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After almost three years out of the ring following his devastating stoppage loss to Terence Crawford, plenty have questioned whether Spence can still deal with punishment.<\/p>\n
Mendoza says the answer is a resounding yes.<\/p>\n
Having shared the ring with Tszyu in a world title fight back in 2023 before becoming one of Spence\u2019s sparring partners for this camp in Houston, the American says \u2018The Truth\u2019 has shown no signs of being gun-shy or chinny.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did check Spence\u2019s punch resistance,\u201d Mendoza told FightHype.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI can definitely say I sent some missiles his way \u2013 and I honestly feel like he responded well anytime I landed something.<\/p>\n \u201cHe eats the shots well. I saw a recovered Spence and I think his punch resistance is there.\u201d<\/p>\n Errol Spence and Tim TszyuSource: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n Mendoza also noticed Spence making adjustments almost straight away in sparring \u2013 another sign, he reckons, the former champ is back in business. <\/p>\n \u201cI was catching him with shots the first day we sparred. The second day we sparred, those shots were not landing,\u201d Mendoza.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople forget he was a boxer as an amateur. He was an olympian. He used to box people, but he found out he could run people over and he got a little too happy with that.\u201d<\/p>\n The comments come after several respected boxing voices, including former world champions Sergio Mora and Shane Mosley, questioned whether Spence can return at an elite level against a dangerous opponent like Tszyu.<\/p>\n Mora delivered a particularly grim assessment<\/a>, suggesting Spence was simply \u201cdoing it for the money\u201d and warning \u201cit\u2019s not going to end well\u201d.<\/p>\n Mendoza, however, believes those critics are barking up the wrong tree.<\/p>\n \u201cFor those of you that think he\u2019s done, that he\u2019s just showing up for a paycheck\u2026 he\u2019s not working like someone who\u2019s showing up for a paycheck,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe work ethic I got to see in the couple of weeks I was in camp, and just from being in the ring with him\u2026 there were adjustments every day. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not someone that\u2019s just showing up and clocking in and going through the motions.\u201d<\/p>\n Having gone 12 rounds with Tszyu before spending weeks helping prepare Spence for his comeback, Mendoza believes few people understand both men as well as he does.<\/p>\n And that is why he expects fireworks when they finally collide later this month.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he [Spence] is going to give Tszyu a hell of a fight,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not such an easy fight to choose anymore. A lot of people were picking Tim in this one but it\u2019s a lot more up in the air than they think.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/p>\n Why Eddie Hearn wants Zerafa-Tszyu II as deal done to bring back \u2018bad boy of Aussie boxing\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018I f**king bashed all his fighters\u2019: Mundine doubles down on Fenech spray in explosive Tszyu claim<\/a><\/p>\n And Mendoza isn\u2019t the only respected boxing figure refusing to write Spence off.<\/p>\n Brian \u201cBoMac\u201d McIntyre, the trainer who masterminded Terence Crawford\u2019s one-sided demolition of Spence three years ago, also believes the American will surprise plenty of people against Tszyu.<\/p>\n