Tim Tszyu pursued undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo for so long that the WBO eventually decided to just give him a world title.
And while Tszyu refused to celebrate the political manoeuvre, the unbeaten Australian showed what all the fuss was about when he scored a punishing 12-round unanimous decision over top-rated contender Brian Mendoza on Saturday.
MORE: Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza full card results
Mendoza fought on even terms through the first half of the bout but began to succumb to Tszyu’s pressure and power as the rounds ticked by. “The Soul Taker” hurt the challenger in the seventh and almost floored him with a brutal attack in Round 10. Tszyu relentlessly pursued the stoppage and only Mendoza’s guts and incredible chin got him through the full 12 rounds.
"Charlo, where you at? Where you at, buddy?" Tszyu said during his post-fight interview with Showtime. "In his delusional head, he probably thinks he's going to beat me.”
Charlo has been on or near the top of the 154-pound ratings for some time and he earned his position by claiming every legitimate world title in his division. However, Tszyu is desperate to knock “The Iron Man” off his lofty perch, and the world titles that are still in Charlo’s possession remain his target.
The Sporting News recently gathered opinions from members of its combat team to produce a Top-12 list at super welterweight:
12. Magomed Kurbanov
- Record: 25-0 (13 KOs)
With the wins Kurbanov has on his resume, he should be higher on this list. However, the Russian boxer-puncher has benefitted massively from home advantage in bouts with Liam Smith and Michel Soro.
The consensus was that Kurbanov lost both of those fights on points, only to escape with decision wins. He has an unbeaten record and a lot of talent, but the 28-year-old requires legitimate wins over the best 154-pound fighters in order to advance.
Next Fight: No fight scheduled
MORE: SN's Top-12 pound-for-pound boxers
11. Charles Conwell
- Record: 18-0 (13 KOs)
Former U.S. Olympian Conwell is unbeaten and has posted mostly dominant victories since stepping up in class. However, the Detroit-born star hasn’t had a fight since November of last year and that kind of inactivity could catch up with him.
The 25-year-old Conwell had a closer-than-expected encounter with Juan Carlos Abreu, whom he defeated via majority decision. He is yet to secure a serious win at the top level, but Conwell has the tools to be a handful if he can regain the requisite momentum.
Next Fight: No fight scheduled
10. Michel Soro
- Record: 35-4-2 (24 KOs)
No one could blame Soro for seeking out a different line of work because boxing has proven to be a thorn in his side in recent years.
A stoppage loss to Israil Madrimov was deemed controversial when the Uzbekistan fighter applied the finishing touches after the bell had sounded to end the ninth round. A direct rematch, which took place in July 2022, ended in an inconclusive technical draw when the Frenchman was cut by a clash of heads.
If that run of luck wasn’t bad enough, Soro was robbed blind in a split-decision loss to Kurbanov, who, not for the first time, was given the benefit of the doubt on home soil.
Next Fight: No fight scheduled
MORE: SN's top 12 pound-for-pound female boxers
9. Tony Harrison
- Record: 29-4-1 (21 KOs)
While he’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights, Harrison is still the only fighter on this list to hold a win over Jermell Charlo.
The Detroit-based technician put a 2017 stoppage loss to Jarrett Hurd behind him and upset then-WBC champ Charlo 18 months later. His reign was short-lived, however, as Charlo exacted revenge in a direct rematch, stopping his foe in eleven rounds.
Since then, Harrison has fought to a draw against Brian Perrella, defeated Sergio Garcia, and suffered a stoppage defeat to Tim Tszyu. The 33-year-old is still relevant, but he’s running out of time.
Next Fight: No fight scheduled
8. Israil Madrimov
- Record: 9-0-1 (6 KOs)
While he’s still in single digits in terms of professional fights, Madrimov was a decorated amateur and his quality is beyond approach.
Known as “The Dream”, the Uzbekistan native has proven to be a nightmare for his opponents thus far. Madrimov’s signature win to date was a controversial stoppage triumph over French contender Michel Soro. The pair met again in July of last year and that bout ended in an inconclusive technical draw when Soro was cut from a clash of heads in the third.
Madrimov won a stay-busy bout over Raphael Igboke in April.
