up Kostya Tszyu.

Doesn’t matter that it was 30 years ago.

Or that in the time since either, his life has been filled with 22 world champions.

Think guys like Felix Savon, Joel Casamayor, Yuri Gamboa, Jorge Linares, Guillermo Rigondeaux, David Haye, Erislandy Lara, even Australia’s own Danny Green.

But the fighter we want to talk about today?

It’s Jesus Sollet.

“Oh, yes,” Salas starts, knowing exactly where our conversation is going.

“Very technical boxer.

“And his fight with Kostya, amazing.

“Very competitive.

“That’s why I have known Kostya Tszyu for many years.

“We also met a few times here in Australia when I was working with Danny Green.

“And Tim, he is now a great fighter like his father.

“Very similar style.

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

“But if we have to fight, we fight.”

Exactly 30 years after Salas orchestrated that win over a rising Russian amateur all heavy hands and rat’s tail — a kid who would eventually take over the fight world, winning multiple titles — the famed Cuban trainer is now trying to end his son.

Or more specifically, take Tim Tszyu’s WBO super welterweight title.

With the now Las Vegas-based trainer, this afternoon on the Gold Coast, walking to the ring with his latest charge, American world title contender Brian Mendoza.

Despite coming into the Australian championship headliner on a run of three straight KOs, Mendoza will still open as the betting underdog against Tszyu, that Australian poster boy who is himself unbeaten in 23 fights.

A fighter too whose future opponents are being talked up as Jermell Charlo, Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jnr, even Canelo Alvarez.

So as for how Salas becomes the first man in history to beat both Kostya and Tim Tszyu?

“Look, this is sport,” offers the trainer who has also twice cornered fighters who beat world boxing megastar Manny Pacquiao.

“I just have so much respect for these guys.

“Same with Pacquaio, who lost to one of my Thai fighters and then to Yordenis Ugas.

“And you must always have that mentality, where it’s about sportsmanship, about respecting each other.

“For me, this is the most beautiful thing about sport.”

Of course, winning world titles as an underdog isn’t bad either, right?

“Every fighter has their time,” Salas says simply. “And right now, it is Brian Mendoza’s time.”

Although should Mendoza go create boxing history on the Gold Coast this afternoon — and Salas, working his corner, do the same – do not bother looking up details for how it all happened the first time around with Sollet.

Put simply, you won’t find it.

With Boxrec displaying only 49 of Kostya Tszyu’s 270 amateur fights, of which he lost only 11.

Four of those, coincidentally, you can find on said website – Vernon Forrest, Juan Hernandez Sierra and Andreas Zuelow, twice.

But as for the rest?

You have to rely on the memory of men like Salas.

Quizzed on specifics of the night his man brought down Tszyu, he says: “It was in 1983, at the National Youth Championships in Cuba.

“Jesus Sollet, he was one of the great Cuban fighters from Guantanamo, where I’m originally from.

“Same with Brian Mendoza’s father.

“Brian was born in the US but his papa is from my same hometown.

“So when they were living in New Mexico, he called me, asked if I might be interested in training his son, and we started there.

“While Brian has Cuban blood, his fighting is more the Mexican way, if you know what I mean.

“And now for more than five years, we’ve been bringing him along.

“Initially, he was fighting at 147, struggling to make weight

“So we came up to super welterweight and everyone can now see, winning his last three by KO.”

So as for taking on the Tszyu family again?

“Kostya Tszyu, such a great fighter,” Salas says.

“And has so much respect in Cuba.

“Did so many great things.

“I know Tim still has to prove his father’s legacy.

“And I know he has the pressure of carrying on his father’s name.

“But I really like his style.

“This will be a great fight.”

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)