Tim Tszyu has overcome the toughest challenge of his boxing career to defend the full WBO super welterweight title in a brutal encounter with Brian Mendoza on the Gold Coast.
Tszyu, who improves his record to 24-0, won by unanimous decision after 12 brutal rounds on all three judges' scorecards in what is likely to be his final fight for some time on Australian soil.
America beckons for Tszyu, whose relentless power was on full display as he outlasted a brave Mendoza.
"Charlo …" Tszyu mocked after the fight, pointing to the belt that just months ago was round the waist of former undisputed champion Jermell Charlo.
"Come get it," he said.
"Let's prove to everyone who is king of this division."
After a cagey opening, Tszyu burst into life in the second half of the fight, having Mendoza in trouble in the seventh, tenth and 11th rounds with typically thunderous shots to the head and body.
Mendoza put up a more than game fight, challenging Tszyu with his elusiveness and speed of hand through the early exchanges.
But once Tszyu started to land his shots, the assassin-like Tszyu, while remaining respectful of the American's power, was in almost complete control.
Credit has to go to Mendoza for putting up with a barrage of punishment that left his face a bloody mess by the end of the contest.
But in truth, Tszyu was just too good.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Thank you all so much for being with us today for this event.
We'll have more from the Gold Coast a bit later on after the press conference, which I am racing off to now.
Thanks for being with us, we'll see you again soon.
Has Mendoza been Tszyu’s toughest opponent?
- John
I'd say so John.
Tszyu said as much in the ring as well.
"He's world class for a reason," Tszyu said.
"He's second best."
"Charlo …" Tszyu says mockingly in the ring, tapping the belt he has taken from the former undisputed champion.
"He'll probably think in his delusional head that he would beat me.
"Come get it.
"Let's prove to everyone who is king of this division."
The judges have it, 116-112, 116-112, 117-111
I scored this 117-111 in favour of Tszyu.
I actually had it even through six rounds.
But we await the official scorecards.
If anything, it proves Mendoza has 1 hell of a chin
- Barny's Outdoor Adventure
He has been mauled and his face is a mess.
He did not stop throwing punches until the very end.
Mendoza looks gone. He's bloodied, beaten and frankly looks a mess.
The doctor is having a look but he'll be allowed to continue.
He's still a puncher's chance but that's all I think.
"TIMMY, TIMMY, TIMMY!" chant the Gold Coast crowd.
They want a knockout — Tszyu I think will settle for a win to be honest.
Mendoza throws a punch and then another that clocks Tszyu nicely on the chops.
Tszyu is still in control, controlling the space and the ring as a whole.
Mendoza lands a three-punch combo.
Tszyu is still there though and he lands a hook to the head.
BIG RIGHT FROM TSZYU! Mendoza skips away.
Mendoza lands a shot but Tszyu is still in control.
Mendoza goes down swinging as the bell rings and the crowd rises for Tim Tszyu!
Straight lefts from Tszyu find their way through Mendoza's guard.
Has he recovered?
Not enough I don't think!
Mendoza is in the corner swaying and rocking and rolling as Tszyu rains down punches upon him! None of them clean though!
Tszyu throws Mendoza off him as he tries to clinch!
BIG SHOT TSZYU!
THE UPPER CUTS ARE FLYING IN NOW!
MENDOZA IS IN THE CORNER!
TSZYU IS LINING HIM UP!
Mendoza is on the run, frantically hitting out to stop the relentless rain of blows coming his way.
Tszyu is like the Terminator now, just walking him down and shrugging off the shots coming his way.
Mendoza is bleeding from the eye!
BIG SHOT MENDOZA!
TSZYU RESPONDS!
The bell comes to save a bloodied and battered Mendoza again!
Tszyu lands with a solid right that knocks the sweat off Mendoza's brow.
Mendoza with a straight right that lands.
Tszyu lands with a solid right to send Mendoza to the corner.
Mendoza lands with a solid right when in the corner.