Next fight: No fight scheduled
7. Jesus Ramos
- Record: 20-1 (16 KOs)
Ramos was considered one of the very best under-25 fighters in world boxing when he was shockingly upset by Erickson Lubin on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo undercard in September. After appearing to dominate through the first eight rounds, Ramos took his foot off the gas and the unanimous decision went against him.
Still, at only 22 years of age, and with a win over the highly ranked Mendoza on his resume, Ramos is sure to get back on the horse. Expect the Arizona star to put his lone setback behind him and make huge strides over the next 18 months.
Next fight: No fight scheduled
MORE: SN's top 5 boxers from Japan
6. Erickson Lubin
- Record: 26-2 (18 KOs)
While Lubin doesn’t always get things his own way, he’s shown the propensity to take on all comers at 154 pounds.
Since suffering a pulverizing first-round knockout loss to Jermell Charlo in October 2017, the Florida-born lefty has posted wins over Terrell Gausha, Jeison Rosario, Luis Arias, and the previously unbeaten Jesus Ramos.
Lubin was deemed very fortunate to be given the decision against Ramos, but he’s now in a position to secure more lucrative fights in this division.
Next fight: No fight scheduled
5. Sebastian Fundora
- Record: 18-1 (13 KOs)
When you’re named after a 1970s disaster movie starring Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, you’ve got to be a badass. However, Fundora, known as "The Towering Inferno" recently lost some of his own star power.
The 6-5 Californian was on an excellent winning run and had knocked off Sergio Garcia, Lubin, and Carlos Ocampo within 10 months. He was also expected to walk through Mendoza and was doing so until he was knocked out in devastating fashion in the seventh round.
At just 25 years old, Fundora has plenty of time to regroup. Although this might come at a higher weight class given his infeasible dimensions for a super welterweight.
Next fight: No fight scheduled
4. Liam Smith
- Record: 33-4-1 (20 KOs)
While Smith hasn’t had a win at this weight since April 2022 (TKO 10 win over Jessie Vargas), the Liverpool man has not vacated 154 pounds officially.
The former WBO champ has posted solid wins over Vargas, Liam Williams, and Anthony Fowler in recent years. And while a loss to Jamie Munguia was legitimate, Smith was very unlucky to lose a decision to Russian star Magomed Kurbanov in May 2021.
Smith recently split two fights with Chris Eubank Jr. at middleweight and is undecided on his next move.
Next fight: No fight scheduled
MORE: SN's Top-10 YouTube boxers
3. Brian Mendoza
- Record: 22-3 (16 KOs)
Despite coming off a loss to Tim Tszyu, the gutsy Mendoza fought gamely and he’s also posted a pair of excellent wins over the past 12 months.
After coming unstuck against then-unbeaten contender Ramos, Mendoza bounced back with upset stoppage wins over Jeison Rosario and Fundora. The latter secured him a fight with Tszyu, who punished him heavily in the second half of the fight to emerge as a points winner.
Regardless, there are still big fights out there for Mendoza, who has proven his quality.
Next fight: No fights scheduled
2. Tim Tszyu
- Record: 24-0 (17 KOs)
Tim isn’t just the son of former undisputed super lightweight champion Kostya Tszyu, he’s an elite-level operator and now a legitimate world champion.
When Jermell Charlo elected to move up in weight to fight Canelo Alvarez, the WBO ordered that Tszyu would be upgraded from interim to full champion at 154 pounds. The impressive showing against Mendoza, who is highly rated at the weight, is ample proof of Tszyu’s status and he’s only getting better.
The hard-hitting Australian still has Charlo in his sights.
Next fight: No fight scheduled.
1. Jermell Charlo
- Record: 35-2-1 (19 KOs)
Charlo became the first undisputed super welterweight champion in almost 20 years when he stopped Brian Castano in May 2022 and that achievement must be respected.
The Houston-based boxer-puncher has scored wins over John Jackson, Austin Trout, Lubin, Harrison, and Rosario. While Charlo’s recent foray into super middleweight territory to face Canelo Alvarez earned him a ton of money, he was completely out of his depth in the fight.
If he wants to maintain his grip on 154-pound supremacy, then Charlo, who still holds IBF, WBA, WBC, and Ring titles, owes Tszyu a fight.
Next Fight: No fight scheduled