Brian Mendoza, not long ago, was preparing to face Caleb Plant when this guy who has done the same for many other fighters you know whispered a few words to him.
Think of Andre Ward.
Amir Khan.
Boxing: Tszyu vs Mendoza SUNDAY OCT 15 12pm AEDT | Order now with the Main Event on Kayo Sports
Even Diego Corrales – and just before he stopped José Luis Castillo in their famous “Fight of the Century”.
But let’s return to Mendoza and this Plant sparring session which changed so much.
“Brian,” the voice began, “don’t be impressed by him.
“Don’t even go there to learn.
“Just go show Plant that even though you’re lighter, even though you don’t have the same pedigree…man, show him that you’re a serious person in that boxing ring.”
What the kid from Albuquerque did.
He’s been doing it ever since, too.
“So now,” says Tony Brady, one of the boxing world’s most famous strength and conditioning coaches, “we don’t have to convince Brian Mendoza of anything… he’s just totally shut in”.
The reason Mendoza left Tszyu waiting | 04:02
Of all the intrigue that has surrounded Mendoza during his highly publicized fight week in the United States – the headlines about his power, his highlights, and even his new role as global boxing’s underdog – none are centered on Brady.
However, they should do it.
Understanding that Mendoza, by his own admission, would not be here without him.
Not only in Australia for the first time, but ready to do the unthinkable: become the first man to stop undefeated Australian poster boy and new WBO super welterweight champion, Tim Tszyu.
Officially, bookmakers have Mendoza as wide as 6/1.
Just like he’s also been the underdog in his last two fights with Brady in his corner.
This calm-spoken trainer – and somewhat of a “boxing whisperer” – who over the past 20 years has helped the likes of Andre Ward, Amir Khan, Joel Cassamayor and even Diego Corrales during his title run global.
Elsewhere, Brady has worked with NBA stars, NFL running backs and even American football players.
And now, this Sunday, he is set to add Mendoza to his list of world champions.
Although he may be unknown to most Australian sports fans, Brady appears to be something of an “X factor” in Mendoza’s attempt to upset WBO champion Tszyu.
After decades of guiding some of the biggest names in the sport, Brady teamed up last year with Mendoza, who has now scored three consecutive knockouts under his tutelage.
“Brian is locking up now,” Brady says when asked what impresses him most about the charge that, in his last start, iced Sebastian Fundora for the WBC interim world title.
And before that, he did the same with Jeison Rosario – a result paying 12/1 at the Las Vegas bookmakers.
“He always shows up to work knowing it’s not going to be easy,” the coach continues.
“He’s comfortable being uncomfortable.”
“Because of a bitch of a man” | 01:19
What matters.
Especially against a fighter under pressure like Tszyu.
Indeed, in addition to improving the gas tank of a challenger who had a habit of weakening in the later rounds, Brady improved his athleticism to the point of being able to carry out the game plans of the legendary Cuban coach Ismael Salas.
“Brian meeting Tony, that’s when everything changed,” Salas says. “This is the turning point.
“If Brian Mendoza is a computer, Tony installed the right program.”
Importantly, the fighter himself describes Brady and Salas, who himself has trained 22 world champions, including Australian favorite Danny Green, as the “perfect mix.”
“I never like to say that strength and conditioning is really everything, because boxing is not about who is stronger or faster, but rather who is smarter as a fighter,” explains Mendoza.
“But what Tony has done, he has pushed my limits physically and mentally so many times that I have the gas tank, everything I need to execute the game plans that Salas put in place.
“Sometimes Salas would tell me to do things, but if you disappear, it doesn’t matter how smart you are.
“So that’s the difference now.
“We’ve really stepped up our efforts.
“Tony trained Andre Ward for years and trained Diego Corrales for the fight of the century.
“And with that in my corner, I feel like I can’t be stopped.”
Asked about their first meeting, Brady, one of the first strength and conditioning coaches to really throw himself into boxing, continued: “I saw a lot of things in Brian.
“I had seen him fight Erislandy Lara, he was there with Yordenis Ugas, with everyone, all these great fighters.
“But every one of them was like, ‘Brian Mendoza, yeah, he’s good, but…’
“They told me he had power, skills, a nice chin, but there was always this ‘but’.”
So what was missing?
“He just hadn’t taken that step,” the coach said. “He had not taken his place as a man.
“He was there to learn and, surrounded by all these great fighters, it can be humbling.
“A guy like Erislandy Lara, he’s hard to hit
“So, with all these great guys, Brian just hadn’t found his place, that place where ‘now it’s my turn to take over’.”
And yet, this is undeniably the case now.
Not that Brady wants the credit to go anywhere other than the fighter himself.
“I’m just removing what was already there,” he says.
Take, for example, these recent highlight knockouts.
“Brian has always had power,” he continues.
“I was already knocking guys out.
FULL Press Conference Tszyu vs. Mendoza | 28:49
“So it was more about being able to maintain his power for 10 rounds, 12 rounds and we did a lot of work to achieve that.
“Many different exercises get your heart rate up, get you energized, but also require power.
“It’s also the preparation that gives you confidence.
“And Brian Mendoza is going against some of the best in the world.
“He knows he’s ready.”
When asked about the Plant session in particular, the trainer continued: “We just said ‘don’t go in there and be in awe of him.’
“Don’t even go there focusing on learning from him.
“Get in there and show him you belong.
“Caleb Plant is a 168 champion.
“So, yeah, you’re a few weight classes away, you don’t have the same pedigree… but go out there and show Caleb Plant that he’s dealing with someone serious in that ring.
“And Brian did a good job.
“They actually said afterwards ‘man, that’s not what we expected’.”
Call it a phrase Brady expects to hear again on Sunday.