Tszyu gets back in control and finds a body shot right on the belt line.
He's stalking Mendoza but every so often the American leaps forward and has Tszyu scampering back.
Tszyu lands to the body as the pair split following Mendoza's burrowing into him.
MASSIVE SHOT FROM TSZYU! MENDOZA IS ON THE RUN!
ANOTHER HUGE SHOT COMES IN!
THE CROWD ROARS!
MENDOZA IS HANGING ON AND IS SAVED BY THE BELL!
He collapses into his corner after Tszyu went to work — one of those upper cuts lands and Mendoza is outta here.
How’s the scoring looking at the moment? Champ coming out on top?
- Nicholas
But now Tszyu has stretched ahead.
It's been a tough fight to score in truth, especially early.
Tszyu lands with a right to the body.
Mendoza misses with a big wild swing and is caught a couple of times.
Big roundhouse right from Tszyu lands and forces Mendoza back.
BIG SHOT FROM TSZYU! MASSIVE SHOT!
Mendoza eats another one and takes it really well.
Straight right from Tszyu forces Mendoza back.
Body shots from Tszyu, down the middle and then to the side.
Then another powerful shot into the ribs.
Mendoza is moving nicely still, despite his head looking like the dog has been at it, puffy and bleeding under both eyes.
Tszyu lands a jab.
Mendoza lands two shots onto the guard of Tszyu.
Mendoza misses with a big swinging right to end the round.
Tszyu straight to the middle of the ring again — can Mendoza respond again like he did in round six?
Tszyu flashes the jab. Twice. Three times. Mendoza won't mind just backing off here, but if he gets trapped, watch out.
Tszyu clubs at the head of Mendoza who counters with two good shots.
Left jab, right jab, Tszyu is just walking Mendoza down.
Head then body from Tszyu there. Nice work.
Mendoza lands to the body to get away from the corner.
Mendoza is looking to entice Tszyu into the corner but he's not buying it.
BIG SHOT FROM TSZYU!
MENDOZA RESPONDS WITH A FURIOUS RIGHT!
Good exchange!
Mendoza grimaces after that but he's happy he can still see a way through the Tszyu defence.
That was a bit of a recovery round from Tszyu, exceptional boxing to recover from the flurry and still take the round.
Tszyu's left eye is starting to redden — we'll keep our eyes on that.
Mendoza worries at Tszyu early on but the guard is good from Tszyu.
If one of these wild swings from Tszyu lands then Mendoza will be in trouble, but he hasn't been able to catch the American out yet.
Good upper cut from Tszyu!
AND ANOTHER!
MENDOZA IS ROCKED!
TSZYU SENSES HIS MOMENT!
Mendoza has settled brilliantly.
Two clubbing lefts from Tszyu land, Mendoza responds with a shot of his own that had Tszyu blinking!
TSZYU WITH ANOTHER BRILLIANT SHOT!
THE CROWD ARE ON THEIR FEET!
Mendoza on the ropes!
He gets away but Tszyu feels there is blood in the water now!
Wonderful recovery from Mendoza to stay on his feet but that was brilliant from Tszyu — by far his best round of the fight and the crowd know it!
Tszyu had success with the upper cut in that round. Will he keep looking for it?
There's the jab first up.
Tszyu flinches as Mendoza lands a couple and then flinches a bit more as Mendoza lands some power punches.
Good shot to the kidney from Mendoza.
Left hook to the face lands by Tszyu.
Big shots from Mendoza, two really powerful blows to Tszyu's head that rocks the champion.
Tszyu is still walking him down though and looks OK, landing a jab of his own.
That right eye is swelling nicely for Mendoza now — can Tszyu do anything with it?
Mendoza is being evasive, Tszyu is biding his time.
Good shot from Tszyu on the ropes! He catches Mendoza!
And again, a wild right that flashes across the face of the American.
Two hooks from Tszyu land to end the round.
Another tight one in which both fighters had their moments.
Mendoza is getting his cheek iced in the corner — it's starting to swell a little.
He lands to Tszyu's body, then ducks under a hook.
Mendoza with scoring shots to the body but not punishing blows.
The pair are matching each other to a standstill here.
Tszyu lands a couple of good shots but is caught on the way out as well — good shots from Tszyu though.
There's that concussive power from Tszyu.
And again! Good shots from Tszyu here.
Mendoza is really swelling on the right eye now.
Big shot again from Tszyu!
This has been a good round for the champion.
A shot to the solar plexus lands and then Tszyu gets outta there before he can be caught.
Mendoza lands at the bell but Tszyu also catches him.
A good round for the champ — arguably the first clearly won round of the contest.
Mendoza again starts the round strong with a couple of jabs but this time Tszyu is ready for it.
Good straight right from Mendoza there.
Tszyu lands a left hook on the gloves.
Tszyu is wary of Mendoza's power but is still walking him down.
Mendoza lands to the body but still Tszyu comes forward.
Body shots from Mendoza.
Clubbing blows from Mendoza but then Tszyu comes close to the money shot as they split.
Mendoza has some success with the body shots on the counter.
Tszyu lands two really good shots though to the head of Mendoza and he won't be able to take too many of those!
Mendoza gets back a distance away and lands to the body again.
Good shot from Tszyu but he was caught again as he came forward.
And Mendoza comes forward again and stuns Tszyu with a shot across his eyes.
Another desperately tight round.
Medoza lands a cuffing blow to the top of Tszyu's head right off the bat in this third round. A good shot.
He jabs hard to the body and then the head too.
Nice movement from Tszyu, who is still stalking menacingly - but Mendoza seems unphased unlike many of Tszyu's previous opponents.
Tszyu lands to the body. And again. Good work — energy sapping blows to the kidneys.
Good left straight shot from Tszyu catches Mendoza.
Mendoza lands a couple of good shots to the body - then the head - then the body again.
Tszyu throws an upper cut but misses.
Tszyu misses with a wild left hook but then lands with a solid left down the middle.
Mendoza goes low with his last shot of the round but the referee lets it go.
There is a bit of marking on Mendoza's left cheek already — a graze?
Mendoza flashes the jab without connecting.
He connects there though, a bit of sweat flies off Tszyu's head.
Mendoza misses with an upper cut and then Tszyu ducks under a hook.
Tszyu throws a jab but misses.
Solid power punch to the shoulder from Tszyu. There is such weight behind those shots from Tszyu.
Tszyu jabs to the body, then backs away as Mendoza responds.
Mendoza misses with a wild right hook.
TSZYU DOES NOT MISS THOUGH! His overhand right finds his mark and Mendoza comes back.
Both men land with jabs.
Another tight round — it's not caught fire yet this one.
Here we go, Tszyu only looked at Mendoza at the last minute as the referee gave his instructions.
The crowd rise once more and the bell sounds for round one.
Tszyu straight to the centre of the ring and a left hook from the champion is the first punch thrown.
Mendoza has Tszyu scrambling back a bit, now they're in the mix of feeling each other out.
Mendoza advances behind a couple of jabs. Tszyu scampers back.
Body shot from Tszyu.
Good shot from Mendoza has Tszyu scampering back a bit.
Tszyu ducks under a jab and they tie up.
Mendoza looks for that jab but is feinting more than throwing.
Tszyu throws Mendoza off him as he attempts to grapple.
One-two left-right combo from Tszyu has Mendoza backtracking.
Hard round to score until a big shot from Tszyu on the bell probably gives the champion the round.
The anticipation is building to a huge crescendo.
Boos for Brian Mendoza, who does not look like he's bothered one little bit as he stalks his corner of the ring.
It's the WBO number two-ranked fighter's first international fight.
Tim Tszyu is getting a huge reception though — you can hardly hear Jimmy Lennon Jr in the ring as he announces the WBO World Champion and his vital statistics.
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Friday.
Add Category